The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks

I can see why so many Nicholas Sparks books are made into movies: entertaining story, nice (& beautiful) people, not always a "happy" ending, but a satisfying one, emotional at times. This one was no different. Two different love stories, developing during two different time periods, that merge at the end. Actually, I waited and waited for the two to merge, and it really didn't happen until the very end!  I knew that one would "save" the other, and I knew it had to do with the art collection, but I certainly couldn't figure out how until it was laid out for me in the end. Throw in bucking broncos, a ranch, a handsome cowboy with a life-changing injury, money problems, college (including a sorority house and all its relationship antics), a jealous ex-boyfriend, an art history major, an old man slowly dying in a car accident, a dead wife who talks to him, two romantic relationships, and a world-class art collection....and you have a story!! :)

I probably enjoyed reading about Luke & Sophia's relationship more than Ira & Ruth's, but that might have been because I felt so incredibly sad for Ira and his situation. It made his story harder to read. Then again, sometimes when I was reading about the college "angst": hurt feelings between best friends, angry ex-boyfriends, cheating boyfriends, sorority life, I felt old - and very glad I am done with all of that! A phrase that often came to mind: "Good grief". ;)

I have never understood why people want to ride bucking broncos - any more than I understand why people want to box or do extreme fighting. All I can think of is CONCUSSION!! Our bodies aren't made to withstand that kind of punishment. Too much permanent damage that will effect your brain for the rest of your life!! 

I loved the ending. Nicholas Sparks doesn't always have his main characters live, so I wasn't sure who would die, but I figured someone would. I also wasn't sure how the ranch could be saved with a realistic solution. This ending was very satisfying for me. Now I plan to see the movie!

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett

This book reminded me of Shadow of the Wind, which I loved.  Both books are about books - ancient books, forgotten books, mysterious books. The main character in both books has an obsession about a particular book - and there is a mystery surrounding the book, including murder and mayhem. ;)

I very much enjoyed this book.  I thought it was an intriguing read, with three different stories ranging in time from 1592 (Shakespeare's life) to 1875 (Phillip Gardner's life) to 1995 (Peter Byerly's life).  The details of how forgeries are made - and discovered - were fascinating.  I knew that not everyone thinks William Shakespeare was the author of "his" plays, but I didn't realize the lengths people have gone to in order to prove or disprove it. I also didn't realize that you can re-bind an old book.  What a painstaking process!!

This is one of those books that after you finish it, you should start reading it again.  Since there are three very different times and three different stories, and you don't know how it is all going to tie together until the end, I think you would pick up a lot more by starting at the beginning again.  With this book, knowing the ending certainly does not detract from the enjoyment of reading the book.  I thought it was written in a page-turner style, with the mystery of the Pandisto being the central point, but certainly not the only point. There was a lot of information, and historical references, but written in an easy reading style.  Now that I know who everyone is, and how they relate to each other, I can see re-reading it. (Not now though!  Too many other books to read!)

I liked the story of Peter and Amanda, although there was a lot of sadness there too.  It is sad that everything seems to end with her - at least the bloodline.  Why did she have so many serious issues?  Their "scenes" reminded me of The Ghost Whisperer!  Replace Jennifer Love Hewitt with Peter and you have a TV show!  I was afraid that Liz had died when Peter started "seeing" her too!  This paranormal stuff actually didn't bother me in this book, which in other books it would.  I thought it was well-written.

Wendy's Rating: *****

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

This book reminded me of Gone Girl, and I liked both books a lot. I am impressed that this book is Paula Hawkins' first thriller. She knows how to keep a story going, despite switching voices each chapter and going from the past to present day.  I also found it interesting that I did not particularly like any of the women in the book!  I certainly became more sympathetic for each of the three by the end of the book, but I couldn't find a lot to like about them as their stories were unfolding.  We have the husband-stealer, who enjoyed being "the other woman" and sneaking around; we have the raving alcoholic who was obsessed with her ex-husband; and we have the cheating, unmotivated, non-working, motherless wife.  Hmmm.... what's to like??  More often than not, I don't like books that only have characters that I can't connect with, or like. This book is an exception to that!

The author kept me guessing on who the murderer was.  She leads the reader in one direction, and then throws in a bit of doubt, and steers you in a different direction. Whenever Rachel got creeped out by someone, so did I. Whenever Rachel trusted someone, so did I. But then she would have doubts, and so would I.  I would have felt more sympathy for Rachel all along if she didn't do such crazy, questionable things - with questionable motives. It drove me crazy that she couldn't remember what happened that Saturday night! I thought it was interesting that when she went to see Kamal thinking that he had killed Megan, he actually helped her in her two sessions with him, despite her trying not to be helped at that point. Just think if she would have seen someone like him when she was going through her fertility issues and her marriage was failing. She may not have drank herself into oblivion. Then again, maybe she would have eventually anyway being married to Tom!

So I am most impressed that the author managed to have me feeling sympathetic toward all three women in the end!! Megan was ready to put herself out there and tell the truth, no matter where the chips may fall - something she had never been able to do in her life. She was finally determined to live her life openly, so she could finally live her life for herself. Anna finally realized that she was being continually manipulated, which gave her a skewed point of view about the people and events in her life - especially Rachel. And Rachel was able to understand that she had been abused and misrepresented. Yes, she made plenty of poor choices under the influence of alcohol, but the reader better understands what she had been dealing with (unknown even to her!) by the end.

I can see a movie being made from this.... ;)

Wendy's Rating: ****1/2

Honeymoon in Paris by Jojo Moyes

Honeymoon in Paris is the Prequel to The Girl You Left Behind, which was included at the end of my book.  I thought I would make a few comments, even though it was only around 60 pages in length.   It was an interesting perspective on each of their early marriages, which held true to their personalities. I again liked Sophie's story, or is it simply Sophie, better! I liked how fierce and passionate she was! I loved how she caused a bar fight by demanding payment on behalf of her husband, and then asked Edouard if he was ready to eat dinner once she got the money.  I loved how she showed respect to a "woman of the night" because Edouard liked her. To give Liv some credit, I guess she demonstrated a fierceness and passion in her own way by not accepting her husband's workaholic ways on their honeymoon.  

One thing I forgot to mention when I posted my thoughts on The Girl You Left Behind was that I liked how the two stories, the  two women, mirrored each other and how much Liv and David, and Liv and Paul were affected by Sophie and Edouard's life and choices.  I thought it was interesting that another of Edouard's paintings was brought into the Prequel, but I was left wondering why Liv and David didn't recognize Sophie from one painting to the other since she was the model for both...??

Anyway, I didn't "need" the Prequel, but I certainly didn't mind prolonging the lives of these characters!

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

I really love this author!  This book was so different from Me Before You, yet I loved them both. 

The second part of the book is more emotionally meaningful due to the author spending the first part of the book telling us Sophie's story.  I really loved Sophie's story, so I had a difficult time switching to Liv's story initially.  Especially since I couldn't understand why Liv insisted on fighting for the painting!  The German's treated people so horribly, stealing all of their possessions and letting them starve and freeze to death - or outright killing them.  I really felt like Liv needed a deeper understanding of War - and how awful it was for those countries involved/invaded.  The Germans stole precious art from all the countries they invaded, and I believe that this art should be restored to the proper owner.  Of course, in this case, there were a few things that bothered me: the Lefevre heir didn't really care about the painting itself, only the worth of it; Sophie had intended to give the painting to the Kommandant - even though I know she took it back home with her when she left him; the Lefevre family turned against Sophie.  The way it was presented though, I still couldn't believe that Liv didn't turn over the painting!

This story, and The Nightingale, makes me wonder what I would do if I was ever in this horrible position: accept food from the enemy to save my family/children, or not, because it is a betrayal of your people, your nation?  Obviously, your townspeople, friends and family will see you as a traitor even if you are forced to live with/serve the enemy!  Why do people always think the very worst of each other??  I really couldn't stand Sophie and Helene's brother, Aurelien!! I couldn't believe he could turn against his own sister the way he did!  And people are SO incredibly judgemental!!  I hope to never be in this type of situation of course, but I really think I would do whatever it takes to save the people I love. I don't think in "black" and "white" anyway though, so that's not terribly surprising I guess.

Although Sophie's story - and all those connected to her - makes me feel a bit melancholy - I think their stories ended in reasonable ways: lots of heartache and loss, mixed with some positive moments. I liked the way Liv's story ended.

Jojo Moyes seems to enjoy writing about controversial subjects - like Jodi Picoult - although I like how she infuses a little romance in the mix as well.  It's not always a "happy ending", but the romance is there.  I have already added the rest of Jojo Moyes' books on my Wish List because now I know that my love of Me Before You was not just a fluke.  I really love this author!

Wendy's Rating *****

The Bright Forever by Lee Martin

This book certainly received some high ratings. It reminded me of The Lovely Bones, although more depressing, if you can imagine that.  I actually don't mind sad books, disturbing books, even depressing books...if there is something positive gained from it.  The book is well-written, and I like that the key characters each had a "voice", narrating their own chapters.  But, I couldn't find anything positive in it - no redeeming quality or character.  I really didn't like the majority of the characters, other than Katie herself.  It may simply be too depressing for even me!

Clare was pathetically needy.  I would never be so needy as to end up with a man like Raymond.  I would rather live alone for the rest of my life.  Seriously.  I didn't understand that Ray was a drug fiend right away.  I just thought he was a cruel jerk - who, for his own ulterior motives (mainly gaining money through blackmail), helped out the odd-duck neighbor.  And Mr. Dees.  What's up with him? Envious of the beautiful family who really loved each other, or a pedophile??  Did he want Katie as his own daughter (like he told himself) or was he attracted to her sexually?  And although I don't believe Gilley should feel guilty for ratting his sister out about the library books, I certainly believe that Mr. Dees should accept his share of blame for Katie's demise.  How awful that he left her with Ray when he had a chance to walk away with her!!  What a coward!!

Let's see....then there is Katie's dad.  I obviously completely understand his anger and devastation regarding the disappearance of Katie.  What I don't understand is him going to Mr. Dees to help him?  Why did he even believe Mr. Dees??  Mr. Dees had already done very extremely questionable things regarding Katie - and admitted to them (mostly).  As a father, why would he trust Mr. Dees?  On top of that, he gets Gilley involved - who has to carry it with him the rest of his life - on top of his personal guilt of mentioning the library books to his father.

So, everyone carries on with their lives.  Mr. Dees moves.  The Mackeys move.  Small town America moves on - so much that they don't even recognize Mr. Dees when he comes back to visit years later and the disappearance of Katie is just a memory.  What can we take from this story that might be even a tad positive?  Nothing.  (In my opinion of course).  Again, a well-written novel, but I need a little bit a happiness, or fulfillment, or positivity in a book.

Wendy's Rating: ***1/2

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

I like Kristin Hannah books - a lot. This book may have replaced my favorite book by KH, The Things We Do For Love, but it's been so long since I read that one, it's hard to say.  I really loved this one!

First of all, I pretty much love all books written about WWII.  I find the strength in the people who lived, fought, survived, and died - in all of the countries involved in WWII - astounding. Close to starvation, freezing nearly to death, doing things they would have first thought unimaginable, continuing to "act"; continuing to survive; continuing to follow their conscience even at risk of death for themselves, their spouse, their children; it's absolutely inspiring.  I can't imagine ever showing such strength, and yet so many people did!

So, as the author obviously intended, I believed the narrator to be Isabelle.  The only thing that threw me is when she was talking about her son, Julien, thinking she was a meek follower, always deferring to his father.  That may have been the first inkling to me that it was Vianne and not Isabelle, because I can't imagine Isabelle ever being a meek follower!! She was incredibly impetuous and impulsive and brave and bold - and people like her don't change that drastically!  I admired both women for what they did during the war - and what they did to survive.

Again and again I am devastated by how human beings can treat other human beings as if they have no worth.  How on earth did so many Germans - Nazis - believe that starvation, torture, death, medical experiments, gas chambers, etc. was OK????  I get that Hitler was influential in Germany for many years; I get that Germany was in a bad way when Hitler came to power and they saw him as their salvation; I get that many (most?) of the SS were trained to think a certain way as young boys; I DON'T understand them accepting the cruelty against other humans.  These men were not all psychopaths; they weren't mentally ill; they had families of their own that they loved.  Where was their sense of right and wrong? Where was their morality?  Where was their conscience?  I just don't get it.

You could say that this is a story of love, sacrifice, redemption.  But those things certainly did not come easy - and it wasn't pretty.  It was real.  Horrible things happen to people who don't deserve it.  People suffer.  People sacrifice.  People die.  And I cried. :(

Wendy's Rating: *****