I liked parts of this book....the parts when she spoke of the places she visited and the surroundings and beauty and what each city had to offer. But a lot of the book I found completely irritating. My sister-in-law read it and said she did not like it but wanted my opinion. I made myself finish and was glad I did...but I just didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to.

We just read this for our book club. My sisters-in-law didn't like this book because they thought it reminded them of something you'd read in high school...Who cares? It was a cute book with a cute little girl as the main character. She likes to make up stories to fill in the blanks of the questions about her life that she doesn't have answers to. She befriends an old man under the guise of a school project....what she gets in return is genuine friendship and love from a surrogate grandfather. It was a quick read (I read it in a few hours on a plane) that brought tears to my eyes.

I adored this book from the first page. First of all I love animals and who doesn't love a circus? After reading this book it makes me rethink my love for circuses and I visibly cringed at some passages about the treatment of the animals. The underlying story and the way it meandered from the present to the past with the stories woven together - I couldn't put it down!! I had tears at the ending because that is just what I had hoped would happen to Jacob.

I had a hard time in the beginning. Once I was able to devote the time to read I could not put it down and kept on reading to find out what would happen. A few of the members didn't finish it...it is long and complicated...like any good mystery should be!

It reads like an Indiana Jones or National Treasure movie. Lots of clues, lots of witnesses, interviews and characters. Beautiful descriptions of Spain and I wanted to visit the Cemetery of Forgotten Books and explore the labyrinth!

If you like mysteries with many twists and turns mixed with a touch of love story - then you have to read this book!!

I just finished this book and am now starting Flying Changes, the sequel. Water for Elephants, also by Sara Gruen, was one of my favorite books so I thought I'd give her other books a try. This one is definitely different - different style of writing set in the present...but still a good read with animals involved.

This book tells the story of a woman who loses her husband and her job. After she is told her father is dying she decides to uproot her daughter and move back to her parents ranch. I'm a horse lover so I enjoyed reading about the horses and the ranch aspect of the story. The characters were interesting and through Ms. Gruen's writing I had the ranch, the house and Mutta pictured in my head. Some of the scenes are laugh-out-loud; others will bring tears to your eyes. A little mystery is thrown in along with some romance. Great story...can't wait to delve into its sequel!!

I loved this book. I like reading stories that go back in time to lead you along with way. I liked the characters and the setting. I had the Angelfield home pictured in my head as well as the gardens and the twins. I did figure out the 'mystery' but it certainly didn't detract from the book. The ending wasn't what I expected, I was hoping for some romance/sparks to happen...but life doesn't always happen that way either!

If you've read Garden Spells, you know how SAA works. Delectable treats, spellbinding magic and quirky characters. Sugar Queen is no exception. Delightful story about Josey and her hermit life taking care of her mother and not living for herslef.

Josey's life is turned upside-down when she discovers resident bad-girl Della Lee hiding in her closet, blocking the secret door to Josey's stash of sweets.

The story has little sub-plots weaved throughout - Della Lee and her bad-boy boyfriend, Margaret's past life and loves, Chloe and her two-timing lawyer boyfriend, and sweet mailman Adam. You fall in love with each of them and root for one big happy ending. However, there are still surprises!

SAA has a way of writing that magically transports you in to the book. You become friends with these characters! When you realize the pages are fewer on the right side vs. the left you want to slow down to make it last longer!

I can't wait for her next book to come out!

June is a mid-30's single woman who works at a company that encourages car pooling. One fateful day after a Weight Watcher's meeting, June gets in a car accident that claims the life of her passenger, Marisa, a 24 year old who just lost a life-changing 100 pounds. June discovers that Marisa had a list of items she wanted to accomplish before her 25th birthday. As a "tribute" to Marisa, a woman June barely knew, she decides to complete the list.

This book is a quick, easy, fun read. It is predictable in many facets but that didn't change the fact that I still enjoyed it. I got a new perspective from someone who had lived their whole life as an overweight person (Marisa). Certain tasks that she had on her list seemed "easy" to me (wear sexy shoes); but I could definitely see how Marisa would find them difficult. June felt the same way but she persisted in completing all the items. Along the way June discovered things about herself, her family and her co-workers.

This was a book picked by one of the members of our book club. I hope that at our meeting to review this book we choose to perform some of the tasks that are listed at the end of the book. I think the real fun will start there!

I loved this book. Yes, it was long. I thought it was worth it! A beloved author contacts an unknown "biographer" who works at her father's book store. She wants the biographer, Margaret, to uncover the truth and write her biography. Secrets are kept by both women.

I loved the scenery described by this Setterfield, the house, the characters, the vivid details. I felt like I could picture everything clearly in my head; thus, I was "IN" the story.

I had the secret figured but it did not sway me from thoroughly enjoying this novel!!

I just finished this book. I read it in about a day and a half. What a wonderful story! The author goes back and forth between 1986 and 1942. Henry is the central character. Henry is Chinese. In 1942 Henry is trying to deal with being Asian during WWII when the Japanese were being ostracized and no one knew the difference between Japanese and Chinese. He also has to struggle with being ostracized by his own father because Henry's best friend is Japanese. In 1986, Henry is coping with the death of his wife and the struggle to connect with his son. Ford seamlessly goes from past to present, tying the scenes together beautifully. Lost love, death, romance, trying to belong, adventure and music! What more could you ask for in a book?

We read this for book club last month. What a wonderful story. Delve deep into the lives of negro maids/cooks/caretakers in the 60's. This book gives you a behind-the-scene look at how life was like for "the help" waiting on sometimes spoiled, rude, disrespectful, elitist white families. "The Help" were entrusted to 'raise' the children of these families and cook their food, but because they were disease ridden filthy non-humans, they couldn't use the same toilet. Hard to believe this behavior existed just a few decades ago.
The story centers around a group of white society ladies. Some are married with children, some, like Skeeter, are not. Each has her own maid. After an incident with her friends, Skeeter, an aspiring writer, sets out to talk to the "help" to get their take on what life is like for them. Her goal is to write a book that will make a difference. So she talks with and interviews her best friend's maid Aibileen, who convinces Minnie and other maids to secretly meet with Skeeter too. What ensues is a lot of drama, fun, heartbreak and secrets. This is a WONDERFUL story that our entire book club LOVED! We could not believe that this was Stockett's first book and sincerely hope she has another one on the way!!