Secret Daughter, by Shilpi Somaya Gowda - This was a book club choice and I loved it. The story is about a girl named Asha who was adopted from an Indian orphanage and grew up in California. The Indian culture was fascinating and the story didn't end how I expected it to, though in a good way.
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins - Thank you Adrienne and Kelly for the suggestion! I felt a little awkward shopping in the "teen" section of Barnes & Noble, but it was totally worth it. I was hooked and finished it really quickly. Looking forward to the next two books in the series (if only they would come out in paperback...).
The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant - I think I'm one of the few people who did not like this book at all. It was a book club choice and I couldn't make it to the meeting...but our email chain from those who had finished it says that after struggling through the first few chapters it picks up and is really good. Sadly I disagreed and just never really got into it.
The Help, by Kathryn Stockett - I tried avoiding this book for all the hype it's getting with the movie. Several people had told me how good it was, but when my mom practically insisted I read it, I caved. Not surprising that she was right :) I thought it was a great book and I'm even looking forward to seeing the movie.
Only Time Will Tell, by Jeffrey Archer - I finished The Help when I was in London and desperately needed something to read for the flight back. The bookstores in London were SO expensive, so my co-worker Lauren and I decided to trade books. She had just finished this book, and I gave her The Help in return. I don't think I would have picked it out myself, and I thought it was great. It was about a boy in England (fitting for our trip!) who eventually learns the truth about the death of his father, who he never knew. It ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, and after I finished the book last night I realized they are turning it into a series called "The Clifton Chronicles". Book 2, The Sins of the Father comes out next April - it's on my Barnes & Noble wish list!
Let me know if you have any good suggestions - I always like personal recommendations better than online reviews.
Thanks for the call out. :) We are reading Sarah's Key for book club this time around. Have you read that one yet? We just finished 'And Then Came You' which took me a little while to get into but in the end it was really interesting and was GREAT for discussion topics at book club (infertility, donor eggs, and surrogates all mixed with relationships, trophy wives, and death of family members).
ReplyDeleteThe movie, The Help, is also really good. I ended up seeing the movie half way through reading the book. The movie was great but I really need to finish the book too. I am not a huge "read for pleasure" girl so I can't really suggest anything. However, I have heard the Hunger Games Series is great!
ReplyDeleteI want to read the Help so badly! Especially before I see the movie (On Demand since getting out to a movie these days is pretty darn near impossible)
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