Patty Pick for 10/23/14 is Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

There are not too many people on the planet who have not heard of 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. When this book came out in hardcover, my 

book club fought over it at our annual Christmas dinner. Every year we bring 

a wrapped book and do a book exchange. We can "steal" a book from 

each other when it's our turn or keep the book we unwrapped. It's a lot of 

fun to do this at the end of a good meal. We share the books with each other 

during the year and often they end up being a pick for someone's month. 

Gone Girl was a hard fought battle and everyone wanted to read it first, for 

good reason. This in one twisted psychological thriller! Just when you 

think you have figured out what is going on, you are turned in another 

direction and totally lost again. This one had me fooled up to the end and 

then I was not ready for it to be over. 

Nick & Amy Dunne are getting ready to celebrate their 5th wedding anniversary

when she disappears. They seem to be the perfect couple. As the police investigate and Amy's diary is revealed, a different picture of their marriage emerges. Nick swears his innocence and his twin sister, Margo, is trying to solve this with him, but Nick 

seems to be digging a deeper hole for his guilt with each step. This will confuse 

and intrigue you but definitely keep you glued to every page until the end!

Patty Pick for 10/16/14 is "Little Mercies" by Heather Gudenkauf

"Little Mercies" by Heather Gudenkauf starts off with the chaos in the day of a normal family. Ellen and Adam have three children and busy lives. They are running separate ways to get their days started. On her way to work, Ellen receives a disturbing call from one of the children she oversees as a social worker with the DHS. She rushes to their house with the police to try to get the children out of the dangerous situation. 
As  she works with the police to diffuse the situation, a distubance grows behind her in the neighborhood. As the sound of breaking glass reaches her ears, it dawns on Ellen that they are breaking into her car to rescue her infant daughter from the inferno it now is.
How did she forget that Avery is in there?
That starts this story of a terrible accident and the journey through the maze of social work and child abuse and leads us back to the original story of a family in crisis. 

While Ellen and Adams's lives are falling apart, Jenny stumbles into the life of Ellen's mother, Maudene. Maudene knows that Jenny is in trouble and can not stop herself from trying to help. Jenny, like many 10 year olds, wants her family back together. Her father is in jail and her mother has been missing for years. Jennny thinks her grandmother is close by and is determined to find her. 

As this family tradegy unfolds, you can see that there for the grace of God go all of us. We all make mistakes in our lives that we wish we could take back. Where will the mistakes that Jenny and Ellen make lead them? You will want to read this book n one sitting to find out. I enjoyed other Heather Gudenkauf books and this is another good one!

Patty Pick for 10/9/14 is The Time Between by Karen White

 

"The Time Between" by Karen White is set in Charleston and Edisto Island, SC. With Charleston being one of my favorite cities and Karen White being one of my favorite writers, there was no doubt I would read this book. In fact, I have been trying to get to it for a while now. There never seems to be enough time to get my reading in. Of course, writing a novel at the same time does 
make it difficult. But I digress....

"The Time Between" tells the story of two sets of sisters. The main characters, Eve and Eleanor, have both changed due to events they created and happenings that they could not control. Eve is now in a wheelchair and Eleanor feels responsible. She has lost herself in the guilt of her sister's injury and Eve has let her. When Eve becomes pregnant, things start to change. Eleanor is offered an extra position helping the elderly aunt of her boss and Eve begins to see the true Ellie come back to life. They both struggle to understand 
the changes and work through their feelings. 

Eleanor's boss, Finn Beaufain, recruits Eleanor to be a part-time companion to his 
elderly aunt Helena. They have recently lost Helena's sister Bernadett under mysterious circumstances that neither one seem to want to talk about. Helena is suffering and can 
be pretty hard on Ellie. Ellie is the name that Finn's daughter, Gigi, gives to Eleanor and it fits. Gigi is wise beyond her years and together they work to bring some life back to Helena's days. Finn seems to be willing to offer more to Eleanor that she is ready for. 

As the mystery around Bernadett's death is revealed, Helena also reveals the secrets she has carried her whole life. As Helena comes to terms with her decisions, so must Ellie with hers. So much happens in the last third of the book, that you may need to re-read parts to keep up! This is a touching and searching story of what one sister will do for another and the paths their lives take after those actions. 

Patty PIck for 10/2/14 is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak!

The Book Thief is one of those wonderful books that is written as a young adult book but is so well written any age will enjoy it. It definitely transcends any attempt to pidgeon-hole it into a certain genre. My book club read this a few years ago and it has stayed  with me. It is one of my favorite books of all time and it will become yours if you dare to open the first page. 

The story is set as a World War II story starring Liesel, who is a German girl heading to a foster home with her brother during the rise and reign of Hitler. On the journey to their new home, Liesel's brother dies and is buried. Liesel begins her book thievery at his gravesite. She continues to recover books throughout the war and shares them with all those around her. Her foster father teaches her to read and their Jewish friend, who hides in their basement until caught, actually writes her a story that will touch your heart. 

This entire book is narrated by Death. This twist sounds macabre but adds a special feeling to this book. Death adds humor along the way, while bringing reality to the situation.The poetic thoughts that Death shares with us makes this special and not another depressing book about war.

The imagery that Markus uses with will bring this book to life. The movie version had a lot to work with. The words in the this book will make you want to slow down and savor each one but you will definitely want to know how it ends.  

Patty's Pick for today will be .... "The Time Between" by Karen White

I really enjoy reading Karen White. She is one of my favorite authors, as I think I have mentioned here a few times before. Luckily for me, one rainy weekend I stopped in one of my
favorite book stores, Pelican Book Store in Sunset Beach, NC. The lovely lady working that
day recommended a Karen White book and after that first one I was hooked.  I think I have
read most of her books and highly recommend any of her books for your reading pleasure!
Unfortunately for my blog, I am behind. I think I am behind in all areas of my life but I hope
to catch up soon. That's just how life is and we have to deal with it. So hopefully by next
Thursday, I can give you all a full review of this book, "The Time Between". I am half
way through it and enjoying it very much, but not often enough to make this date with my blog.
See you next week and don't beat yourself up over all the things you could not finish this week.
Life is just like that sometimes. :)

Patty's Pick for 9/18/14 is "The Pact" by Jodi Picoult!

The Pact is Jodi Picoult at her best! I read this when my own daughter was in high school and let's just say it really had an impact. When young love goes too far how do you as a parent know? Jodi Picoult usually writes about something in the news at the time. She always has a great feel for her characters. They talk to you basically in every chapter. Don't miss this heart wrenching book. 

The close relationship of the Harte and Gold families bring Emily and Chris together their whole lives. When their friendship develops into a more intimate relationship the families are supportive. As Emily and Chris forge ahead with their suicide pact, no one knows. When Emily ends up dead and Chris is alive with one bullet left in the gun, the mystery begins. Don't miss the twist that Jodi Picoult always puts in her stories. You will not guess the ending of this book and I would not spoil it for you!

Patty's Pick for 9/11/14 is "Big Little Lies" by Liane Moriarty

Liane Moriarty has another best seller on her hands! This story is also set in her native Australia and gives us another look at a yuppie, upscale neighborhood and it's inhabitants  as they try to have it all. The setting is oceanside and the theme of renewal runs deep through this book. This book touches on other big themes like domestic violence, rape, and the cliques in every town and school. 

As we meet the characters, you have to love Madeline. She is the mom and person we 

all want to be. She is loud and proud to voice her opinion but she does not try to be the 

perfect mother. She is there for her friends when they need her but she is not perfect. I love the fact that she is human above all. She is married to her second husband, Ed, and they have two children together. Her daughter, Abigail, by her first husband, Nathan, is definitely struggling with teenage angst. Of course, who wants their ex-husband and his new wife to have their own daughter attending the same school as your children. This makes for some hilarious dialogue and you will laugh out loud. 

There is also Celeste and Perry who are the perfect, beautiful couple with a horrific secret. Actually you will discover that Perry has many secrets. Their twins will be starting kindergarten with Madeline's. Let's add Jane and her son, Ziggy, to the mix. Poor Ziggy did not have a good start to his new home or new school. Jane is trying to start over with Ziggy in a new place but what she is searching for can only be found inside of herself.

  

All of these lovely, and unlovely, people mix at school and each other's homes to your enjoyment and anticipation of what is coming next. The chapters are leading you to the answer to why there are quotes from different people at the beginning and end of chapters concerning a certain event at the school. It will keep you guessing, but don't 

rush it because you don't want it to end!