The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker

Overall, the response to The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker was positive.  Based on the comments, the book group would give this book a 3 1/2 to 4 stars (out of 5).

Those who had not been to Burma or another Asian country felt that the descriptions of the country and its people were such that they wished to visit.  They felt that the story was intriguing because of this and interesting to boot.  As a result of the rich setting and the interesting personalities and traits of the country's people, these readers felt that the book was, likewise, rich and interesting.  The setting provided a full backdrop for the characters populating it and made the book feel deep and complete.

Those who had been to Asian countries, however, felt that the descriptions of the country fell flat and did not do it any justice.  As a result, because the setting itself fell kind of flat, they felt that the book fell a little flat as well.  Along those lines, these readers also felt that the book was not as deep, more incomplete, and left a lot un-described or unanswered.  These readers felt that the author did not deliver on the description and the expectations created as a result thereof.

Unfortunately, we did not discuss some of the more controversial parts of the book for fear of ruining the story for those members who had not yet finished reading the book!

So, overall, 3.75 stars ;)

For March: Night Film by Marisha Pessl
For April: Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

I think Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter was the last book group we read collectively as a group before taking a hiatus... About a half-year hiatus.  During that time, we "read whatever we wanted" and still came together as a group to discuss what we'd been reading, make recommendations, and just discuss books in general.  As much as we all love books, it was a welcome variation!  We have decided, going forward, to go every other month, reading as a group, and use the intervening month to read individually.  This next book will be the Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker.

But, Beautiful Ruins.  Collectively, this was another book at the group loved.  Of course there were varying opinions.  For example, one of our members loved the book so much that she subsequently read every other Jess Walter book she could find (and was very pleased with almost, if not all of them!)  She was very impressed with his ability to write from so many different perspectives with so convincingly - and that was a common compliment that the group had for Beautiful Ruins as well.

The book follows several story lines - starting in the 60s in Italy with a visionistic young man who meets a hollywood starlet and falls in love, to the jaded 30-something in modern times hollywood looking for that perfect screen play to make her fall back in love with the industry, to the near-retired old director with an interesting past and an interesting perspective on success... and he does it all convincingly, interestingly, and well.  It is one of those stories that bounces back and forth until you realize that it was actually a delicate weaving together of stories, with a satisfying end.

As a group, we highly recommend this book and hope we read more that make us feel as satisfied as this one did, in the future!

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

Sadly, I will not have as much to say about this book as I would like (but check out my personal blog here!!)  That is not because the Girls of the Desert did not collectively enjoy the book -- it's more because the Girls of the Desert collectively were too busy to give it its due!

Those who had finished the book and were able to make book group (four of the girls were stuck at work!) expressed sentiments of great appreciation for the book.  Those who were not quite complete with the book and were able to make our meeting also seemed to fully enjoy what they had read!

The most repeated comments were that we all became reminiscent and nostalgic for a time and place we had never been--New York in the late 1930s.  We loved the main character and her spirit, and we all felt as if while reading, we were transported to New York, almost wishful that we could experience the story first-hand.

Those who had finished are look forward to Mr. Towles' next book and those who had not are just as eager to finish Rules!
Definitely recommend.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

The Group, as a whole, loved this book.
It was entertaining, light, and fast.  The perfect book for mid-winter.

Bernadette is a "wonderfully told story about a rather dysfunctional family (aren't they all), with a mother (Bernadette) who is a genius hermit former architect, the daughter (Bee) who is a brilliant young girl with a medical history and a love of life, and the father (Elgie) who is a workaholic genius microsoft project head who loves his family, if from a distance.  Blech, sounds boring the way I just did that.  Trust me, it's not." (that is from my personal blog: see the full review here!)

Maria Semple, like many authors these days, took on the challenge of a mixed-media (ish) book.  The story is told through e-mails, letters, instant messages, and other written forms (a report from a doctor, for example).  Semple, however, succeeded where many others failed.  The story is successfully told through the mixed media.  Unlike with other books where it is frustrating receiving partial information and/or awkward presentation in unnatural formats, Semple has a gift of somehow presenting a complete story in such a fashion.  The various tones were expertly maneuvered -- ranging from the innocent pre-teen to the evangelical Christian to the professional tone of a doctor.  All are convincing, and all are endearing.

In reading the book, there is laughter, surprise, sympathy, and empathy.  Most of the characters are not only relatable, but salvageable.  They are impressive and crazy, rising just enough above the "normal" to make them interesting.

The group appears to highly recommend this book -- so much so, in fact, that we are yearning for another similarly satisfactory read.  Comments welcome!

**MY personal thoughts:
of course a lof of the thoughts above are conveyed through my lens, but, yes, I loved the book.  I give it FIVE of 5 stars and highly recommend.  It was fun and intriguing.  It really did make me laugh and I'm sure there was a tear shed around there somewhere.  I loved all of the characters, and I am very MUCH looking forward to reading another Semple!

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

When we chose Anne of Green Gables, we knew that many of the group had not only read the book when we were younger, but some had read it over and over and over again.  For others, the movie (repeated watchings) were our background. And I believe for at least a couple, this was a fresh read.

Most of us were surprised that the book was written quite so long ago... I think we all felt like we had discovered it when it was relatively new on the market.  But no, it was originally published in 1908!  Which actually makes sense given the descriptions and cadence in the book.

This was a book full of details and not much of a grand plot.  If I were to sum up the overarching plot in 1 sentence, it would be something like:  Elderly brother and sister adopt boy but are given a girl and the book takes us through the next few years, as Anne, through her actions, personality, and sometimes words, convinces Marilla and Matthew to keep her.

But that brief description does nothing to give the book justice.
Although the book is almost more a series of mini-plots that fit within the overarching plot, the book is more about the power of love, hope, and friendship.

The group did not discuss the book that much because we were all swept up in how much we just loved it.  It is a wonderful testament to simpler times and the beauty of experiencing all of life as it comes.  Many of us related to Anne's character, but so many aspects of her liveliness have been trampled on by life in the 21st century.  A night with candles and reading?  No tv, no iPads, no smart phones.  It made me ache for a time when people learned about each other by real interactions with each other.

I think everyone in the group would recommend the book.  Highly.  It's just one of those books.  Even if it's not your "genre," it's so wonderfully written, so wonderfully told.  And we are, of course, going to share an Anne of Green Gables movie night ;)

Next up:  Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple.

Iron House by John Hart

We were all given the choice between Iron House and Last Child and everyone started with Iron House.  I say started with because after reading Iron House, many of the girls are ready to read Last Child.

The Group comments, as a whole:
- a fast read
- "How are you not done?! I couldn't put it down!"
- very entertaining
- "Oh! He's a lawyer! No wonder!" (that was a compliment :))
- "How did you find this? I've never even heard of him! It was really good!"
- "How many books has he written?"
- "The Last Child is even better!"

Overall, the group was very pleased with the book and, as I said, many are ready to read The Last Child.  The pace was great and we felt that he moved the story along quickly.  One member did not love the beginning, but by page 30 or 40, was wrapped up in the plot, the characters, and the story.

Without offering any spoilers:  It's about a career killer who attempts to "go straight" for his love and his baby.  Unfortunately, his past life has no interest in letting their golden killer walk away and he is chased while the people that he loves are put in grave danger, all of their lives being upended and, in some ways, completely destroyed.  There are twists and turns along the way, keeping the story interesting and the reader reading.

Many agreed that, once reading, it was difficult to put the book down.

Overall, the group was PLEASED! And would recommend to anyone who likes a good story, a good thriller, a Grisham/King (mild) story.

BossyPants by Tina Fey

I think I can safely say that, as a group, we not only loved the book, but we love (or at least strongly like and admire) the author.  This was not, however, universally true prior to our reading the book.  Some in the group were prior fans, some were prior non-fans, and some were neutral.

Tina Fey has written a very accessible book with a feminist-but-intelligent-and-thoughtful perspective.  She's funny, there's no question.  But she's not just funny.  There were points when we laughed at out loud, and there were points where we disagreed with her political statements, but overall, reading her book was like talking with a good friend.

The members of the group who had not watched or did not watch 30 Rock did not read (or closely read) the portion of the book that dealt with the show - but the book was complete without it and, those members included, fully enjoyable on its own.

As a group, we highly recommend the book.

And personally, I probably recommend it even higher than that.  It was truly an enjoyable experience.  I was one of those people who "couldn't stand" Ms. Fey ... and then I saw her in Baby Mama with Amy Poehler (who I have always loved) and begrudgingly admitted that she was funny and a decent actress... and then my husband's slight obsession w/ 30-Rock allowed me to watch the first 1/2 of the first season in succession... and I was completely won over.  She's self-deprecating in a completely endearing way.  And she's smart.  And funny.  I read the book in the couple hours it took to fly from Milwaukee to Phoenix and enjoyed all of it.  I hope there's a second!

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Sigh.  A few wonderful things about the book.
It is a wonderfully told tale in the magical realism genre.
A lot of people don't know the difference between fantasy and magical realism... one enters a different world, and the other brings the impossible into our world.  The Night Circus is the latter.
It is also historical fiction (broadly).  It is also a love story.

Those who know me (including the book group :)) know that I love fantasy and magical realism.  I am more hesitant with historical fiction and love stories because they are often written without complexity or grace.

It is not the type of historical fiction that draws on real life historical events (which is why it's "broadly" in the genre), but it occurs in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  Morgenstern interweaves the characters, the story, the planning of the circus, the drama, the anger, the love, etc., effortlessly to a final conclusion.

Compliments made at group:
It is fun!
It is interesting.
It was impressive that someone so young writing a debut novel wrote with such maturity.
She did, with the weaving, what many attempt and fail at.

Criticisms & Comments made at group:
The ending seemed a little bit of a leg down after the effort that went into the rest of the book -- almost as if she became tired and just finished it a bit in a rush.
And of course, it's not everyone's top genre -- but even those people thought it was fun.
It is a little dark in the beginning, but works itself out in a satisfying way.

Please add your thoughts!