Maternity leave book list

I had more time to read than I thought I would during the past nine weeks. Here is my list and what I thought about each book

The Hunger Game series - I really enjoyed this even though it was a young adult novel. I was a bit skeptical of the story line where teens are picked to compete in a game that forces them to kill each other. However, all three books were well written and quick reads, even if I didn't like how the third book ended. I will reread these.

The Kids are All Right - I read this on the recommendation of Clueless but Hopeful Mama. As she said, the kids are Not all right. Great memoir written by four siblings after both their parents died. FYI, the movie does not follow the same story despite having the same title.

Gods in Alabama - I found Joshilyn Jackson through Jennifer Lancaster. She said if Jackson isn't your favorite author, it is only because you haven't read her yet. Less than 30 pages into this book, I told the husband I just found my new favorite author. It was a quick read without being fluff. Great mystery without being cheesy plus some funny parts.

The Girl Who Stopped Swimming - Another Jackson novel. I read this and Gods in Alabama in a weekend. Also a very good mystery. Both Jackson books will be reread.

An Exact Replica of a Figment of my Imagination - A memoir of a woman who miscarried at nine months. I read this after reading a rave review of it on NPR. Good but not something I would rave about.

Testimony - This is another book I saw on a list by Clueless but Hopeful. I enjoy Anita Shreve. One of my favorite books is Fortune's Rock. This was a good book about a sex scandal at a private boarding school. Good, not great.

One Day - This is a lovely book about two people who meet one day and follows them through their relationship through the years on that same day. The man is a dimwit but still kind of lovable. I found myself pulling for the woman through the entire book.

The Devil in the Junior League - This is an ABC Family original movie waiting to happen, if it hasn't already. Total fluff but fairly enjoyable story about a woman who loses it all thanks to her philandering husband and how she triumphs.

Quicksand - While the previous book belongs on ABC Family, this belongs on Lifetime. True story of a woman whose husband turns out to be a bank robber. It was cheap so I bought it. You get what you pay for.

Water for Elephants - Like Hillary, I had picked this book up numerous times but never read it. I wish I had sooner. I really enjoyed this book. Well written story with interesting characters. I'm anxious to see if it will translate well to the movie. Another on the reread list.

The Imperfectionists - I heard good things about this. Once I read the synopsis, I thought I would love it since it is a book about journalists and an newspaper in Rome. Wrong. I had to force myself to finish it. It took weeks. I read a few pages between other books and then finally finished it one day. I didn't find any of the characters likable and the writing was often abrupt, switching from one subject or time period quickly so that I would have to go back and make sure I didn't miss anything. Blah.

The Book Thief - This was another recommendation from Clueless but hopeful. I enjoyed this young adult novel about a young girl living in Nazi Germany and how books helped her survive.

Accidental Billionaires - This is the story of how Facebook was created. I was interested since I am on the site mumble, mumble times a day. It was very interesting to see how Mark Zuckerburg may or may not have screwed many people to get the site up and running. Warning though: the author, Ben Mezrich, fancies himself as a Writer. He reeeaaally likes to set a scene, many times unnecessarily.

But enough about me - This is Rolling Stone writer Jancee Dunn's memoir. Very funny and an interesting insight to some celebrities including Madonna and Barry White.

Just Kids - This was another book I had a hard time getting through. I think part of my problem is that I didn't know much about Patti Smith and Robert Maplethorpe. After some research, the book seemed more interesting but it was not my favorite.

Next up is Pat Conroy's South of Broad. I haven't read any of his books before but after a Facebook solicitation for book recommendations, someone suggested him.

What are you reading?