"Aquarium" by David Vann is Amazon's Book of the Month for March

Aquarium by David Vann is a story about a young girl named Caitlin.  She lives with her mom and every day after school she goes to the aquarium to see the fish and wait for her mom.  One day an old man befriends her and they form a relationship.  When the mother finds out who this man is, the book takes off.

I am conflicted on how I view this book.  The main story is really, really good with a WOW ending and action galore; however, there is a secondary story line that I did not care for.
(Gerard's review, 4.75 stars)  

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

We Both Liked "The Silent Sister" by Diane Chamberlain (Updated)

In The Silent Sister, Riley believes her older sister killed herself as a teenager.  Twenty years later she finds evidence that this is not true.  As Riley seeks the truth, she will be hit with some things that will shake all the truths she did believe.  

This book rocks!  It's all good but as slowly the secrets and lies come out into the open you as a reader are wowed.  LOVED IT A LOT!
(Gerard's review 3/26/15 5++ stars)

The Silent Sister starts out a bit slow with Riley getting her father's house ready to sell after his death.  Boy, did this bring back memories for me though having gone through this process with my dad.  I could certainly identify with her through this process.  The story picks up when Riley believes her older sister may not have committed suicide many years ago but may actually be alive somewhere and begins her search.

During this time, the author gives us a look at what's been happening with Lisa, Riley's older sister, who is a fugitive because she was charged with murder and faked her death to avoid prison when she was 17.  I couldn't help pulling for Lisa even though her younger brother, Danny, thought she should pay for what she did--not only for committing murder but also for ruining their family.
 
I realize you may think I've given spoilers here, but I haven't.  There are lots of surprises in this book and I loved how the author developed them gradually.  This book is not only about family secrets, but about the extent parents go to protect their children and how one event can tear a family apart.  I really liked this book which was no surprise to me because I also liked The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes and Necessary Lies, and The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain.  If you like stories about family drama and lots of twists and turns, you'll enjoy this one, I'm sure!  I'd certainly recommend this one for a book club read. 
(Karen's review 3/23/15, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Black Stallion Mystery" by Walter Farley was Disappointing

The Black Stallion Mystery by Walter Farley is about someone trying to kill the horse out of revenge.  I was confused and slightly bored with this book.  It was such a letdown to me after loving the first book in this series, The Black Stallion.  It made no sense to me why Alec and Henry took Black over to Spain in a plane in the first place to look for Black's sire.  I would not recommend this book, although a kid might like the part when Alec pokes around in the castle and the chase in the mountains with Black.  The horse actually had a very small part in this book.
(Karen's review, 2 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Find Me" by Laura Van Den Berg

Find Me is about a young girl named Joy.  She has no one to confide in at all.  What she does have is a troubled past and an addiction to cough syrup.  When a sickness spreads through the land, Joy is immune to it and that gains her admission to a hospital.  There she goes through tests and then she breaks out of the hospital to find her mom who abandoned her as a baby.

I found this to be pretty good.  I am not sure I would call this a page turner, but it did keep my interest.  The way it ends leaves open to a second book I would probably read.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday

Gerard's:

And watching the two vehicles cut sharp rights onto Schofield, the street the graveyard entrance was on, I felt my legs buckling, collapsing beneath me.  I dropped first to my knees, then to all fours, the shock of certainty hitting me:  Nica was dead.

From page 15 of Dark Rooms by Lili Anolik (click link to see my review)

I wish I had a way to talk to him, to ask why he came, to tell him no one is going to help him here.  I don't think it's right to watch these people suffer, even if it's a suffering they have chosen.

 From page 10 of Find Me by Laura Van Den Berg.  (Review posted tomorrow.)

Karen's: 

I never forgot my mother's words about Lisa feeling unhappy and thinking she'd never feel happy again.  I thought about that every time I counseled a depressed kid.  I thought about it every time I felt unhappy, reminding myself I would one day be happy again.

From page 50 of The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain. (Great book, see my review)

Like a black thunderbolt the bull charged, the rush of his great body shaking the earth and stirring up a sudden gust of wind.  Alec twisted away to avoid the horns seeking his flesh.

From page 40 of The Black Stallion Mystery by Walter Farley.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.

Happy Reading!