Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

Why did I read this book? Well, I was desparate for some mindless distraction on a long layover and flight to a wedding. The books I had brought were too much for my mind at the time. This book didn't disapoint, it was certainly mindless. It is typical of a Nicholas Sparks novel. Not a lot of heart, no complicated plot, no mystery and completely predictable. I think the man writes books FOR movies, I don't think they think he writes a good story and then turn it into a movie. One thing I found really weird is that the book is called Dear John, leading you to believe the book is filled with letters back and forth. It is not. He (John) describes the letters he and she write, but there are only a couple of passages from letters. Usually in a Nick Sparks book/movie someone dies. Well, no one really dies in this book, but someTHING dies. So no big surprise there. Very tragic story, as usual. But I didn't really "feel" the character of John. I didn't get him and I was left feeling sort of blah about him and the book in turn. It wasn't a page turner, other than the fact I wanted to finish it before I landed back in Seattle. BORING! But, I'll give him this...whoever makes his movies sure does know how to cast! I'll see the movie when it's available just for the fact that Channing Tatum is the lead. Much of why I liked The Guardian was because of Kevin Costner AND Ashton Kutcher. Whoa baby! See the movie, don't read the book.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Wow. That is all I can say. A Thousand Splendid Suns is another story of Afghanistan, this time from the perspective of two women. The tale begins at the beginning of the Soviet rule, then on to the Mujahideen (sp?), then the Taliban and finally the events after 9/11. The lives of these two women have intertwined inot one beautiful story of the power of love and friendship. I have to say that at first I was a little bored, like where is this going. The beginning is really setting the whole rest of the book and it is a bit long for a book of this size. However, I don't think you could cut any of that out and still walk away with the same feeling. I was near tears so many times while I read this book...and that is not something that I do! I don't cry when I read. Maybe this story just really hit home because I am a woman. This book shows us dumb and naive Americans what the Taliban truly are capable, what it was like as a woman to live under their rule, what war and destruction can do to a country and its people, and finally how a strong hearted person can get through all that heartache and turmoil. I kept reading, wondering how it could get any worse. It did. I kept wondering if it has a happy ending. It does. Sort of. And I'm saying that because to get through this book, you might need to know that! It was waiting for just everyone to die. REally, you have to read this book. You may think its not a story for you. But the author is so good at making you feel like it is here and now and its easily relatable to your own life. These women went through hell. And I know it is a fictitious story, but this could well be the story of millions of Afghani women. Read it. If I could give this book more than five stars, I would. I'm so depressed now its wonderful.

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Summary and review from Powell's Books:

Around the time Elizabeth Gilbert turned thirty, she went through an early-onslaught midlife crisis. She had everything an educated, ambitious American woman was supposed to want — a husband, a house, a successful career. But instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she was consumed with panic, grief, and confusion. She went through a divorce, a crushing depression, another failed love, and the eradication of everything she ever thought she was supposed to be.
To recover from all this, Gilbert took a radical step. In order to give herself the time and space to find out who she really was and what she really wanted, she got rid of her belongings, quit her job, and undertook a yearlong journey around the world — all alone. Eat, Pray, Love is the absorbing chronicle of that year. Her aim was to visit three places where she could examine one aspect of her own nature set against the backdrop of a culture that has traditionally done that one thing very well. In Rome, she studied the art of pleasure, learning to speak Italian and gaining the twenty-three happiest pounds of her life. India was for the art of devotion, and with the help of a native guru and a surprisingly wise cowboy from Texas, she embarked on four uninterrupted months of spiritual exploration. In Bali, she studied the art of balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence. She became the pupil of an elderly medicine man and also fell in love the best way — unexpectedly.
An intensely articulate and moving memoir of self-discovery, Eat, Pray, Love is about what can happen when you claim responsibility for your own contentment and stop trying to live in imitation of society's ideals. It is certain to touch anyone who has ever woken up to the unrelenting need for change.

Here's my review: I loved this book. No it was not a page turner in that I wanted to find out quickly what was happening. I just love the way she writes. Elizabeth Gilbert is so much like me it's kinda scary! She's funny, sarcastic and very smart. I particularly loved the way she would mention something in the beginning of a chapter or section, and then cleverly wrap it around into a great summation of her thoughts on the experience. I also like Felipe...he's a good man. I really recommend any woman to read this book, she's got advice hidden in there! The only thing I didn't like was the middle part, or book, Pray...uh...was a git boring. I mean, she's in an ashram in India praying and meditating all the time. I read through that quickly so I could get on the best part of the book, Love. And it's not about love for me, it was seeing how Elizabeth had really turned her life around and she truly found what she needed. We should all be so lucky.