Her Fearful Symmetry

I have a great book club.  We've been reading together for about a year and a half now and it is a great group.  There are six of us ladies who attend every meeting and two or three more who come a little more sporadically.   We are smart, funny, interesting girls who read.  Our book club has made better and more active readers of us.  And you know one of my favorite things about our book club?  We actually read and discuss the books!  I have heard about other book clubs out there that pick a book, no one really reads it and then the "book club" meeting is really more of a social hour.  I have no problem with that.  If that's what you need, please do, but I really wanted a book club.  And that's just what we are.  

This months selection is: 



Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger.

It was actually my turn to pick the book and this one has been on my shelf for a long time, waiting to be read.  I just finished it last night, well actually it was more like 1 o'clock this morning.  I got to a certain point in the plot, and there was no putting it down until it was done.  

What did I think of it?  Well...that I'm not actually sure of.  When I first began it, I really liked it.  Then I got to an interesting plot twist and suddenly I loved it.  As I read further, I became engrossed in the characters and the plot.  I kept thinking "What is going to happen next?"  "Where is this leading?"  "No...they can't possibly be about to do what I think they are going to do?"  [The only problem with this blog is that you may not have read these books yet, and I really hate to be a spoiler, so I have to be careful what I say because I could really give away some big things here.]  

Suddenly, last night when I should have been putting the book away and going to sleep, something unbelievable happened in the storyline and I couldn't stop.  I couldn't look away.  I kept thinking, "Please don't do that."  "Please see the error of your ways and do something else."  Well, the characters just didn't listen to me and the story took a turn I would not have preferred.  

When I was finally finished, I felt...unsettled.  I wanted things to turn out differently, but it's not my book to write.  Last night I would have told you that I really did not like that book.  I wouldn't have recommended it to anyone.  This morning, I feel a little less disturbed and I think the book has grown on me a bit.  I still wouldn't say it was my favorite and I won't be hanging on to my copy to read again, but I think I'll find someone interesting to pass it on to.  Someone who can appreciate imperfect characters and an unexpected, non-fairy tale ending.  If that's you, I would suggest reserving a copy at the library.  Maybe you'll love it...you never know.