SHS Book Club--Wonder and Me Before You

My daughter read Wonder by R.J. Palacio. She enjoyed it so much, which made me want to read it. Because it is a young adult book, it was a rather fast read. What a sweet book. It's mostly narrated by Auggie, a boy born with a facial abnormality. Other characters occasionally narrate, which becomes interesting mid-book. Wonder takes you back to junior high, when nothing you did, wore, or said made you fit in. Only for Auggie, this isn't an existence that will end for him. Ever. In reading this book, you gain a new appreciation and can put in perspective the level of bullying or insecurity you might have ever felt. That's one reason I think it is such a good book for kids/middle school-aged kids. They can realize that not only could it be worse but they can recognize their own abilities to be kind and thoughtful to others who might be different. I gave Wonder 4 out of 5 stars. I would have given it five but I had a problem with the changing narration.

An interesting note is that I read filming for the Wonder movie will begin this year.

Another book slated to be a movie in the next year is Me Before You by JoJo Moyes. This is a book that will stay with you for a few days after reading. You will go through aspects of it in your head over and over. I don't want to give too much away. Will Traynor is a young, handsome man whose fate leads him to become a quadriplegic man through a motorcycle accident. Lou Clark is a woman responsible for his daily care. Will isn't exactly warm and friendly to Lou but Lou is no shrinking flower and can definitely hold her own against Will. The book takes you through their moving story. And that's all I'll tell you! I gave this one 4 out of 5 stars. My reason has to do with Lou's mom's response to something I didn't think was necessary or normal.

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SHS Book Club

I'm almost caught up with my book reviews! Here is the last batch from 2014 and all the way up to January of 2015. I've read two more books since these but I'll post on those later.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini--Five stars (I have loved every book he has written!)

Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham--One star (I was surprised. I like Lena but this book wasn't for me.)

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry--Four stars

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline--Five stars

Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld--Four stars (I loved American Wife by this author too; see review here)

Smart Money Smart Kids: Raising the Next Generation to Win with Money by Rachel Cruze and Dave Ramsey--Five stars

Still Foolin' Em' by Billy Crystal--Three stars

The Andy Cohen Diaries: A Deep Look at a Shallow Year--Four stars (What can I say, I love all things pop culture. It intrigues me.)

Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult--Two stars

SHS Book Club--Even More 2014 Books

I met my Goodreads goal for 2014 and read a total of 28 books. Rather than review every single book here, I've been posting a collage of pictures of the book and giving my star rating for each book (this is out of five stars).

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs--Three stars

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn--Three stars

The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls--Three stars

Spelling It Like It Is by Tori Spelling--Two stars

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman--Five stars

The Giver by Lois Lowry--Four stars

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith--Two stars

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt--Three stars

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak--Five stars

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SHS Book Club--More Books Read in 2014

I'm finding it hard to keep up with writing book reviews. So, I thought I'd create a collage of the books I've read. Titles and ratings below (out of five stars). I hope to write more detailed reviews in the future.

Blue Plate Special: An Autobiography of My Appetites by Kate Christensen--Two Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green--Five Stars

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg--Four Stars

The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop & Café by Mary Simses--Two Stars

The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomons--Three Stars

Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson--Four Stars

The Friendship Doll by Kirby Larson--Five Stars

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter--One Star

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith--Four Stars

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SHS Bookclub

I'm so behind in my book reviews that I'm going to try to pile on a few each time I do a SHS Bookclub post.

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer was soooo not interesting. Definitely don't judge a book by its cover. Isnt' this a cool cover? Well the book is not. It is dull and drags on and on and on. It's quite a long book. It's about 6 people who met at camp when they were young. It follows their lives through their middle ages. It's unhopeful, sad, depressing, boring, dull, blah blah blah. I won't drone on. I didn't like it. Sorry Meg. I see she has a new book out. I just can't.

I read American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld and have since read another Sittenfeld book I'll tell you about another time. Great book. The book centers on the lives of Alice and Charlie Blackwell. Charlie Blackwell is a wealthy politician aiming for the highest office. The book is said to be somewhat in line with the history of George and Laura Bush. Many of Alice's life events mirror those of Laura Bush's, including the tragic accident that took place when Laura was seventeen. I love politics. If you don't, this probably isn't the book for you. Curtis Sittenfeld is a really good writer. I highly recommend!

Morning Glory by Sarah Jio is a great book! I gave it three stars on Goodreads. I would have given it more but it is fairly predicable. Despite that, it is a fast read and keeps your interest the entire time. The setting is a house boat community in Seattle. Now I don't know about you but I think that houseboats themselves are pretty interesting. Ada takes residence on the houseboat and discovers an old trunk belonging to a woman who lived on the boat 50 years earlier. Their stories intertwine and that's all I can really say without giving too much away. I love Jio and have liked every single book she's ever written. I will always grab a book of hers without hesitation.

I read Reshaping It All: Motivation for Physical and Spiritual Fitness by Candace Cameron Bure. I gave this book five stars on Goodreads. I think this is a book that every woman over 30 should read. Bure offers amazing biblical perspective into self-control and the ability to have a different perspective about food. If you are like me and have tried different diets and different exercise programs and continue to feel discouraged, you should really read this book. I was able to get so much more out of this book than I ever expected. I have highlighted quite a bit of it and refer back to it when I am discouraged or needing to reset my mind to what God wants me to believe. I'd like my daughter to read this one day in the distant future. It really is a good one!

The Bungalow by Sarah Jio is another great book. I just said above that I like Jio and think she is a consistently solid author. This book is no different. The book partially takes place in 1942 on an island near Bora Bora where Anne Calloway serves as a nurse during the war. The story is very touching and emotional. I don't want to write too much but just know that in typical Jio fashion there is love, loss, redemption, etc.

Ok, those are my reviews for now! I have plenty more. Yes, I'm a reading fiend. Where I find the time, I don't know but if my kids are getting hair cuts, I'm usually buried in a book. I find time when I can. I stick a heavy soap dispenser on my book and read while I blowdry my hair. That is a good 10 minutes I get in. I'm weird like that. If you are on Goodreads, follow me at https://www.goodreads.com/sillyhappysweet.

SHS Book Club--And the Mountains Echoed

I read And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini in three days. I didn't want to put it down but I didn't want it to end. I love books that take you to other places--books that have characters with real depth and heart. This is that kind of book. This is my first Hosseini book. I have The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns on my "Want to Read" list. I've read that And the Mountains Echoed isn't as good as his other two. If that is the case, I can read those two because I thought this was so good! I am saving those two for later because I know once I start them I will probably not put those down.

The book takes place in Afghanistan, Paris, San Francisco, and a Greek island. Don't worry, it is easy to follow. The theme of the novel is about separation. Despite the sad theme, the book is beautifully hopeful. If you see this book at your library, snap it up. My library never seems to have it available. I was on a waiting list for it.

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SHS Book Club--The Husband's Secret

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty is a book about a husband who writes a letter to his wife in the event of his death only his wife finds the letter while her husband is still alive. Intriguing, right? The plot had serious potential but it kind of all fell apart for me. I would have loved to see this book go more of the mystery route, instead it felt more like chick lit. The women in the book didn't have much depth and seemed gossipy and blah.

Having said that, I definitely got through the book quickly and wasn't bored. It is a good summer read. I can imagine this story being a "movie of the week" type of movie. Just like those movies, you are pulled in in the moment but asked months later what the book is about, you can't remember and have to read the jacket to recall.

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SHS Book Club--My two favorite books of 2013

I'm still catching up with books I read last year. I'm lumping two books together in this post because they were my absolute favorite. The first is The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. There are no words. This is a beautifully, touching book. The setting is Alaska, 1920. The main characters, Jack and Mabel are a childless couple who make their home in the brutal Alaska wilderness. The Snow Child story is inspired by a Russian folktale in which an elderly childless couple make a snow child that comes to life.

A lot of reviewers have commented that the beginning of this book is slow moving. I didn't notice that at all but mostly because it kept my attention and was so beautifully written that I was captivated. Having been to Alaska, I loved the imagery this author created. It's amazing to me that this is Ivey's debut novel. What an incredible first book! I felt emotionally tied to the characters and was invested in their outcome. Without giving too much away, there are some really touching parts that might even make you cry.

I'm not sure what this book is classified as--adult or young adult or fantasy. I wouldn't normally pick up a book based on a folktale but I'm so glad I did! After turning the last page, I put the book down and thought that it was one of the best books I've ever read. It was super satisfying.

My second favorite book of 2013 was also somewhat in the "fantasy" realm. It is called The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker.

Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay but who was brought to life by a rabbi using magic. Chava looks and operates as a human being. She has the special ability to read people's thoughts. She arrives in New York in 1899. Ahmad is a jinni (genie) who is trapped in a copper flask and released by a tinsman in New York City in the same timeframe. The story takes you through their individual stories until they eventually intertwine. It is really hard for me to describe this "fairytale" and do it justice without giving the plot away. But I want so badly to express the reason you should read this book. Though it sounds fantastical and strange, the tale that Wecker weaves through these two characters is not only beautiful but leads you to examine the deeper meaning of the book, of life.

I read that it took seven years for Wecker to write this book. This was her debut novel as well. I can't believe my two favorite books of 2013 were written by new authors! She did a tremendous amount of research before she tackled the writing. It's obvious that she did the work. I was able to envision New York in the early 1900s as if I was walking the streets myself.

Chava and Ahmad became very real and tangible to me while reading this book. I found myself Googling terms like "golem" and "jinni" just to learn even more about the historical background of these fantasy creatures. I knew that genies were of middle eastern folklore. I didn't know much about golems but they are of Jewish folklore. A golem reference even appears in the Bible--Psalm 139 when God uses the word golem and in translation refers to our "unshapen forms."

Anyway, give this book a chance. Don't let the unusual plotline deter you. It's rated 4+ stars on Goodreads.com for a good reason. I was so hesitant to pick it up but then kept reading the reviews and I'm so glad I did. Not once did I ever consider giving up on the book as I had fears I would. I found myself excited to press on and find out how things end for Chava and Ahmad.

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SHS Book Club--The Secret Keeper, 45 Pounds (More or Less), and Waiting to Be Heard

I am so behind in my book reviews for Goodreads. I decided that I better get on it! In 2013, I set a goal to read at least 24 books. I read 36! When do I find the time? That is a common question I get. I cut down on TV and that has bought me a lot of time. Blow drying my hair takes 10 minutes. I read while I brush and brush and brush. I chauffer my kids around a lot. While I wait for them to finish their various activities, I read. Just last night my daughter had piano for an hour and rather than drop her off, drive all the way home only to get back in the car to get her again, I just read. You'd be surprised how when you have a good book, you make the time.

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton was an intriguing book. The book jumps back and forth between the past and present, which could be confusing but isn't in this book. The main character, Laurel, witnesses a horrific event when she was 16 years old from her treehouse. The event was life changing for Laurel and impacts her relationship with her mother. Sixteen year-old Laurel and present day Laurel tell the story. Without giving too much away, let me just say that you won't get the big plot twist. Even if you think you have it figured out, you don't. I love that about this book. I've got Kate Morton on my radar to read more books by her!

Next book that I read was 45 Pounds (More or Less) by K.A. Barson. This book seems more slated for the YA genre but that's ok. I love reading that genre on occasion. It was a super fast read for that reason. The main character, Ann, is overweight and 16. She has a very skinny mother and the book opens with them swimsuit shopping. I would encourage anyone who has issues with weight (who doesn't?) to pick up this book. Or if you know a teen struggling with weight, this book would really encourage them. It gives a greater understanding of what it is like to be an overweight adolescent. Tough. Hard. There are no words to what being overweight in this day and age as a teen must feel like. The character is genuinely likeable. You just want to take her in your arms, hug her and tell her she is good enough. No. Matter. What.

The final book I'm reviewing today is Waiting to Be Heard by Amanda Knox. I read this book before the most recent decision by the court to revoke her Not Guilty ruling. I must say, she gives a super compelling testimony of her side of the story. I can totally see how her actions were misinterpreted. Whether you like her or not or think she's innocent or not, you have to give this book a read before you come to a final conclusion. I recall listening to some talk show where the lawyer was saying that she must be guilty because of the DNA. She had me convinced because DNA is so definitive. Not so fast. DNA is only definitive when competent people collect it and when the justice system is impartial. Meredith's case will never be fully determined because the Italian officials botched the case so badly. This book is very cleanly laid out. You get a really good understanding of who Amanda really is, what her family is like, what her thoughts were behind some of her decisions, and how the justice system really did a number on her. If you like newsworthy non-fiction, this is a good one--especially now with the new ruling.

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SHS Book Club--A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time is a children's classic by Madeleine L'Engle. First published in 1962, the book won the Newbery Medal award and was a runner up for the Hans Christian Andersen award.

I love how the book begins, "It was a dark and stormy night." The book centers around Meg, her younger brother Charles Wallace and their friend, Calvin. The three characters travel through space and time to try to find Charles and Meg's father, who is a prisoner on a planet ruled by IT. You don't have to be a child or even a science fiction lover to become captivated by this book. The characters and situations they encounter are interesting and unique.

The themes of this book are obviously spiritual in nature and L'Engle paraphrases Bible scriptures such as, "We were sent here for something. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." And, "We look not at the things which are what you would call seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary. But the things which are not seen are eternal."

This book was written well before the Harry Potter series. Just as I loved reading Harry Potter, I was completely lost in this book. My favorite character is Charles Wallace who is wise beyond his years. The typical battle between good and evil is strong as you'd expect in a Christian-themed book but the reason I am glad I read as an adult is that the victory of love means so much more because I now have life experiences that help me understand the weight of that victory.

If you are like me and missed reading this book as a child, pick it up and read it--it's a classic with many awards for a good reason.

The next book I'll review is The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton. If you are on Goodreads, follow me here.

SHS Book Club: The Violets of March

Holy cow, I am so behind on posting book reviews. Bear with me the next few days because I'm going to try to catch up. If you're like me, you're super excited that red cups are back at Starbucks. I love to "waste" an hour or so getting my chai tea at the Starbucks in our Barnes and Noble and roam the aisles making a note of all the books to put on my Goodreads list! I found quite a few the other day!

I saw an eye doctor recently about the bright light I keep on seeing in my peripheral vision when I read at night. He thinks I've strained my eyes and he gave me all the biological details behind what's going on in my eyes but basically what it comes down to is I'm old and need reading glasses. I found a cute pair at Target that was on clearance and the light has surprisingly not come back! I feel like such an old lady--especially when I knit. I have to push them down so I can see the tv when I look up. UGH! I don't like aging.

So...onto The Violets of March by Sarah Jio. I loved her other book, Blackberry Winter so I thought I'd give this one a try. This one didn't disappoint and let me just say that this book started me on my obsession about Bainbridge Island. The majority of the story takes place on Bainbridge. Jio's descriptions of the island make the island serve as another character in the book--so much description! [I fell in love with Seattle and Sammamish when I visited Washington state so I can only imagine how Bainbridge Island compares.] I keep telling Brian that I want to leave Colorado and live on Bainbridge Island. I may also have even looked up homes in the area....just in case.

I remember that I read this book rather quickly because it is just one of those books you don't want to put down. The main character, Emily, retreats to the island to recover from a divorce. I'm not a romance-novel lover at all. I could do without the romance in this and any book but aside from that, the book is layered with a very good mystery within. Emily lives with her aunt while on Bainbridge Island. She discovers a diary in the desk drawer of the room she is staying in. As she reads the diary, she also uncovers some mysteries within her own life.

The book is very captivating and a quick read. I love the setting and although there are too many characters whose names start with "E," they are all likeable. I would definitely read another Sarah Jio book.

The book I chose to read after this is a book that goes all the way back to my childhood. I recall seeing this book on the shelves but the cover never interested me. The old' "don't judge a book by its cover" thing never worked on me. I always do/did. I'm glad that I waited to read it though. As an adult I am better able to see the big picture with this book. The next book I'll review is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle.

SHS Book Club: Look Again

Every once in a while I need me a good mystery or whodunnit. I was in a hurry at Target and just grabbed this book not knowing a single thing about it except the tagline intrigued me--"What would you do if the face in a missing child photo was your son?" Intriguing, right??

Look Again by Lisa Scottoline was a really good, fast-paced read. It takes you through some twists and turns and wasn't as predictable as I thought it would be. I love writing where each chapter leaves you with a tiny cliff hanger, making you want to know more. A few times, I stayed up late because I didn't want to go to bed because each chapter end kept me more and more curious.

I love the thriller/mystery genre. If you have some recommendations for me, please do share. I find that there are so many authors in this genre that I feel overwhelmed. I used to love authors like Sue Grafton and Mary Higgens-Clark but as I got older, these were way too predictable and now I'm at a loss for who the best mystery writers are anymore.

The book I read after is The Violets of March by Sarah Jio. She is one of my new favorite authors. I read another book by her called Blackberry Winter. My review is here. Seriously, you won't go wrong reading anything by Sarah Jio. I liked the Violets of March even more than Blackberry Winter. I can't wait to tell you about it. If you are on Goodreads, follow me here!

SHS Book Club: The Smart One

I was a book-reading fiend this summer! I've actually read 11 more books since I read this one, I'm just behind on my reviews. So, forgive me while I crank out some reviews in the coming days.

The Smart One by Jennifer Close is a fun, quick read. I sometimes need a Chick-lit book to read at the pool or while the kids are at swimming lessons. If you are a chick-lit reader, you'll enjoy this book. I'm not even sure how I happened upon it.

One of the main characters, Claire, is a twenty-something single stumbling through her own life experiences and making mistakes as she goes along. Inevitably, her choices cause her to move back home. Claire's sister, Martha, is also going through life trying to deal with her anxieties. Martha has a funny personality. She works at J. Crew and is a size 12 (I don't know why but that is what I remember). Claire and Martha's brother, Max, is in college living with his drop-dead gorgeous girlfriend Cleo. Weezy is the mom and the book is also told from her perspective as she witnesses her kid's life choices. The book bounces back and forth between Claire, Martha, Cleo and Weezy.

My main takeaway from this book is that families and relationships are complex. At times family members make mistakes, annoy each other, get in each other's business, and just complicate life sometimes. But family is also the greatest support system and provides safety--people you can be vulnerable with who love you despite yourself. Families are there to pick you up and dust you off and also celebrate in your joys.

I think this book had more depth than your average chick-lit book but it had some of the chick-lit humor thrown in. Even if you are beyond your twenties, the book still has something in it for you. It will take you back to your twenties and, if you are a mom, will help you see family from an empty nester's perspective too.

The book I read after The Smart One was Look Again by Lisa Scottoline.

Stay tuned for that review. And if you are on Goodreads, follow me at http://www.goodreads.com/sillyhappysweet.

SHS Book Club: A Stolen Life

I have been wanting to read Jaycee Dugard's story, A Stolen Life, for some time. Honestly, I felt scared to read it. As a mom, the greatest fear I have is losing my children. The thought of reading about the horror that both Jaycee and her mom had to face terrified me. But I got to thinking about the Jaycee I'd seen on the Diane Sawyer interview. No matter what nightmare she endured, she didn't let it define her and even had a grace and gratefulness for what her experience taught her. She pretty much amazed me.

This book isn't for the faint of heart. She goes into detail about her nightmare. My heart ached for her and her mom. I cannot fathom how they both got through but by the grace of God they did. I found tears would stream down my face as I read her story. One page I bookmarked is called "Reflection." It is obvious that she knows telling the story is important for her to be able to put it behind her but the actual telling of it and reliving it is truly tearing her apart.

So dear blog reader, why would I recommend this book? Though the book is heart-wrenching, ultimately it reminds me that God is always with us. Little pieces of Jaycee's story--her sweet animal friends, the moon giving her comfort, having her babies--all show me how God was faithful in His love for her. He never gives us more than we can handle and all things do truly work for the good for those who love the Lord. Does that mean that all the sweet babies that were never held captive and instead lost their lives didn't love the Lord or find His favor? Certainly not. I can't reconcile why this happened to Jaycee and why the trajectory of her life completely shifted one morning. I don't know why Jaycee lived. Why did God allow this to happen? Oh gosh, those are the big questions that I just don't understand and never will here on earth. I choose to trust that despite those unanswered questions, God has a firm grip on lives and hurts with us.

As I was reading this book, the news about the three women who were held captive in Ohio broke. How many more similar stories are out there being lived out now? It's unbelievable to me that these things happen.

Read this book if you are in a hard spot in your life. It will make you appreciate God's blessings and the fact that there are people in the world going through some really awful crap. It makes me feel humbled. If I ever met Jaycee, I'd give her a huge hug. What a courageous and incredible person she is!

After reading A Stolen Life, I picked up The Smart One by Jennifer Close. Stay tuned and I'll share about that one soon!

Are you on Goodreads.com? I love that site because based on books you have read and rated, it provides you recommendations--the Pandora for books I guess you could say. I'm http://www.goodreads.com/sillyhappysweet if you want to connect on Goodreads!

SHS Book Club: How to Bake a Perfect Life

I needed a 'chick-lit' book for easy reading after that long Stephen King 11-22-63 book. How to Bake a Perfect Life by Barbara O'Neal was a great choice.

When I think about how to describe this book, the word "cozy" comes to mind. The plot centers around Ramona Gallagher, a professional baker. I love how the author weaves in Ramona's love of bread and provides the reader such great background about the history of a precious dough. I read this book on a plane and never wanted to eat a nice, warm slice of sourdough more in my life. It took me back to a trip we took to Alaska and a wonderful bakery that had a sourdough starter that went back a hundred years. Mmmmmm!

Ok, so yumminess aside (did I mention that the book includes recipes?), the plot of the book was interesting and unique. Without giving too much away, you learn about how Ramona became a baker and follow her through as she tries to keep her bakery running. She has a daughter who is going through some strife. And she is caring for her step-granddaughter due to certain events. It is through her witnessing her step-granddaughter that you learn about Ramona's childhood. The book was certainly somewhat predictable but that didn't matter at all. The story is genuine and heartfelt. I love that is takes place in Colorado too.

If you are looking for a sweet book, an easy read, and just a downright enjoyable read then How to Bake a Perfect Life would suit you. It's a perfect summer read for sure.

After I read How to Bake a Perfect Life, the news about the Ohio women who were held captive broke. I was searching for another book to read so from chick-lit to biography I went. I had wanted to read the Jaycee Dugard book for some time but I knew it would be heavy and scary. I'm so glad I did though. I can't wait to share what God showed me through reading that book in a future post!

Are you on Goodreads.com? I love that site because based on books you have read and rated, it provides you recommendations--the Pandora for books I guess you could say. I'm http://www.goodreads.com/sillyhappysweet if you want to connect on Goodreads!

SHS Book Club: Stephen King's 11/22/63

I've never read a Stephen King book before. Isn't that crazy? I know it. It's like telling people I don't know what Facebook is.

11/22/63 by Stephen King is an awesome book. I loved it! Be warned though, it is long. On my iPad Mini, it was 2000+ pages of reading. The typical book on my iPad is about 500 pages so it was long.

The date, 11/22/63, is the day that John F. Kennedy was shot and killed by Lee Harvey Oswald. The book centers around a character named Jake Epping, who is a time traveler that attempts to go back and prevent the assassination of JFK.

I won't give away anything so no spoilers here. The idea of time travel in itself is always intriguing and always brings up a million questions for me. I remember watching Back to the Future when Marty took the picture of his family from the present to the past and would look at the picture to see if his family members disappear to know whether he was doing the right things in the past so as not to change the future. Stephen King did a wonderful job of setting the scene for the late 50s and early 60s and made me nostalgic (I wasn't even born yet!) for those simpler times.

As most time travel books or movies go, I always have questions. I kept notes with questions as I read so that when Brian reads the book, I can ask him his thoughts about my questions. I think that King did an awesome job of not leaving any gaping holes in his time travel saga. For instance, the character Jake understood there would be huge repercussions to the future when he brought his cell phone back to the past. It's those little details throughout the book that King made sure to emphasize that bring to light just how profound "the butterfly effect" really is or could be.

Mixing the time travel idea with such a huge event in our nation's history made the book even more fun to read. As with other historical fiction that I've read lately, I found myself Googling the characters to see what they really looked like such as Marina Oswald (Lee's wife) and their daughter June. King did his homework. He really captured all of the details surrounding all the conspiracy theories as well as the details of Oswald leading up to the assassination. You definitely feel like you are right there in the middle of life-changing events.

The book doesn't only focus on Jake's quest to save the president. He arrives in the past in 1958 and has to wait five years for that key day. In those five years, he meets people, lives life, and even meets a woman. This then leads me to think about how in "real life," he isn't even born yet so in his real time, this woman is very old. Oh time travel. You do know how to mess with me!

I highly recommend this book. Apparently is not a typical Stephen King book so I'll have to go and read one his more typical books. If you have any interest in JFK's murder, if you find time travel mind-bending and fun, if you want a book that will keep you interested the entire way through, if you have a long vacation and want a great book, this is a good one! This book was on the best selling list for 17 weeks. It won Best Mystery/Thriller award from the L.A. Times in 2012.

If you have read this book, tell me what you thought about it!

After reading such a mind bender, I had to pick up a chick-lit book. I'm now reading How to Bake a Perfect Life by Barbara O'Neal.

SHS Book Club: The Memory Keeper's Daughter

If you are looking for a book that is a major page turner, a book you can absorb in a day out of the sheer desire to know how it will end then The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards is a book you'd like.

Without giving too much away, the basic plot focuses on two families and the moment each of their lives changed forever. A decision that was made by one parent, changed the course of everyone else's lives and the book explains how a choice made in an instant can have everlasting effects--good and bad. And how the innocent are also greatly touched by choices that others have made.

Although the plot kept my interest, besides Phoebe, I didn't find any other character very likable. Their crazy and cold-hearted choices didn't make them appealing. I wanted to know the outcome of the story but I didn't find myself hoping for a certain ending for any of them. I do wish there were more characters I cared for but I still enjoyed the book. It's the kind of book you would want to read on a plane flight. It grabs your attention quickly.

I recently found out that this book was a made into a movie in 2008. It features Dermot Mulroney and Emily Watson. I haven't seen the movie yet but plan to some point soon. I never heard of the movie. If you've seen it, tell me what you thought of it.

My next book I'm reading is a little out there for me. I've never read Stephen King. Is that kind of incredible? I don't know why. It's a genre I do like. Then I go and choose a Stephen King book that is unlike any of his typical ones. I am reading 11/22/63. Have you read it? OMG. Can't wait to share! Are you on Goodreads.com? I'm sillyhappysweet on Goodreads. I'd love your recommendations!