There are so many books out there that are similar to this one that it did not move me as others have. The writer did find a way to uplift his spirit and it did make me think about all the things I should be grateful for and do not thank people for. But emotionally I never really felt his sadness or frustration. He didn't have the ability to touch inside of me. In spite of that I do think it was a good book for those that like this kind of book and it will make you take a moment and think about your life. But a lot of it seemed coincidental.

I really enjoyed The Map of True Places. In true form to her Salem roots the book takes place in close proximity to her first book. It kept my interest because you never knew where it was taking you. The kind of book that book clubs would enjoy and that I will browse back through and find connecting thoughts over the next couple of days. Her characters were interesting and I felt like it was very real as to where life tends to take us at times and how little control we have over it.

Kamila Shamsie's Burnt Shadows was like no book I have ever read. It put the tensions of the world and the people inhabiting it into a totally different light. It made you think about our world as a global world trying to coexist. The only problem I had with this book which kept me from saying it was great was I think the author tried so hard to get her points across and involved so many characters that I don't think they were totally developed at times. I would still recommend it as a great book that book clubs will find wonderful discussions to come from. I will be thinking about this book for several days.

What a very different approach to a well covered subject. From the moment you figure out who the narrator is, this book despite being over 500 pages long, holds your attention. The characters are rich and complex and book clubs would enjoy delving into all their personalities and conflicts. It centers around the rise of Hitler in a small part of Germany and how this affects the lives of the people who live there. Markus Zusak has a very different style of writing that I enjoyed and would recommend to everyone. You will smile and cry and carry it with you when you are done.