Wow you guys, I'm so far behind on this whole blogging thing it's not even funny.
Anyway, so I've finished 5/100 books. I've got a long way to go!
So first things first, I jumped right into another Jodi Picoult book. Holy can that woman write!
A couple weeks ago, I finished her newest (I think?) novel called Sing You Home. It's quite different from House Rules, but it had the same profound effect on me.
As in House Rules, she writes the book in multiple perspectives, but the majority of the focus is on Zoe; who at the beginning of the story is trying to have a baby with her husband with no success, and as the stress becomes too much, they separate. Zoe isn't a woman with many girl friends, or many friends at all for that matter, but soon after her separation, she makes a new friend, and it takes a turn she doesn't expect.
Another similarity to House Rules is that there's another court case in the story. I don't know if this is very common in Picoult's writing, but I enjoy it, and it fascinates me how she manages to incorporate law into her writing.
I love how much Picoult puts into her writing. She doesn't just sit and make up a story and have it published; she does her research. She sits with people that are similar to the main character in the most important aspects (for example: Jodi Picoult worked closely with someone she knew who has Aspergers when writing House Rules). As a reader, it makes for a really good read when the author has put a lot of time and consideration into their writing.
It's quite controversial, but if you keep an open mind while reading it, it can really challenge your way of thinking, and perhaps allow you to be more open minded when faced with certain situations.
Book #5 was a bit of a lighter and a heavier read all at once.
Book #5 is Holloway Falls by Neil Cross. I picked this one up at the $5 table at Chapters. Let me tell you, it was good, but I wouldn't have paid more than $5 for it.
I actually took quite a risk when buying this book, it didn't really have a description in the back, but I had read a couple of pages before purchasing it, so that was my 'justification' of sorts.
It's written like an English Mystery, except it's a bit lighter. However, many parts left me confused. There are quite a few characters, and quite frankly, I'm still confused about some of them.
One of the main characters is a cop by the name of William Holloway. Years ago, his wife cheated on him with another man, and Holloway is out to seek revenge on him. However, a woman that William slept with was murdered, and it's believed that he did it. However, another man enters the story who believes that he knows who did it, and it wasn't Holloway.
If you're into thrillers and mysteries, definitely check it out. However, at the very end there is quite a bit of blood and gore described, so if you don't like that kind of stuff, just skim over it.
Happy Reading!
Miriam Toews touches me in a way I can't really describe. It's difficult for me to describe her writing as dark because the stories she tells are so bizarre and absurd they're hard to believe. And yet, as crazy the tales are, she writes them in a way that makes them slightly believable. If you read The Flying Troutmans and enjoy it, I would highly recommend A Complicated Kindness as well. It's quite a bit different and that story is definitely dark, but it's got that same Miriam Toews touch to it that makes it hard to put down. 
