2012 GJR Challenge Round-Up

For the 2012 GJR Challenge, each of us picked 3 books that all of us had to read and then we reviewed together. Based on our reviews, we can say that The Night Circus was the top read for 2012 out of these 9 books.

Alice's Thoughts:  It was very interesting to see what each of us chose to read.  I wasn’t expecting Jenn’s list to be so Chick-Lit heavy, Julie’s list consisted of mostly Classic Literature and mine didn’t even include one single Memoir.  Even in choosing books for each other, we stepped out of our usually genre comfort zones.  I’m a little sad we won’t be doing this again but I can totally understand Jenn’s point below.  With such great things we actually want to read and our TBR piles growing every day, it makes sense to forgo this challenge in the future.

Overall, I really enjoyed this challenge.  I like to occasionally step out of my reading comfort zone. I’m really glad I participated in this challenge because if I hadn’t I wouldn’t have discovered the literary classic To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee which I had never read; Ruth Galloway (and her sexy cop friend Harry Nelson) in The Crossing Places; The Night Circus which was one of my favorite books this year; and lastly, the fabulous PK in The Power of One.  I’m not quite finished with The Power of One yet.  Because of Hurricane Sandy, I am no longer able to read during my commute to work.  I am listening to PK’s adventures instead.  It is quite interesting hearing instead of reading a novel.   

Jenn's Thoughts:  This has been a difficult challenge for me because I don't read the same genres as my co-bloggers. That's not to say that there aren't books outside my reading comfort zone that I find enjoyable -I loved The Night Circus and might never have read it without this challenge- but it started me thinking about how there is a reason that we are attracted to certain genres. I love the puzzle of a crime novel and being swept up in the details. I love paranormal reads because it's feels good to add a little magic to life. 

While I don't mind expanding my tastes, pushing boundaries, and discovering new authors, I did not find that I accomplished that with this challenge.  I have books piled up all over the house (my poor family will attest to that) and hundreds more on my e-reader that I don't have time to read. I have a hard time justifying reading something I'm not enjoying with all those other titles calling my name.  I don't have enough reading time to include books of which I'm not fond... plus I find myself dragging my way through them, so they take even more time to read. So I'm afraid it's my fault that Girls Just Reading will not be doing our challenge again next year. There is so much to read and so little time.

Julie's Thoughts:  I thoroughly enjoyed this challenge. It made me think about the books that I wanted to read and how the other girls would react to them. I also liked the way it pulled me out of my comfort zone on a couple. The one that really comes to mind is Graveminder by Melissa Marr. I would have never picked up a paranormal book on my own. While every book wasn't a home run, I can't say that I'm upset that I read any of them. Of course, some I liked more than others but that's normal.

I like how I did read some that were out of my genre but for the most part they were in genres I normally read. I did have to buy most of the books in the challenge so my only change would be that we pick books out of our TBR pile or maybe use the library.

My favorite books that I read were The Night Circus, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Power of One.

Here are the books we read and reviewed during the year:

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides review
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern review
Joy for Beginners by Erica Baumeister review
The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott review
The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate review
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee review
The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths review
Graveminder by Melissa Marr review
The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay (Jenn did not read this one) Julie's review
& Alice's Review (Coming Soon)

We hope you've enjoyed our group reviews and the book we chose.

Julie's Review: The Power of One

Summary: In 1939, as Hitler casts his enormous, cruel shadow across the world, the seeds of apartheid take root in South Africa. There, a boy called Peekay is born. His childhood is marked by humiliation and abandonment, yet he vows to survive and conceives heroic dreams–which are nothing compared to what life actually has in store for him. He embarks on an epic journey through a land of tribal superstition and modern prejudice where he will learn the power of words, the power to transform lives, and the power of one. ~amazon.com

Julie's Review: You know a great book is when it has so many passages that you want to quote. Frankly, The Power of Onecould be one big quote. I believe that this is the kind of book where each reader will take their own meaning away from it. For me, the book is about courage, pride, doing right when doing wrong is easier, believing in yourself and doing good even if it means possibly harming yourself.

One thing is for sure this isn't an easy book to read because of the subject matter but it is an important one. It is the kind of novel where you want to read every word and savor it. At 500+ pages, this isn't a read in a weekend type of novel.

I won't lie, there are some parts that dragged but there was never a point where I wanted to put it down.
I wanted to know how Peekay turned out. I wanted to know that after building up his camouflage he finally was able to let it fall aside. There is a wonderful cast of characters that assist Peekay on his journey. The two for me that were the most important were Geel Piet and Doc. He wouldn't be the young man he turned into if not for them.

The book has an underlying theme of the David vs. Goliath. Sometimes this is evident but it's really the undercurrent throughout the book. While the book shows you the injustice that is evident throughout South Africa towards the black Afrikaners, it also shows you the hope and the strength of this group.

Peekay is one interesting and complex narrator. You root for him and you hurt for him. You want him to become what he wants to become, not feel the need to live up to everyone elses' expectations for him. You want him to break free of the shackles that bind him.

This is just one quote of many:

"Racism does not diminish with brains. It's a disease, a sickness. It may incubate in ignorance, but it doesn't necessarily disappear with the gaining of wisdom!" -page 456

This is a book that needs to be experienced because it is so nuanced. I will now seek out the movie that stars both Stephen Dorff and Morgan Freeman.

I have to say thanks to a former co-worker, Kristin, who informed me the movie was based off of a book and I have to thank my father for having me watch this movie during my teen years.

Final Take: 5/5

Note: Per his Facebook page Mr. Courtenay wrote that his newest book Jack of Diamonds will be his last. He has been diagnosed with terminal gastric cancer. It is always sad to hear news like this. I am thrilled that his book is one we are ending with for this challenge. For more information on Mr. Courtenay and his books, please check out his website or his facebook page. We will him all the best!



 

Group Review: Graveminder

Summary: Rebekkah Barrow never forgot the tender attention her grandmother, Maylene, bestowed upon the dead of Claysville, the town where Bek spent her adolescence. There wasn't a funeral that Maylene didn't at tend, and at each Rebekkah watched as Maylene performed the same unusual ritual: three sips from a small silver flask followed by the words "Sleep well, and stay where I put you."

Now Maylene is dead and Bek must go back to the place--and the man--she left a decade ago. But what she soon discovers is that Maylene was murdered and that there was good reason for her odd traditions. It turns out that in placid Claysville, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected. Beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D--a place from which the dead will return if their graves are not properly minded. Only the Graveminder, a Barrow woman, and the current Undertaker, Byron, can set things to right once the dead begin to walk. ~ blurb

Alice's Review:  I admit I am fairly addicted to certain ghost shows on TV.  When I received Graveminder last year, I was intrigued.  A novel about a woman whose job is to keep the dead dead seemed all right to me.  I really wanted to like this.  It was spooky enough, scary enough but I draw the line at zombies.  And the walking dead eat people.  That’s just creepy.

There were some things I couldn’t ignore.  Overall, the novel lacked something.  I think the writing was a bit elementary.  The premise was interesting, but the execution could have used some work.  In defense to Ms. Marr, I received an ARC of Graveminder.  I’m sure the finished novel was better.  I know the dead and zombie’s are no laughing matter but this novel definitely needed a dose of laughter.  Something, anything, to lighten it up.

I liked how Bek embraced her role as Graveminder.  She knew it was her destiny.  I thought she was a strong character.  She knew what needed to be done and didn’t shy away from her responsibility.  My issues lay with Byron.  I didn’t like that Byron’s  rose-colored love for Bek made him blind to everything else.  Maybe I’m just a cynic, but seriously, the guy needed to settle down.   Yes, I know as her Undertaker they are forever linked and he’s supposed to protect her, but still.  It was nauseating to watch someone that clingy.  It was creepy. 

My favorite character was William, Byron’s father and Maylene’s Undertaker.  Of all the characters, he was the most real to me.  Ms. Marr portrayed his grief beautifully.  Although his role was limited, there was such grace about him.  I wish Graveminder was about him and Maylene instead of Byron and Rebekka. 

I have several questions, especially about Mr. D (Charles).  I like Rebekkah, but can’t really stomach Byron.  My opinion of the novel changed frequently during the reading.  Sometimes I liked it, sometimes I didn't.  Although in the end, I felt a glimmer of like but it might have been joy that it was finally over.  I do believe if you are a fan of this genre, you will enjoy this novel.    Me, not so much.

Final Take: 3/5

Jenn's Review:  This is my first Melissa Marr novel, having had her YA books on my TBR list for a while but not getting to them yet, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Graveminder.  As paranomal genre goes it was different, and I liked that about it.    Graveminder is also a stand alone novel for now.  The last bit may or may not be a good thing.

I think that there were several potential books in Graveminder; there is so much plot exposition that doesn't get fleshed out.  I found myself wishing for more details in the world of the dead.  I'm not sure I understood everyone's relationship and/or motivation.  I'm still not exactly sure what happens over there.  I wanted to know more about Abigail.  I also wanted to learn more from the journals and clippings that Rebekkah and Byron found.  Melissa Marr has put together a nice little scrapbook of information on the history of the Graveminders and Undertakers, but I still don't think it's enough. I thought the part about the way the jobs pass from generation to generation was confusing too.

The plot itself was fascinating and their was a huge twist that I never saw coming, though in hindsight, perhaps I should have; I think it was too heinous for me to have guessed.  While I enjoyed the character's of Rebekkah and Byron, there were definitely times I was frustrated with both of them, especially Rebekkah.  Her hot-cold act wore thin after awhile.

I love that it's a novel with a play list; I'm a sucker for that and I will be checking it out this week (I just wish there were embeded links).  Graveminder has certainly peaked my curiosity about the rest of Melissa Marr's work and moved  closer to the top of my TBR list.

Final Take:  3.75/5

Julie's Review: Let's just say that paranormal isn't my usual fare and I can say that Graveminder didn't do anything to change my mind. I did like some aspects of the storyline, although I wish it had been a different paranormal angle. While wishing that, I also realize it would have been a completely different book then.

I found that I was intrigued by the story of Rebekkah and Byron more than anything else. The Underground world was interesting but I found that it confused the story more for me than anything. It were these parts of the story that interrupted the flow of what was going on in the living world. I realize that both worlds are connected to each other and if one fails, the other one does as well. What I did think was interesting was that Rebekkah and Byron had very different experiences when they went to visit Mr. D and Abigail. What Rebekkah saw enchanted her and what Bryon saw repulsed him.

I didn't think the story that gave Rebekkah the background to being a Graveminder to be all that clear. In fact, I think I found it to confuse me even more. Perhaps if I read more paranormal books, it wouldn't confuse me as much.

In the end, there were things that I did enjoy but if there were to be a sequel to Graveminder , I would probably pass on it. If you are a paranomal fan and haven't checked out Melissa Marr, then I'm fairly certain you should. Graveminder is her first foray into Adult novels.

Final Take: 3.25/5

Group Review: The Crossing Places

Summary:  When she’s not digging up bones or other ancient objects, quirky, tart-tongued archaeologist Ruth Galloway lives happily alone in a remote area called Saltmarsh near Norfolk, land that was sacred to its Iron Age inhabitants - not quite earth, not quite sea.

When a child’s bones are found on a desolate beach nearby, Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson calls Galloway for help. Nelson thinks he has found the remains of Lucy Downey, a little girl who went missing ten years ago. Since her disappearance he has been receiving bizarre letters about her, letters with references to ritual and sacrifice.

The bones actually turn out to be two thousand years old, but Ruth is soon drawn into the Lucy Downey case and into the mind of the letter writer, who seems to have both archaeological knowledge and eerie psychic powers. Then another child goes missing and the hunt is on to find her. As the letter writer moves closer and the windswept Norfolk landscape exerts its power, Ruth finds herself in completely new territory – and in serious danger. ~ amazon.com

Alice's Review:  At the rate that I had been reading lately, I think it is safe to say it has been a while since I finished a book in 2 days. Yet here I was, wrapped up in Ruth’s world, wondering who was murdered these young girls, developing a mild interest in archaeology, and yes, I have added North Norfolk England to my bucket list of places to visit.  I was as enamored with the Saltmarsh as the woman who lived there. 

One of the reasons I really enjoyed Ruth’s company is I can relate to her.  I know nothing of archeology, but I know what it is like to push 40 as a childless woman.  I know the feeling of being left out of the mother’s club, of being told I will never appreciate my mother because I don’t have children of my own.  Like Ruth, I had a life changing moment that made me realize that last criticism is a bunch of malarkey.  I can’t write enough about how much I liked Ruth.  Through all that happened to her, she never played the victim.  She was smart, fearless, quick-witted and sincere.  She was passionate about her work and not afraid of the choices she made and the woman she is.  To Ms. Griffiths’ credit, she created a woman whom I will continue to follow.  I want to know what happens to her next. 

Ruth Galloway isn’t the only enjoyable character in The Crossing Places.  I quite enjoyed Harry Nelson.  Okay, fine, I have a mad literary crush on him.  And thanks to his wife, I can only picture him being played by George Clooney.   He is rough around the edges, but he’s resilient and he doesn’t give up.  My other favorite character in this novel is Cathbad.  Oh, man, he made me laugh.  I can only hope that he comes back in future books.  Is he a geek?  Oh yes.  Is he intelligent?  Yes again.  Is he the comic relief in this novel?  Absolutely.  He brought a touch of humor when one was needed.

The story moves quickly.  There were a couple of plot twists and turns I did not expect.  In the same token, there were a couple I guessed in advance.  Even so, this didn’t deter me from absolutely loving this the novel.  I must commend Ms. Griffiths’ for the way she handled the story of child abduction and murder.  She wrote the perspectives of the girls’ parents, Ruth and Nelson with compassion, caring, and understanding.  I felt it was earnest and touching. 

Thanks to Jenn and Elly Griffiths, I am now a Ruth Galloway fan and look forward to reading more.

Final Take: 5/5


Jenn's Review: There was a fair bit of buzz surrounding this novel when it was first published in the US.  I'm no stranger to importing books from the UK (I own English versions of Meg Gardiner's novels as well as J.K. Rowling's) and here was a new forensic archaeologist series already imported for me!  It really seemed too good to pass up.

Elly Griffiths has written an entertaining, fast paced mystery.  I found myself easily gliding through the pages and read it in a day.  Having read almost every Kathy Reichs novel I was more than a little startled by the differences between a forensic anthropologist and a forensic archaeologist.  The speculation was killing me and I surprise myself by saying that I honestly missed the lab and the analysis of the bones.  The other thing that I had trouble getting used to was that the novel is written in the third person, present tense which I found jarring.  Every time I thought I'd gotten used to it, I'd find myself distracted by it all over again, because in truth, I'd just been converting everything to past tense as I read.  I think Ms. Griffiths intended for the voice to give it a sense of immediacy, but I found it disruptive.

The characters are likable, if not slightly stereotypical.  While I didn't dislike Ruth, I wasn't enamored with her either.  Actually, none of the characters were particularly memorable for me, perhaps because the present tense limited their development.  The biggest disappointment was that I picked the culprit about 50 pages in and no matter how many twists and turns Ms. Griffiths threw in, she did not shake me from my convictions.  I'm also not quite sure how I feel about the final personal plot twist for Ruth.

Despite my criticisms, this was an enjoyable read.  This is Elly Griffiths debut novel and I think my expectations were too high.  It will be interesting to see how the series grows with her.   Will I continue reading the Ruth Galloway mysteries?  Probably.  It makes for a perfect light mystery read.

Final Take:  3.75/5



Julie's Review: I wasn't sure what to expect with this book being a fan of Kathy Reichs' Temperance Brennan books, I didn't want it to be similar. Yes I know forensic anthropology is different than forensic archeology but they they are scientific and yes that stuff can go over my head if it's too detailed. I have to say that this is not the case with The Crossing Places. Ms. Griffiths keeps it simple even without making you feel like you are being talked down to in any way. It was an solid introduction to what will probably turn out to be another great forensic series.

I have to admit that at times Ruth got on my nerves. It wasn't so much that she was whining, because it wasn't that, it was more like she kept second guessing herself in her personal life.  I get it we all do that, but I felt like she kept singing the same tune throughout the book and it got under my skin. I want Ruth to be happy and to be decisive. I want her to use her decisiveness from her work into her personal life.

What really hooked me into the book was the mystery surrounding the abduction of Lucy Downey and then of Scarlet Henderson. You want to know if the girls are all right and if they will be rescued.

Ms. Griffiths does an excellent job of placing "red herrings" within the novel. You think you have it figured out but then she reveals something else that makes you stop and rework your thoughts.

I really loved Harry Nelson. He was rough and gruff but he really wanted to find Lucy and Scarlet. Lucy was a case that had been haunting him for 10 years. He wanted closure for himself, her parents and perhaps Lucy. He had been put through the ringer and having another missing girl wasn't helping his status either.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and commend Jenn on another good pick. Will I be rushing out to finish the series? Not immediately, but I will get around to it at some point in the future.



Final Take: 3.75/5

Group Review: To Kill A Mockingbird

 Summary:  The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic. Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, To Kill A Mockingbird takes readers to the roots of human behavior - to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humor and pathos. Now with over 18 million copies in print and translated into forty languages, this regional story by a young Alabama woman claims universal appeal. Harper Lee always considered her book to be a simple love story. Today it is regarded as a masterpiece of American literature.  ~goodreads.com

Alice's Review:  When Julie suggested this novel, I was apprehensively curious.  I hadn’t read it.  I know many people were required to read ToKill A Mockingbird in either grammar or high school.  I wasn’t one of them.  I didn’t know anything about it.  I thought Harper Lee was a man.  Yes, I was clueless.

What strikes me the most about this novel is that I know every time I read it (and I will read it again), I will get something else from it.  This time I was moved by the flow of the story, by the courage it took Ms. Lee to write and publish it at one of the darkest times in US history.  I was moved by the inspiration she weaved into the pages, for her wisdom in human emotions and how truthfully she conveys them in black and white (no pun intended).  This novel is a gift to readers. 

Ms. Lee brings together a cast of character that reflects the time with stark honesty.  I loved Scout, she was full of moxie, spirit and truth.  Told from her point of view, she made me laugh out loud at times.  I loved Jem.  It was a joy and heartbreak watching him mature right before my eyes.  Atticus has such strength and peace.  He did what was right, what was fair.  He believed in justice and loved his children more than anything.  Miss Maudie was straight up ballsy.  She had class and was a force to be reckoned with.

This novel is classic, it’s perfect.  It’s the kind of novel that everyone must read.  I’m ashamed it took me this long to read it and I’m happy Julie choose this novel. 

The final thing I will take away from To Kill A Mockingbird is what Atticus says about Mrs. Dubose. 

“I wanted you to see what real courage is….It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.  You rarely win, but sometimes you do.” 

This novel is a winner.

Final Take: 5/5

Jenn's Review:  This was not one of my favorite reads in school.  I thought it was an horribly ugly topic and I didn't like reading about it.  Truthfully, I still don't like reading it, but I think that the 20 or so year age difference of this reader gives me a little better perspective on things. Honestly, I think half of the books we read in school we don't fully grasp the depth of for years to come, but that's another matter entirely.  At least it gets kids thinking, right?

This time through I saw things more from Atticus' point of view than Scout's.  Atticus was a good and slightly unconventional father, but I still find it strange that he never remarried.  I know it's touched on in the book and he certainly had help, but as a parent of that generation, he was definitely unique.  It struck me that things I found so significant as a teen are different than the ones that hit home for me now. For example Scout standing up to the mob made my parental heart leap out of my chest... though I still found Scout's schooling just as frustrating as I did as a teen.

This book is full of messages with lots of little anecdotes along the way.  While I'm glad I read it and re-read it, I'm also glad to leave it behind.  I've always felt the story encompassed a little too much, but then again, Harper Lee does it so well.  Next time I revisit this, if I revisit it, it will be with Gregory Peck

Final Take: 4.5/5

Julie's Review: Seriously, what can you say about this book that probably already hasn't been said, except for how it affected you personally. There is a reason To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic. Simply put, it holds up. While some of the racism and thinking of a small southern town has perhaps gotten better, the fact of the matter is that there are some people who have small town thinking.

I think one thing that stood out for me is that the storyline about Boo Radley and Tom are different. Most people of course remember Atticus defending Tom and confuse him with Boo. As the book goes on it's very clear they are two different men.

I loved Scout. I loved Atticus for letting her be herself and not trying to force her into conforming to what society thought a good should be and be doing. I loved Jem for his sensitive and thoughtful nature. I loved that I learned how Atticus was ahead of his time in his way of thinking. I love how Attitcus made Jem read to Mrs. Dubose near the end of her life to make him understand that everyone has their troubles and things to overcome. I loved how three young kids sat up in the balcony with the black residents during the trial.

As an adult, I found the parts about the kids making up stories about Boo funny. I mean don't we all make up stories about people we don't know anything about? Maybe in particular our neighbors. It is the unknown that makes us curious as children and carries over into adulthood.

The supporting cast of characters help round out how small Maycomb really is in the novel. Sure, these times were a lot simpler in some aspects but then I see the way people thought back then and I'm not sure they were better. Even Aunt Alexadra is simple minded in her way of thinking. She's so concerned about the family's name and not the fact that Atticus is standing up for what is right.

While obviously the overall tone and message of the book is serious, there are some parts that are genuinely funny and help to perhaps alleviate the subject matter if only for a page or two. The subject matter isn't one that is easy to read but it's not like it doesn't serve a purpose. Most things that are unpleasant often teach us something about ourselves.

I wonder how many people today would be willing to put themselves out there for another human being even though they will be vilified? It takes a very unique person to do that and to not let it change their mind about mankind.

This novel is being handed to my best friend's 12 year old son to read. I think as he enters 7th grade, it is the perfect read for him. I can't wait for my children to get old enough so we can read this book together.

If you haven't read To Kill a Mockingbird, or if it's been a long time, I can't recommend it enough for you to experience.

Final Take: 5/5

Group Review: The Secret of Joy

Summary: IS THE HALF SISTER THAT REBECCA STRAND HAS NEVER MET SHORT? TALL? RICH? POOR? PRETTY? FUNNY? MARRIED? LONELY? HAPPY?...Rebecca is about to find out. The New York City paralegal thought nothing could shake her life off its fast track -- which includes her handsome lawyer boyfriend and their extravagant condo. The shocking revelation that she even has a half sister comes from her dying father, in a hospital bed confession of a long-past summer affair...and now the dad she adores has one last wish: would Rebecca deliver a cache of letters he never sent to his other daughter, Joy Jayhawk, in a tiny coastal Maine town? But when Rebecca arrives in Wiscasset, with the life-changing letters stashed in a leather box, nothing goes as she imagined -- and Joy Jayhawk is less than thrilled to meet her. Joy already has her own life, her own family, and her own business: she runs a bus tour for singles, a matchmaking excursion that's brought lovers together, healed broken hearts, and changed lives. Rebecca joins the singles tour in the hopes of unlocking a door into Joy's life and forming a relationship with the only family she has left. But as she spends more and more time with Joy and the women who dub themselves The Divorced Ladies Club of Wiscasset -- and starts a flirtation with a seriously hunky local carpenter -- Rebecca realizes it's her life and heart that are ready for healing and change...and that sometimes, you just have to go along for the ride. ~amazon.com

Alice's Review:  I really liked this book.  It was sweet and a great example of a perfect summer read but with a little bit of substance.  I haven’t read a Melissa Senate novel since See Jane Date back when I was heavy into Chick Lit.  I’m happy to see that she hasn’t lost her touch creating likable female leads.

I really liked Rebecca although in the beginning I wondered if she was another one of those perfect female characters who passes gas that smells like roses.  Thankfully, Ms. Senate gave her a slightly desperate quality that made her annoying yet endearing.  I will say I loved her tenacity.  I also loved that she didn’t force the situation into what she wanted, she hung back, didn’t give up and let the cards fall where they may. 

I also liked Joy a lot.  I liked how cautious she was.  She wasn’t as desperate for this new found sister relationship as Rebecca was.  In all fairness to Rebecca, her situation was very different.  Joy was established, secure in her current relationships. Rebecca was floundering, lost, lonely.

There were many things that Ms. Senate did well.  She was thoughtful in giving Joy troubles that were indirectly related to issues with her birth father.  Another thing Ms. Senate she excelled at was creating a perfect setting in Maine.  More than once during the novel, I wanted to hop in my car and drive up for a whoopie pie at Mama’s.  I wanted to find my own perfect little yellow house.  I wanted to look from my own Mr. Theo Grander and a cute little mutt named Charlie.  Ms. Senate truly transported me there.  It was a great escape.

I would recommend this novel.  It’s touching, funny with a great cast of characters.  I believe Ms. Senate does it again.

Final Take:  4/5

Jenn's Review:  This book was my pick, and though I don't read a lot of Contemporary Fiction, I was just so smitten with Melissa Senate's The Love Goddess' Cooking School that I decided I wanted to try something else she'd written.  While I would say this book does not speak to me the way The Love Goddess' Cooking School did, I still found it enjoyable.

Part of the reason that I didn't like it as much may have something to do with the fact that I had a hard time liking Rebecca.  She was so needy and clingy... my own personal reaction to that is to want to backpedal quickly, much like Joy.  However, I didn't find Joy that easy to identify with either.  I wanted to shake them both several times over at more than one point.  I was also surprised at what little empathy I had for the Bitter Ex's club, and not just because I'm happily married.  Prior to meeting my husband, I had similar relationship horror stories to all of the club and there are two things I learned.   First, you have to be happy as one before you can be happy as two.  Second, the old 'fool me once' adage stands because I may be able to forgive, but I am never able to forget.  Unfortunately, instead of evoking empathy the Ex Club angered me; I was frustrated with the whole of them for giving third and fourth chances and for not valuing their own worth.  I think the only character I really connected with was Theo.  By the end of the book, I learned to like Rebecca but her lesson was long and arduous, for both of us.

All that aside, there are some wonderful gems of advice and great relationship questions tackled in this book.  When is enough enough?  When do you give up?  When do you close the door?  When do you try harder?  Melissa Senate declares, you are the only one who knows what's right for you, and you must follow your instincts.

In the end, it is Melissa Senates wonderful ability to weave a story, even if it is a frustrating one, that wins the day.  Though The Love Goddess' Cooking School is still on my list of all time favorites, I will be more selective in picking up another novel by Melissa Senate.  This is not at all a reflection on her, but on my lack of interest in the Contemporary Women's Fiction genre overall.  However, if she writes more Food-lit I'll be the first in line.

Final Take:  3.75/5

Julie's Review:  The Secret of Joy is a delightful book with a message that always bears repeating: how to find joy in your life. Although the title of the book has several meanings, which I thought was very clever. You know how when you start a book and you can kind of tell or feel where it will go but you are ok with that? This was my experience with The Secret of Joy. I was happy with the ending and couldn't really imagine anything else.

While Rebecca thinks this trip is about discovering her long lost half-sister, it's really about her figuring out what she wants and doesn't want in her life. It's about her taking control of her life and living it, not just functioning in it. I will admit that there were times when Rebecca got on my nerves. I wanted to shake her and tell her that this isn't just about her. It's about Joy and letting her process all of this. Joy might be closed off and have a wall built up around her but Rebecca is no better in many ways. A lot of times I thought that Rebecca was a "bull in a china shop" because she would just stick to her guns regardless of the situation.

That's not saying that I didn't like Rebecca because I did. She is a very caring and thoughtful individual. She wants to help people and doesn't like to hurt any one's feelings. Although that last point can make her indecisive.

The Secret of Joy is filled with wonderful supporting characters. Maggie is a hoot and Ellie needs some serious self-confidence and a backbone. Joy is complex and that makes her interesting to try to get to know. She is having trouble in her marriage but it's really about Joy's inability to open up to her husband. I can't even talk about Theo without getting stars in my eyes. I'm sure he has faults but Ms. Senate didn't explore them.

Overall, I enjoyed the novel. All of the characters grew and learned something about themselves and each other. Some of the revelations were ground breaking and some were not but hey, that's life.

I have Melissa Senate's The Love Goddess' Cooking School on my TBR pile and I know that I'll move it a little closer to the top after reading this novel.

Anyone looking for a good, solid summer read can definitely pick up The Secret of Joy. You might even finish it in one visit to the beach or pool.

Final Take: 3.75/5

Have you read The Secret of Joy?  Come discuss it with us at Goodreads!
 

Group Review: The Dressmaker

Summary: Just in time for the centennial anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic comes a vivid, romantic, and relentlessly compelling historical novel about a spirited young woman who survives the disaster only to find herself embroiled in the media frenzy left in the wake of the tragedy.

Tess, an aspiring seamstress, thinks she's had an incredibly lucky break when she is hired by famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon to be a personal maid on the Titanic's doomed voyage. Once on board, Tess catches the eye of two men, one a roughly-hewn but kind sailor and the other an enigmatic Chicago millionaire. But on the fourth night, disaster strikes.

Amidst the chaos and desperate urging of two very different suitors, Tess is one of the last people allowed on a lifeboat. Tess’s sailor also manages to survive unharmed, witness to Lady Duff Gordon’s questionable actions during the tragedy. Others—including the gallant Midwestern tycoon—are not so lucky.

on dry land, rumors about the survivors begin to circulate, and Lady Duff Gordon quickly becomes the subject of media scorn and later, the hearings on the Titanic. Set against a historical tragedy but told from a completely fresh angle, The Dressmaker is an atmospheric delight filled with all the period's glitz and glamour, all the raw feelings of a national tragedy and all the contradictory emotions of young love. ~product description

Alice's Review:  So far this year I have read many novels.  The Dressmaker is hands down my favorite 2012 read.  There is something so wonderful about this story.  It encompasses hope, inspiration and courage at one of the most tragic times in maritime history.  The reason this novel intrigued me at first had nothing to do with the Titanic, and everything to do with my mother being a dressmaker.  She learned to sew as a child in Portugal.  To this day, sewing is still her passion.  Sadly, her passion didn’t rub off on my sister, brother and me.  I love watching her work, to create a beautiful garment from a bolt of flat fabric.  It’s magical.  And like my mom’s sewing, this novel is magical too.

It was easy for me to get wrapped up in the characters very quickly.  I found courage and resolve in Tess; passion and desire to succeed in Jim; spirit and moxie in Pinky who was by far my favorite character.  Come to think of it, all the characters encompassed all these qualities but at different levels.  Ms. Alcott did a great job of developing realistic traits in all her characters, even in someone like our villainess Lucile.  There was a great poise to her that made me love to hate her.  I took the emotional journey with Tess through their relationship.  In the end, I came to the same conclusion as Tess.  Maybe it is because it took place during an actual event that made the characters more convincing.  Whatever it was, I had to remind myself that this novel was a work of fiction based on actual events.

Although I enjoyed the prospect of love for Tess, I’m glad it wasn’t the center of this novel.  I do love what Tess said when she made her choice.  She left one suitor with this:  “I don’t feel what I want to feel.”    It’s a wonderful truth, and one that took a lot of courage to say. 

This novel flows skillfully and is a quick read.  I was engrossed in the story from the start.  Although there is a lot going on (witness testimony, Lucile’s sewing loft, Pinky’s reporter job), I never felt lost or confused.  The individual stories fused together seamlessly. 

I realize that my final take is a slight contradiction to my review.  The reason I did not give it a five is that I honestly think it didn’t deserve it.  It came very close, but I think it’s unfair to give a five simply because of how much I loved it.  The Dressmaker lacked a certain level of polish.  I think the flaw was in the dialogue between the characters.  Sometimes it was spot-on and perfect, other times it was forced.  Overall, this novel is a must read for anyone who is a Titanic buff, enjoys historical fiction, or roots for the underdog.

Final Take: 4/5


Jenn's Review:  I don't read a lot of historical fiction, not because I don't like it, but more because I've attempted some that were just too unwieldy. Plus I find myself more comfortable about reading about times and events in history that I'm fairly familiar with so that I can be sure that there are facts supporting the fiction.  (What can you expect?  I come from a long line of history buffs and married a social studies teacher!) I'll admit I was leery of The Dressmaker. There are so many Titanic related books out there and so few of them are good... or even close to accurate.

I found Kate Alcott's focus on the aftermath refreshing.  There is much  to be said about the aftermath of his tragedy that rocked the Western hemisphere.   It was a period in America marked with progress and that certain invincibility that comes with boundless opportunity.  Although Ms. Alcott barely scratches the surface of the despicable dealings of the White Star Line with the inquest.  She focuses mainly upon Ismay who was culpable and contemptible in his own right but chooses to skim over their many other injustices.   (Did you know that the bereaved families of the musicians were charged for their unreturned uniforms?!?)  But the story she chooses to tell is an interesting one.  Can you assign blame?  When faced with tragedy on that scale are your actions heroic, cowardly, unnecessarily risky, or downright selfish?  

I was glad to see references made to the stories I knew, and glad she chose to include certain unavoidable characters. I would have loved to have seen more of Margaret Brown in the story... And perhaps some of Lady Astor, but I digress. I love that she used actual transcripts form the hearings, with some minor exceptions, and that she captured the scope of the survivors guilt and, in some cases, unabashed defiance. 

I can honestly say that I never fully understood Lady Duff Gordon. Though she was a real survivor, she never really came together for me as a character.  Ms. Alcott gave her plenty of back story, being self-made and  suffering many hardships, but I just couldn't grasp her.  Perhaps it's the fine line between genius and insanity, but Madame Lucille definitely came off as slightly deranged. I understand Tess' loyalty and her conflicted convictions when it came to her employer.  Though I enjoyed the character of  Pinky, I was never sure where she stood, especially on the subject of Jim.  Next to 'The Unsinkable Molly Brown', I think Elinor was probably the character that I liked best. As for the romance, it seemed to be forced human interest; the Jack Bremerton storyline was far fetched, though it served as a valiant literary device.  

While I think Kate Alcott did a great job of blending fact and fiction, I'm not sure how much I would have enjoyed this book if it wasn't a subject I was interested in and knew so much about.  Or perhaps that's the problem, perhaps I have too much appreciation of the facts.  I would be certainly be willing to read another book by Ms. Alcott, because her research is fantastic.  

Final Take:  3.75/5


Julie's Review: I'm not obsessed with everything Titanic but I will admit to seeing James Cameron's Titanic more than once and less than 10 times in the theater. So when we were looking at books for our challenge I pretty much knew that either Alice or I would pick The Dressmaker. It the end it is a novel about redemption, love and freedom.

Any time I read a book or watch the movie, when the Titanic sinks I am reduced to tears. It is tragic in so many ways. Our heroine, Tess manages to get in one of the lifeboats and make her way to America. It is not without consequences for her and she finds the lady who gives her the opportunity is also the one amid much controversy. Tess spends much of the novel trying to derive fact from fiction. Lucile is mercurial at best but she can teach Tess about the fashion industry and that is something that she desperately wants.

I agree with Alice while there was romance in the novel it wasn't the center focus of the book. By doing this Ms. Alcott let other relationships flourish or flounder. There was never a doubt in my mind which man Tess would end up choosing in the end. Just like you know Rose would chose Jack. The relationships in the book that I enjoyed the most though were the ones between Lucile and Elinor and Pinky and her father. Elinor supported Lucile because she knew in the end it would come down to only her. Pinky's father supported her because he knew that she was good at her job and was destined for great things.

I loved how the novel really did center around the tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic. Ms. Alcott did a fantastic job of bringing in the inquiry information and making it seamless to the story. I can only imagine how big of a deal this was back in 1912 for a U.S. Senator to go after a British company and British citizens to find out how an "unsinkable" ship indeed did sink.

For readers of historical fiction this is a gem of a book to not be missed.


Final Take: 4/5

Group Review: Joy For Beginners

Summary: Having survived a life-threatening illness, Kate celebrates by gathering with six close friends.  At an intimate, outdoor dinner on a warm September evening, the women challenge Kate to start her new lease on life by going white-water rafting down the Grand Canyon with her daughter.  Kate, however, is reluctant to take the risk.  That is, until her friend Marion proposes a pact: if Kate will face the rapids, each woman will do one thing in the next year that scares her.  Kate agrees, with one provision — she didn’t get to choose her challenge, so she gets to choose theirs. ~product description

Alice's Review:  This was a lovely little novel, each story linked by friendship, compassion, and hope.

Kate, a breast cancer survivor, challenges her closest friends to do something that scares them.  With each challenge, we learn more about the women, about the past that shapes them.  The two stories that touched me most were Caroline and Hadley.  While the other stories focused on redemption of sorts, I felt that these two focused on acceptance. 

This is the kind of novel that is passed along from friend to friend, mother to daughter.  It highlights the bonds that women form, the way we band together to help one in need.  It reminds us to challenge each other, to seek our happiness, to remember that we are more than just a disease, a fear, or an unhappiness.  We let those things make our worlds small when we have the power to reach beyond and find our joy.  Sometimes it helps to have someone point us in the right direction. 

I  recommend this Joy For Beginners.  Especially if you need a little hope or a little help rediscovering your joy. 

Final Take: 3/5

Jenn's Review: After becoming addicted to Sarah Addison Allen's novels, I was searching for more food lit; Erica Bauermeister's The of Essential Ingredients (recommended by Ms. Allen) was one of the first books I read on my food-lit quest ~and I loved it. So I was excited when I learned Ms. Bauermeister had a new novel. Though it is contemporary fiction, not food-lit, and a little out of my normal genre comfort zone, I felt confident that Ms. Bauermeister's ability to weave a story would keep me engaged. I was not disappointed.

As with The of Essential Ingredients, there are several characters whose lives intersect because of one more central character. In Joy for Beginners, it is Kate who is having a victory dinner to celebrate the remission of her cancer. She assigns each friend a goal, something that must be accomplished in a years time. They aren't scary or impossible things, but, having spent so much time with them as they helped her through her illness, they are things she has gleaned will help them move on with their lives. Each woman gets their own chapter and we learn a little about their past and their present. Everyone makes progress, and sometimes in surprising ways.

My only regret is that Erica Bauermeister never delves into the character's futures. This is also very similar to The of Essential Ingredients.  As the novel drew to a close, I found myself wishing for one more summative chapter including all the women. Though her final chapter is about Kate, which is probably as it should be, as she is the ribbon that binds this group together. I guess you could say, her novels are a bit like life, open ended for continuous adventures. Still, I longed for a tad more closure.

However, I know I will return to Erica Bauermeister again with each new novel, for her insight is so keen. She takes defining moments in life, and gives you a snapshot and I love that about her writing.

Final Take: 4/5

Julie's Review: I love that we all have such different tastes in books and yet  Joy For Beginners is one that is right up my alley but I probably wouldn't have known about it except for Jenn. What starts off as a celebratory dinner with friends to celebrate Kate beating cancer, quickly turns into a challenge of fears. Kate's friends encourage her to go white water rafting with her daughter. Kate agrees but then tells her friends that each of them need to conquer a fear of theirs. The catch, Kate gets to pick what they need to conquer.

What we get in the novel is a chapter dedicated to each of the women at the dinner. What we get is 9 unique stories about these women's lives. These women are your friends, your mom and your sister. Some stories were more interesting and intriguing than others, but that's life. Some people have more to overcome than others. While some fears might not seem big to us, they are big to that person.

Each of the women's story doesn't have nice bows to wrap them up but you do feel that you aren't hanging without an ending. You know their lives will go on after these challenges and that each will be ok facing a fear, perhaps they will be even stronger because of it.

As always you have the stories you connect with as a reader and that will be different than everyone. I connected with Caroline's story. Not because of getting a divorce but because of having to purge books. I mean it's not their fault her husband was a jerk?! I also liked Sara's story. As a mother, who adores her children, I can only dream of taking a trip on her own to some place like Italy. Now, I'm not sure I'd go there, I'd want to share that one with my family but I'd be on a beach somewhere. (Traveling for work doesn't count here).

I think there is something for everyone in this novel. It makes you think about what your fear would be to conquer. I'm still thinking about mine. :) As we are either on or coming up on Spring Break and then summer, this would be a great read for either of those or a nice long weekend.

A couple side notes:  This book was on my Christmas wish list to my husband so he went out of his way to get me a copy but the only one he could fine was a large print version. So I read a huge hardcover with huge words in it. It could have been worse, a small print version.

Also, I seem to be reading a lot of authors that are from Seattle lately. I feel like I need a trip there to scope out everything in their books.

Final Take: 3.75/5


 

Group Review: The Night Circus

Summary: The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. 

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart. ~product description

Alice's Review:  This novel is visually stunning.  From the dust jacket art to the embossed cover, it’s perfect.  What thrills me is the beauty is carried through the novel in words.  Erin Morgenstern is amazing; simply amazing.   From the first page, she drew me into a world of black & white and vivid color.  If I closed my eyes, I was there.  I wanted to be there.  Oh, how I wished the circus were real.  Everything about this book is magical.  Everything.

From the moment I heard about this novel, I was intrigued.  Between the circus setting and the love story, I knew The Night Circus would be pure magic.  And oh, there are so many things that make this novel magical.  I’m not even sure where to begin. Should it be the characters or the concept or the beauty of words Ms. Morgenstern enchants us with?  This novel has it all.  Mystery, betrayal, love, hope.

It had so many morsels of goodness too.  By the time I was done, I had so many flags sticking out of the pages it looked more like a college textbook than a novel.   It touched my heart, my soul.  Not only was I transported to a world I wish existed beyond Ms. Morgenstern’s imagination, but also I was inspired.   

I love when she writes “There’s emotion…It almost contradicts itself. It’s as if there is love and loss at the same time, together in a kind of beautiful pain.”

My favorite chapter in this novel is called Movement. It is when Celia meets Herr Friedrick Thiessen, the clockmaker. Although Celia’s heart belongs to another, there is something so wonderful in reading how their friendship began.  How there is mutual respect and admiration between them.  He was one of the few people Celia trusts.  I love how Friedrick  says, “Because I do not wish to know. I prefer to remain unenlightened, to better appreciate the dark.”

And finally I love how Marco builds Celia a ship. “Only the ship is made of books, its sails thousands of overlapping pages, and the sea it floats upon in dark black ink.”

Perfect.  Now go read it.  Trust us.

Final Take: 5/5

Jenn's Review:  I was mildly interested in this book when it came out, even though it is outside my normal comfort genres.  The buzz was good and it sounded like an interesting premise.  However, without this challenge, I may never have picked it up, and that would have been a tragedy.

I find myself for a loss of words, and that in itself is a rarity.  There aren't enough words to describe the wonder that is The Night Circus.  It's stunning.  The novels I adore are the ones that keep me from becoming a writer; I could never be this imaginative or this creative... Erin Morgenstern makes all my ideas mundane.  Her writing ebbs and flows and eddies and swirls... but in something more viscous than water... perhaps molasses.  It was gooey, but never heavy, enveloping and delicious.

The premise, the characters, the setting, all fabulous and brought to life by Ms. Morgenstern's languid style.  What I found most interesting, though was the way the chronology of the story jumps between the present, 1902, and the past.  It takes real talent to make time shifts work without being confusing.  Ms. Morgenstern gives the reader glimpses of what is to be and then the story of how it came to be ~and it's done perfectly.  I was so entranced in the story that the glimpses of where the story was headed, though intriguing, didn't consume me with questions they just lit the path.  Only once did  I draw an inference from a flash-forward, and I was completely wrong; I stopped analyzing and let Ms. Morgenstern spin her story.  That's another wondrous achievement, for since I've become a book blogger I often find I read more critically.  Ms. Morgenstern allowed me to read like a reader, to just be consumed be the pages.

This is not just making my top reads of 2012 list, but one of my top reads ever.  It is one of those books I will recommend to strangers in book stores, because I just can't help sharing.

Final Take:  5/5


Julie's Review:  Spellbound, enchanting, mystical and wondrous. I can't think of better words to describe Erin Morgenstern's debut novel The Night Circus. This book had a ton of buzz around it and now that I have read that final page, I can understand why. It is just so beautiful and magical. I don't usually like to draw comparisons to Harry Potter and JK Rowling but this book while not the same gave me the same feeling that I had while reading HP. I felt as if I was transported to another world. A world where I wanted to be and wish existed.

What I loved about Ms. Morgenstern's writing was that the love story was secondary to everything else that was going on in the book. At least it was to me. I was more in love withe the circus than I was with Celia and Marco. Now that's not saying that I didn't thoroughly enjoy that part of the book because I did, but I loved that it wasn't the focus of the entire novel. By the time it happened, I felt that it was natural and meant to unfold the way it did. All the secondary characters are vivid, mysterious and delightful. There is no character that is flat in this novel. Perhaps the biggest character is the circus itself. It is alive and vibrant; the center of the novel. She is also the master of not revealing all of her cards until the perfect time and she does this several times during the book. I wasn't sure how she was going to wrap everything up but she did so perfectly. There were no strings left untied.

I loved Celia. I loved her essence, her talent and her heart. She was easy to like and root for throughout the book. You also knew that she was heavily manipulated by her father and waited for her to break the strings that tied her to him. Marco was a wonderfully complex and mysterious character.

I was totally enraptured by this book. If I go on any longer, I would spoil plot points that are best left to the reader to explore themselves. I loved the book jacket for the hardcover. It is intricate, ornate and captures the novel. I don't normally "feel" the cover of the book but something my fingers to that circus tent and what a joy it was to discover that there was more to it than meets the eye.

Go read this book! You will be taken somewhere that you will want to never forget and will want to revisit many times.

Final Take: 5/5


Already read The Night Circus?  Join our discussion of this fabulous novel here on Goodreads.

Group Review: The Marriage Plot

Summary:  It’s the early 1980s—the country is in a deep recession, and life after college is harder than ever. In the cafés on College Hill, the wised-up kids are inhaling Derrida and listening to Talking Heads. But Madeleine Hanna, dutiful English major, is writing her senior thesis on Jane Austen and George Eliot, purveyors of the marriage plot that lies at the heart of the greatest English novels.


As Madeleine tries to understand why “it became laughable to read writers like Cheever and Updike, who wrote about the suburbia Madeleine and most of her friends had grown up in, in favor of reading the Marquis de Sade, who wrote about deflowering virgins in eighteenth-century France,” real life, in the form of two very different guys, intervenes. Leonard Bankhead—charismatic loner, college Darwinist, and lost Portland boy—suddenly turns up in a semiotics seminar, and soon Madeleine finds herself in a highly charged erotic and intellectual relationship with him. At the same time, her old “friend” Mitchell Grammaticus—who’s been reading Christian mysticism and generally acting strange—resurfaces, obsessed with the idea that Madeleine is destined to be his mate.


Over the next year, as the members of the triangle in this amazing, spellbinding novel graduate from college and enter the real world, events force them to reevaluate everything they learned in school. Leonard and Madeleine move to a biology Laboratory on Cape Cod, but can’t escape the secret responsible for Leonard’s seemingly inexhaustible energy and plunging moods. And Mitchell, traveling around the world to get Madeleine out of his mind, finds himself face-to-face with ultimate questions about the meaning of life, the existence of God, and the true nature of love.


Are the great love stories of the nineteenth century dead? Or can there be a new story, written for today and alive to the realities of feminism, sexual freedom, prenups, and divorce? With devastating wit and an abiding understanding of and affection for his characters, Jeffrey Eugenides revives the motivating energies of the Novel, while creating a story so contemporary and fresh that it reads like the intimate journal of our own lives. ~product description

Jenn's Review:  One of the marvelous things about our reading challenge is that it gets each of us to step outside our genre comfort zone.  That being said, this book is not of a genre I particularly enjoy.  I wouldn't say I had low expectations for this book, I was actually quite hopeful... I'm really looking forward to reading Alice's and Julie's reviews, because maybe they can point out something I missed, because I don't get it.

Seriously?  That's it?!?  I feel like I just sat through Remains of the Day again.  I just kept waiting for something to happen -anything to happen- and nothing ever did.  I would say that the story ends right where you expect it to, but, no, I actually think it ends just before that (perhaps as an effort to prevent anything from happening?).  I am a firm believer that a story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end.  It's why I don't write.  I only ever have two of the three.  For me, The Marriage Plot was all middle.

The characters were mildly interesting, but I wasn't really attached to them  I think it's actually a credit to Jeffrey Eugenides writing style that he kept me engaged enough to not set the book down.  It reads like three separate diaries and while I'm not sure why I should have taken an interest in any of them, I found his narrative style enjoyable.  However, I found it extremely odd that Madeleine has no genuine female friends.  I know dealing with mental illness can be isolating, but this detail was just downright strange. I'd chalk it up to the fact that we just didn't see them because the story was about her relationship with Leonard (and her lack of relationship with Mitchell), but those are exactly the things you involve your girlfriends in. It just doesn't fit.

Though I liked Jeffrey Eugenides narrative style, I obviously didn't care for his narrative. I didn't feel like any of the characters really learned anything or changed.  They were just amplifications of who they were when the novel began.  I hope my friends can enlighten me.  I'm mystified.

Final Take:  3/5

Alice's Review:  One of the many reasons I like challenges is it brings me out of my reading comfort zone. I wouldn’t have picked The Marriage Plot in a million years. I can’t remember the last time I read a novel in the literary fiction category. After reading this one, I know why.

Two things trouble me about literary fiction. The first is the use of ten-dollar words when nickel words work just fine. The second is using 100 words for something that could be said in five. This book is all about the big descriptions. Mr. Eugenides loves to go on and on. And on. Granted, he does it very well but after a while, I was speaking to my Kindle saying “spit it out already!”

I read this waiting for something to happen. Nothing happened or at least it felt like nothing happened. The novel follows the lives of three people who meet in college: Madeleine, the smart and beautiful girl who took the chance on love; Leonard, the charismatic but troubled boy warring with his inner demon; and Mitchell (my favorite), the visionary and seeker. The novel begins at graduation and ends a couple years later with each character passage into adulthood. Some journeys were literal but all were emotional.

Considering how difficult it was for me to get into this novel, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I am not sure if it was because of writing itself, of Mitchell and his journey, or if I was glad it was finally over. I really enjoyed how Mr. Eugenides filled the holes of the story with each person’s point of view. I loved the “two sides of every story” basis. As much as I criticize the wordiness of this novel, I think it is essential to reveal the inner workings of the characters. I like that the novel felt unfinished. That Madeleine, Leonard and Mitchell still had a way to go, their journey far from over.

If it wasn’t for the challenge, I wouldn’t have read this book. After reading it, I probably won’t recommend it unless someone wanted a good stick to your ribs novel, one that feeds your brain more than your soul. And truth be told, I’m not in a rush to read anything else by Mr. Eugenides.

Final Take: 3/5


Julie's Review: This was my pick for the GJR Challenge and while I've read Eugenides before, I was wondering if The Marriage Plot would live up to all the hype. It did and it didn't. While it was a solid book, it wasn't great. I felt that I was taking up residency in 3 people's minds that were a bit self-involved, which didn't make them likable at first. I did feel like the book had a beginning, middle and end but we just came into their lives for a certain snapshot of it. The book was more character driven than plot driven. So, if you didn't like them or identify with them or even care about them, the book would be a bore.

I will say that off the bat it took me a bit to get into the book and well honestly made me feel a little less than smart. I had to look up a bunch of the authors on Madeleine's bookshelves and what the heck semiotics meant. Once I got past the pretentiousness of the book, I started to enjoy it. I wanted to know what was going to have to the threesome. I loved that we got to see all three characters through each others eyes. It always gives you a different perspective. Since it was character driven, I need to talk about each of them separately.

Leonard: It's not that he's difficult to like but I had a very hard time understanding the attraction or appeal of him. I couldn't quite wrap my head around why the girls on campus thought he was hot stuff and then what it was that Madeleine saw him. Then I got it, he was intense and brilliant. He really listened to you. He was engaged in conversations, he looked people straight in the eye and made them feel important.

Unfortunately, Leonard became engulfed by his disease; manic depression and in the end it made him into someone else. Mr. Eugenides did a great job of describing Manic Depression and how it not only affected the person afflicted with it but also those around them. Do I think Leonard loved Madeleine? Yes I believe he did. He was a complex character because of being manic. Would Leonard ever fulfill his own brilliance? I can honestly say that he probably does not, which is sad.

Madeleine: For me she was the least likable character of the three. She lived in her head and in her books for far to long to understand what real life really was and how to deal with it. She wanted to rescue Leonard from himself because she was so in love with him, she thought she could. She was trying to learn about love from a book, instead of just living it. Every feeling or thought she had about love, had to be validated by A Lover's Discourse by Roland Barthes.

She had no sense of who she was when she was with Leonard. She became another appendage of his. Therefore, we had no true sense of who she was either.  It was in small flashes during the book that I really felt I could see what she could be, if she just let herself. In the end, Madeleine will probably go on to be a pioneer in Women in Literature studies at some university since in a book is where she feels most comfortable. For me, she lived her life on the sidelines instead of being in the game.

Mitchell:  He is perhaps the easiest of the three to like and identify with, at least for me. At first he's a bit like a puppy dog in regards to Madeleine. He is so desperate to have her, he becomes a bit desperate himself. The best thing he did for himself was go on his trip and yet he couldn't escape thoughts of Madeleine. I had to wonder if he was in love with her or if he was just infatuated with her because he couldn't have her?

He was the only character to really grow and change. Did he necessarily find what he was looking for in India? Probably not but as most people learn and he will to, life is about constantly learning and constantly searching. He is the one in the end who had the most peace, even if it wasn't through religion like he had pursued. He was the one that I championed for throughout the book.

In the end, the book was about growing up. Finding out who you are or in some cases who you aren't. It's about that weird stage in life where you go from being a student to having to be a self-sufficient adult. Some make the transition well and some will struggle their whole lives to figure it out.

Mr. Eugenides is a truly gifted writer and if this book had been written by someone else, it would have faltered. It's his eloquent writing that takes you through to the end. If you haven't read Eugenides yet, then I suggest starting with Middlesex. Also, Mr. Eugenides doesn't write a book annually, I will continue to read him because his books are intriguing and so well written.

Final Take: 3.75/5