Twilight: Sun never rose on the book for me.

I will be honest and say that I just couldn't finish this book. I was not impressed with the writing or the storyline. To be fair, there were some captivating moments, but for the most part I just couldn't get into the characters or the setting. There were too many insignificant details and elementary descriptions that made it seem like a book and not a story. I will try to read this book at a different time and give it another chance. But since it took me two weeks to get to page 40,,, I'd rather just admit defeat this time.
Victoria's admission.

I absolutely loved "A Thousand Spendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. The book is written in a similar style to the author's first book "Kite Runner" with beautiful phrases and descriptions. Right from the start there is so much emotion. The characters each have strength yet a vulnerability that can destroy them and does in some cases. Though there are two main characters,,, their personalities are so intricately woven with the other characters and their relationships thus defined.
Hosseini so vividly describes Afghanistan that there are times I can actually feel the dust and heat or smell the foods.
I was so touched with the desperation of the young mother trying to keep her children safe and alive. Enduring beatings, the possibility of rape even death just to see her daughter.
And then there is the element of love. Throughout the book he captures the love between parent and child,, man and woman and woman and woman.
As bleak as life may seem at any and all stages of life for these characters, the message of strength, honor and friendship shines through as a happy an ending that could realistically be realized in the situation.
I highly recommend this book.

When you don't like a book...

So where have I been? Avoiding the truth. I don't like our May book pick, A Thousand Splendid Suns. I started listening to it on CD and I just could not get into it. I dreaded the thought of continuing on. And then the second book in the Twilight series came in and I HAD to listen to it.

So there it is. I didn't read the May book club pick. I do believe Victoria is a little miffed. (I'm going to have her blog about why she did like it! Many many people loved it!) But come on! Hasn't that ever happened to you? You hated the book club pick, didn't read it, and just showed up at the meeting for the snacks and gossip?

So for June, Victoria suggested we read Twilight. (easy for me since I already did!) And interesting for you, because it's coming out as a movie in December, and the final book in the four book series comes out this summer. Check out www.stepheniemeyer.com for more info on the book, the series and the movie.

I'm really curious to hear what readers think. This is considered a Young Adult book, but she has sold 5.5 million copies worldwide of the first book, Twilight. But she does have some very outspoken critics who don't like it, don't think it's well written etc. So, we'll have lots to discuss.