Gone Girl

 

 

I will admit, I had difficulty getting through this book at times. It was interesting and the writing style was phenomenal, but there were a lot of times that I just wanted the story to end. Amy and Nick met at a party, fell in love, and had a great marriage (or so it seems) for two years. They fall into a financial hardship and Nick decides they should move from Amy's hometown of New York City to Nick's childhood home in Carthage, Missouri, to aid his ailing parents. They both grow distant from one another, keep secrets, and tell numerous lies; ultimately destroying their relationship. On the morning of their fifth wedding anniversary, Amy goes missing. There are signs of a struggle, and Nick becomes the prime suspect. The book revolves around the case and their relationship in alternating points of view.

 

The characters of the book were kind of annoying. They were not ever very happy and were twisted, sadistic, and even psychotic. I do think that Nick and Amy both, had glimmering moments where you empathized or understood them, but for the most part they were not relatable characters, which adds to their intrigue, in my opinion. I don't think the author meant for Amy and Nick to be "likeable."

 

"Our kind of love can go into remission, but it's always waiting to return. Like the world's sweetest cancer."

 

Many readers have complained about the ending. I'll admit that I believe this book could have been fifty to one hundred pages shorter, but I kind of liked the ending. The book, while psychotic (yet not surprising), had you constantly thinking and discovering new clues and twists, so why wouldn't the ending leave you with some unanswered questions and loose ends. Overall, I liked the plot and writing style, but it was not one of my favorites. I will definitely read another Gillian Flynn novel in the future.

 





22 Britannia Road

 



 

This novel starts with the reunion of the Nowak family after the end of World War II. They are originally from Poland, but were separated by the war. Janusz joined the allied forces fight against the Germans. Silvana, his wife, and Aurek, their infant son, stayed in Warsaw. Janusz was able to get to Great Britain and decided to start a new life for his family. Silvana and Aurek were able to survive the war by living and hiding in the forest.

 

While Janusz and Silvana want to forget the war, memories of the past haunt them. They are both keeping secrets that could ruin their relationship and the new life that they are struggling to maintain. Janusz is so set on becoming a British gentleman. He is so determined for he, Silvana, and Aurek to fit in that he does every thing he can to escape his past. It isn't that easy for Silvana and Aurek, who struggle adapting back into society, let alone living in a new country.

 

I really enjoyed this novel. Most of the historical fiction that I have read in the past don't grab your attention so early. I think my favorite part of the whole book was the relationship between Silvana and Aurek. She is fiercely protective of him and he clings to her. At times it was heartbreaking and endearing. Janusz is a sensitive man. He seems to get lonely quickly whenever he is apart from his loved ones. Through most of the book Janusz was so preoccupied with fitting in and becoming British that he didn't notice his wife's unhappiness. He could be cruel at times when insisting that Aurek behave and blend in with children his age. I was thrilled that, in the end, Janusz was able to have a loving, paternal relationship with Aurek. This story is displays the unique bond between mother and child, the devastation of war on families, and ultimately redemption and forgiveness.

 

"The way they looked at him makes him feel safe; it's like he's everything they ever wanted."

 

 





Raven Girl

 

 

A friend on my Goodreads feed finished this book and gave it a great review, which piqued my interest enough to read it. The author, Audrey Niffenegger, actually wrote this short, illustrated novel per request of the Royal Ballet in London. They wanted a "modern fairytale" to choreograph. The fairytale is about a postman who discovers a letter with an address that he has never seen before. His supervisor seems to know of the address, tells him it is on his route, she says they don't receive much mail, and that he needed to deliver it. When he gets there he discovers the address leads to a raven's nest. There is a small raven on the ground, he picks her up, assumes she is hurt and sick, and takes her home with him. The postman spoils the baby raven with delicious food and all of his attention. She grows and eventually she learns to fly, despite having another raven to teach her. The postman is happily surprised when she flies back to him and stays. The postman and the raven fall in love and he proposes to her; she eagerly accepts. The raven becomes pregnant, lays a large egg, and hatches a human, baby girl. 

 

The Raven Girl has jet black hair and eyes and she doesn't cry, but squawks like a bird. She grows up happy, but believes that she should have been born a raven. She can't communicate with her father or other humans, but she can speak raven. She realizes that she is different once she starts school and is surrounded by other children her age.

 

"The games the children played did not make sense to her, and no one wanted to play at flying or nest building or road kill for very long."

 

She later attends University, where she meets a doctor who agrees to turn her into a raven; finally turning her dream into a reality.

 

I will be the first to admit that the plot is odd, but I think that's what makes people interested enough to read it. The illustrations are dark, but go great with the narration. Every page is full of symbolism, which is why I was so drawn in and taken by it. What I love about the symbols and issues that she uses, is that it can be interpreted in so many different ways by different readers. What teenage girl or boy has not felt uncomfortable in their own skin? Sure, I didn't grow up dreaming that I would or should become a raven, but I, as most others dreamt of a future. I think the only way I can describe this story is that it was beautifully strange. I think the author explains the book best in her "Acknowledgements" at the end,

 

"'Raven Girl,' like many much older tales, is about the education and transformation of a young girl. It also concerns unlikely lovers, metamorphoses, dark justice, and a prince, as well as the modern magic of technology and medicine."

 

 





Red Hill

 

 

 



I wasn't really sure what to expect when I started this book. I was pleasantly surprised by the end of it. The author, Jamie McGuire, proved that she no longer has to limit herself to one genre of writing. Not only does she write wonderful romance novels, but her debut horror novel has also been a success. I am a big fan of The Walking Dead and this definitely had that kind of feel to it. The book starts with Scarlet at work as an x-ray technician in a hospital just as the "zombie apocalypse" begins. She is able to escape the chaos and is frantically trying to reach her daughters, Jenna and Halle, who are with her ex-husband, Andrew, listening to the Governor give a speech. She makes it to Anderson, where her daughters are supposed to be, only to find that it is over run by a trigger happy militia. Scarlet is able to leave a message for her daughters to meet her at Red Hill, a secluded ranch in the country.

 

Nathan is in an unhappy marriage. He comes home every day on pins and needles waiting to gauge his wife's mood. Aubrey, his wife, is distant and doesn't enjoy being a wife or mother to their young daughter, Zoe. Ironically, Aubrey chooses to leave her family the day of the "virus outbreak." Nathan leaves with Zoe and heads to his NRA supporting brother-in-law, Skeeter. They hole up in a church for awhile, but eventually Nathan and Zoe leave and meet with a group that leads them to Red Hill. I loved Nathan's interactions with Zoe, and how he handled her "episodes." She has a sensory disorder and she would have outbursts when she was overly stimulated. My daughter has some sensory issues as well, and I could totally relate to some of the scenes in the book (minus the zombies).

 

Miranda and Ashley, along with their boyfriends, are headed to their dad's ranch, Red Hill, when the outbreak occurs. They have to take several detours to get there. Eventually they arrive, only to learn that their father is dead. They are able to cope, move on, co-exist, and survive together.

 

 

There were some plot twists that I found shocking. I know during the zombie apocalypse people will be die, but there were certain characters that I wanted to scream, "REALLY?! Why him/her?!" What really set the book apart from your average apocalyptic nightmare, was the message of hope and enjoying what you have while it's still here. I can only hope for a sequel.

 

 

"If the last year had taught me anything, it was that the end only lead to one thing-- a beginning."