The Night Circus

This book was truly magical! There really are no other words to describe it.  I did think about Water for Elephants a few times while reading this, but it really is a different type of circus book.  It is much more about the magic in our world that we fail to see on a daily basis.  It's about that childhood belief that life can still have elements of awe.  The very basic premise is that two illusionists are pitted against each other in a competition that is played out in a circus for all the world to see.  But does the world see it or is your illusion a solitary pursuit? I completely expect this will be made into a movie (there is a fabulous opportunity for whomever designs the fashion and the set of the circus), but nothing can compare to the world you envision in your own mind.  Yes there is also romance in this book, but it is both a romance of the carnal kind as well as the romantic feeling you get when you fantasize about something that was wonderful, yet ephemeral.  This is one of the better books I've read this year. Highly recommended!

Is It Just Me?

If you have some common sense then this book is preaching to the choir.  Whoopi basically discusses (in short quick chapters) how civilization is not really civil anymore.  So if people who talk on their cell phones in the movie theater, don't give their kids boundaries, don't know how to act in public, gossip about everything that's NOT their business, clip their nails in public, or are just plain rude to others get on your nerves, then this book will have you nodding your head and saying "so true, so true".

Heart of the Matter

First, I must admit I couldn't put it down. It is 4am and I just finished it. I had to find out what was going to happen next.  The author does know how to snare you! That's a good thing.  With that being said these characters were so infuriating! There wasn't one character I truly liked (except Charlie, a 6 year old boy. He was sweet.). All the housewives are cookie-cutter 'burbs and none of them seem to share an independent brain cell between the whole lot of them.  I was so frustrated reading this! I liked the movie "Something Borrowed" and decided to give Emily Giffin a try, but I found myself secretly yelling at most of the characters.  Especially the two main female characters. If the author could maintain her current writing style, but add some STRONG female characters instead of weak, needy ones I'd be happy.

The Slap

If everyone in Australia is as miserable as the people in this book, then I never want to travel there.  This is one of those books where everyone has issues.  They are either depressed/angry/anxious/disillusioned/self-medicated/frustrated/disappointed or full of regret.  There really is not one likable character in the story except maybe Richie, but that's because he's a teenager and his angst is the genuine angst of youth.  Everyone else in the story is in their 40s and seems to have angst because their life sucks.  Too much sex and drugs and expletives for me to really connect with any of the characters. I just felt sorry for most of them.