I've Been Reading (big surprise)

Over the past few weeks, I've actually read a few books off my to-read shelf in my bedroom and one from my growing collection of ebooks. Here are some quick thoughts combined into one simple post.

GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn :

How could I skip Gone Girl? It's been one of the most talked about books of the last few years. Every psychological thriller published since wants to be compared to it. It's a part of pop culture now and the movie is coming out later this year. I bought it months ago and I finally pulled it off the shelf a few weeks ago during Dewey's Read-a-thon. Gone Girl was a great choice during the read-a-thon because once I picked it up, I could barely put it down.

Gone Girl is a fabulous psychological thriller with exciting and shocking plot twists and psychopathic characters that you can help but root for and pray that you never meet in real life. The ending is absolutely insane and at the same time perfect. However, the novel is full of vulgarity. I'm not just talking a lot of swear words. It's crass and suggestive and obscene. So there, you have been warned.

ELEANOR & PARK by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell is another one of those buzz books. I mostly liked Rowell's novel Fangirl so there was no way I was going to be able to resist Eleanor & Park. I read it on my phone and was so annoyed that my battery gave out just as I was reaching the exciting conclusion. (One more reason I love real, physical paper books.)

Teenage relationships are intense. With all the hormones, angst and drama surrounding and/or created by teenagers, it just makes sense that their relationships are also dramatic. But Eleanor and Park transcend the usual teenage love story. They're not your typical romantic leads. They have more than their share of angst and most of it isn't their fault. They're just so normal and fabulous and approachable and normal while being just a bit weird.

I adored those kids.

There's a lot of swearing.

BLACKMOORE by Julianne Donaldson

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson was the choice of the month for my neighborhood book club. I read it quickly the day before our meeting. It's a romance set in the Moors of England. A rather predictable, quick read, Blackmoore is enjoyable. Donaldson's writing has improved. I wasn't compelled to skim some sections like I had to do with her novel Edenbrooke.

I was generally annoyed by the main character and her motivations. For someone trying to protect her true love and her own heart, she seemed to make choices that would injure everyone. I was actually hoping for the "sad" ending over the tie-it-all-up-nicely romantic finish that is expected. I know. I know. I'm cruel.