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Karen:
Story of Beautiful Girl by Nina Revoyr
It begins with the difficult - a white woman and a black man in love - in 1968. But their obstacles are even greater - they are both residents at the Pennsylvania State School for the Incurable and Feebleminded. And she is pregnant. After they escape, she gives birth in widow Martha's barn, she is caught and returned to the school, he flees and widow Martha has a child to raise. What follows is the journey to repair what is broken. It is an absolutely wonderful story and one you won't soon forget.
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
I have loved everything Ann Patchett has written, but I think State of Wonder may be my very favorite. It is the story of Marina Singh, a scientist who receives word that her office mate has died in the Amazon while investigating scientific work on female fertility. She goes into the jungle to locate the doctor he was working with and with whom she has a crucial connection. You can feel the jungle closing around her and her questioning why she has even come. It is richly atmospheric, spellbinding and raises ethical questions on medical research.
Maria:
Grange House by Sarah Blake
This is the first novel by Sarah Blake, author of The Postmistress (which I love)-so I had to see what it is like. I would never have guessed they are by the same person. Grange House is a Gothic mystery set in a New England mansion by the sea. Everything is nebulous and strange and you're never quite sure what is true and what is illusion. It kept me turning pages until the very end.
Here, Home, Hope by Kaira Rouda
So many novels are the story of finding love. This one takes place in the "happily ever after". Kelly is married to her true love and has two wonderful boys. She knows something isn't right because she grinds her teeth at night and finds herself in tears for no reason. At yet another trip to the dentist she decides her life has to change so she puts post-it notes everywhere (even where other people see them: in the kitchen and bathroom, on her dashboard.....) with reminders of how she wants to think and feel. When her best friend asks her to come to her rescue by staging a house for sale and another friend asks her to take care of her teenage daughter with anorexia while she goes off for some R&R, Kelly finds her life expanding into areas she never imagined. This is an inspiring story for anyone looking for possibilities.
Anne:
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
This novel reals the beginning of Ernest Hemingway's career through the eyes of Hadley Richardson, his first wife. McLain's beautifully written prose transports you back to Paris of the 1920's. The Hemingway's quickly become the darlings of the bohemian "Lost Generation" set which included Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein and Ezra Pound. The vivid descriptions of the 1920's Europe, the poignent love story, betrayl and tragedy give great insight into one of America's greatest writers. McLain makes you feel the passion. I couldn't put it down!
Alexa:
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
This book will keep you guessing until the end, trying to figure out why the main character, Clay Jensen, is involved in all of these crazy things that have happened to Hannah Baker before she died. By the end of the novel we find out the crazy life she had and why she created the tapes in the first place.
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