"The Girl Before" REVIEW

“The Girl Before” by J P Delaney

Published by Ballantine Books

Finished 12/26/16  -  4.5/5 stars

This book has been compared to other hit thrillers, and if you were to read it with those comparisons in mind, you might give it a lower rating because you were in the wrong mindset while reading it.  Yes, it is a psychological thriller and yes, it has the word “Girl” in the title, but that doesn’t mean it’s like “The Girl on the Train” or “Gone Girl”.  This is a completely different story and should be read without the predetermined comparisons.  You’ll enjoy it a lot more.

I give this book 4.5 stars.  The only reason I hold back from a full 5 is because there were a couple “scenes” I personally didn’t care for.  It didn’t stop me from absolutely loving it though.  I liked that it was told in two different perspectives – the girl that has lived in a very unique house in the past and the girl currently living there.  The chapter titles told you whose story you were about to read but one also had a slightly different writing style to help you remember which character you were reading (at times the storylines were quite similar so this came in handy).  I also liked that the chapters were short to give you plenty of stopping places.  Granted, I hated having to put this book down at all but when reading during Christmas time, there are other things a little more important.  I was still able to finish it in 3 days because the need to know what happened in the past and the curiosity of what will happen in the present will keep you reading anytime you have a free minute.  And if you think you can figure it out on your own….you are probably going to be wrong.

Thank you Net Galley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review.  I’m anxious to hear what others think once the book comes out next month.

"Elizabeth Is Missing" REVIEW

“Elizabeth is Missing” by Emma Healey

Published by Knopf Canada

Finished 12/23/16  -  4/5 stars

 

This novel is told by Maud, a woman in her eighties who is suffering from Alzheimer’s.  It’s a mix of present day where she obsessed with where her best friend, Elizabeth, is and memories of the past where her sister, Sukey, is missing. As the story progresses, so does the Alzheimer’s and Maud begins to confuse the past and the present more and more.  Although told by Maud you are also able to see the affects the disease has on her family.  I do think the family suffers more than the patient when Alzheimer’s is involved.

I found the book to be very well written, especially knowing this is a debut novel for this author.  I thought she did a wonderful job giving insight into Maud’s deteriorating mind and the effects of those around her.  Although narrated by Maud, you are still able to feel the emotional strain on her daughter, Helen, as well.  The two mysteries are easily solved but I think of them as more of just a part of the storyline rather than the book being a mystery.  I definitely recommend it.

"The Winter in Anna" REVIEW

“The Winter in Anna” by Reed Karaim

Published by W W Norton & Company

Finished 12/15/16  -  rated 4/5 stars

We are introduced to Anna on the day of her death.  A painful, lonely suicide.  In the remainder of the novel we learn more about Anna through the eyes of the narrator, a long lost friend.  He tells us of his year spent in a tiny town as the editor of the local weekly paper with Anna as the photographer.  Through his stories, and the few Anna shares with him of her past, we are able to get to know Anna a little more and get a better understanding as to why she would take her own life.  Granted, she didn’t leave a note, but one isn’t needed.  You know what internal demons she faced and what event truly broke her heart in pieces.  A heartbreak one never fully recovers from.

I think this novel is beautifully written.  The words simply flow off the pages at times.  Even when occasionally the subject matter is dark, it doesn’t have that dark feel.  There are a couple slow parts in the book (which is why it is a 4 rather than a 5), however, because you are continually becoming more and more attached to the main characters, it’s easy to get through the slower parts.  You still want to keep reading until you know why Anna would want to take her own life, leaving her older children behind.  It was unthinkable to me, until it wasn’t.

Thank you to Net Galley and W W Norton & Company for an advanced copy of this novel.  

"Where'd You Go, Bernadette" REVIEW

“Where’d You Go, Bernadette”

By Maria Semple
Published by Back Bay Books
Finished 12/1/16 – 3.5/5 stars

Looking for a light and funny read?  This book will fill that need, and it’s a pretty quick read as well.  It is oddly written in that the majority of it is emails, faxes (really?), and letters with the remainder being narrated by Bernadette’s teenage daughter, Bee, filling in the gaps with her own memories.  Bernadette is quite quirky and entertaining (unintentionally) but my favorite parts were the storylines that included the moms from Bee’s private school (referred to as annoying gnats).  Those parts were hysterical to me.  Granted, if you are one of those moms you might not find it so funny J   I won’t give away the ending but will say, I’m not sure whether or not I liked it.  There were parts of the ending I enjoyed, but not sure how I feel about how it all turned out.  All my questions were answered, just not necessarily how I wanted them to be I guess.