One of the best books I've read in a long time. This is a scathingly hilarious satire of a woman dealing with overzealous PTA mothers, a husband gone AWOL working at Microsoft, the quirks of living in a city like Seattle (as a transplant to the Emerald city, I can relate), plus other things that come to light as the plot evolves and she has to face what is ultimately depression. It's semi-epistolary, told from her loyal teenage daughter's point of view while using letters, emails, texts, etc. to convey the story. It moves along a such a fast clip and there were some fantastic plot twists - definitely my favorite book of the year, so far.

I think I need to read more middle grade fiction, because there's so much fantastic writing to be found. This story, told so beautifully and simply from the viewpoint of Ivan the gorilla, was heartbreaking and, ultimately, heartwarming. I can't wait to share it with my kids when they get a bit older and are learning themselves about the central theme of this story: principles. "...a belief that helps you know what's right or wrong." p. 194

I'm a sucker for historical fiction (as well as YA fiction) and I have visited a number of the cities in this novel set in what was Brittany in 1485, now Northwest France. The premise is awesome: basically, nuns that are assasins and the plot moves along swiftly. But there was too much predictability and I wasn't really blown away by it - a good, but not great read.

When I first started reading this book, I was overwhelmed by it's over the top odd-ness (for lack of a better word). But then reading this love story about these two very strange, yet relatable, characters became almost hypnotic. I can't say it was a page turner, but it made me think and was written in a very original voice. I even found myself marking passages, especially the many regarding motherhood - a very central theme in this book:

"She rose up from that bed a mother, and ready to fight for the rest of her days... when the woman becomes a mother, she can no longer participate in the slow rot. Because no one's going to rot the child. And anyone who tries will suffer the mother's consequences." p. 15-16

"I am Mom, twenty-four/seven. It doesn't end because I am not physically with you and your child. I am always Mom. It's right here with me, inside me, this makes me Mom.... I just want a little break to try and be someone else, but I can't have it. It's impossible." p.241

It'd be a great book for a really serious book club that likes to explore themes and symbolism.

I adored the concept of this book - it reminded me of my obsession with Choose Your Own Adventure books when I was in grade school and sometimes I'd just read them straight through to see all the different ways the story could play out. I immediately empathized with Ursula, the main character, and her family full of colorful characters. I so wanted to see each of them have his or her happy ending, and that pulled me through. However, when her beloved brother Teddy posed the question of reincarnation "What if we had a chance to do it again and again, until we finally did get it right? Wouldn't that be wonderful?" And Ursula replies, "I think it would be exhausting." And therein lies the rub: after awhile, the endless re-boot of the story became a wee bit tedious - especially during the dark and horrible times of WWII. Overall, though, I enjoyed the book a great deal.

I'm pretty much at a loss for words... Suffice it to say that I'll never forget this book. It's just beautiful and wonderful in every way.

I finally read a Sarah Dessen book and Keeping the Moon was a great introduction. I love coming of age novels and this was one (as a former fat kid) I could totally relate to the main character. Really, anyone who was ever a teenage girl could relate; Dessen's writing is beautifully evocative of those teen years. It was a teensy bit predictable and cheesy, but that was part of why I loved it - like devouring Judy Blume books.

I haven't stopped reading a book in awhile, but I just couldn't keep reading this one. I liked some of the ideas, and I'm curious as to what will happen to the characters - but I can wait for the movie. Yes, I believe it's been optioned already. Just as with Ender's Game, I think it goes on too many political rants and dull tangents.

I think I might spend my summer reading all of Sarah Dessen's novels. I liked this one even more than Keeping the Moon. She does seem to follow a bit of a formula: girl meets boy, loses boy, etc. But these stories bring me back to my youth, and even though they are fun YA chick lit, they're not lacking in substance. I'm left thinking about the characters, themes and passages from the book long after I'm finished. Good stuff.

I burned through this book in a day and a half - compulsively readable. It reminded me a bit of The Time Traveler's Wife, a bit of one of my absolute favorite books, My Name Is Memory by Ann Brashares mixed with the old tv show Quantum Leap. The main character (of indeterminate gender) wakes in a different body every day and is desperate to keep his (her?) connection the person he (she?) has fallen in love with; as you might surmise, there are some interesting themes about gender and love. Very cool book, I just felt that the ending was abrupt and cryptic.