The Girl with a Clock for a Heart by Peter Swanson

Swanson, Peter. The Girl with a Clock for a Heart. New York: HarperCollins, 2014. Hardcover

The Girl with a Clock for a Heart by Peter Swanson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

George Foss is 40, living an uneventful life, and has never been able to forget his first love, Liana Decter. When she shows up in his local bar after he hasn't seen her for 20 years, George knows it's a bad idea to get involved with her again, but he is unable to resist. This fast-paced thriller will keep you guessing until the very end. I am really looking forward to Swanson's next novel. Fans of Dennis Lehane are sure to enjoy this.

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Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Asher, Jay. Thirteen Reasons Why. New York: Penguin, 2007. Hardcover.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clay Jensen finds a mysterious package on his porch and discovers that it contains a series of audiotapes from classmate Hannah Baker explaining 13 reasons why she committed suicide. Hannah Baker's voice narrates much of the book, interspersed with Clay's thoughts and interactions with those still living. Gripping account of a teen's feelings of isolation and powerlessness. I couldn't put this book down. Recommended for fans of John Green's Looking for Alaska. This also reminded me of Simon Lelic's A Thousand Cuts, which I loved.

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His Leading Lady by Jean Joachim

Joachim, Jean. His Leading Lady. Smashwords, 2014. nook book.

His Leading Lady by Jean C. Joachim
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Another free nook romance. I kept thinking this book was bad and that I shouldn't keep reading it. The line that made me drop it like a hot potato and laugh until tears ran down my face: "He wandered around like the last kernel in a bag of popcorn" (p. 87).

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Cupid's Chase 5K (Princeton, NJ)

If you are not familiar with the Cupid's Chase, it's a race run in February (weather permitting) to support people with disabilities. This is my fourth year doing the race, and definitely the coldest!! I saw a friend from library school who was doing her first 5K (she finished strong), and another friend who is training for an Ironman triathlon came out to support and photograph me.

This has been an incredibly cold winter for us in NJ so far, and it was 20°F when the race started. Compared to previous years, it was a pretty small turnout, which always means I've got a chance at an Age Group award.

The Cupid's Chase is usually one of my slower 5K races (there is a long incline and the cold...brrrrr). I am happy to report that today I finished in 26:43, which is a course record for me. The results listed me as #2 in my age group (no medal), but I hung around anyway. The first place finisher in my age group was also the first woman overall to finish (go 48-yr-old!!), so imagine my excitement when I got bumped up for a medal!

First place in Age Group (F 45-49)
2014 Results: 26:43.01 (F45-49: 2/15)

Previous results:

• 2011: 27:26.46 (F40-44: 11/38)
• 2012: 27:17.78 (F40-44: 6/26)
• 2013: 27:46.83 (F45-54: 6/41)

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Tartt, Donna. The Goldfinch. New York: Little, Brown, 2013. Hardcover.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have a complicated relationship with Donna Tartt's work. I LOVED The Secret History, so much so that I have actually forced friends to read it. I waited and waited for her second novel, The Little Friend, which I found infuriating and unsatisfying. I am happy to report that The Goldfinch is brilliant. I loved every word of this novel. Not sure why the jacket blurb says that Theo Decker "miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother." I am pretty sure that no one would characterize a terrorist bomb as an accident, and there is no ambiguity about her cause of death. I digress... Theo is a fantastically drawn character, and you will find yourself rooting for him as he goes through trial after trial. Readers will be quickly swept into the chaos that is Theo's life and will most likely be white-knuckled throughout the ride. Brilliant.

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The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

Moriarty, Liane. The Husband's Secret. New York: Putnam, 2013. Hardcover.

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this novel. Cecilia finds a letter from her husband "to be opened after his death." This presents a dilemma, as she is a "do-the-right-thing" kind of person, and her husband is not dead. Eventually, she opens the letter, discovers the secret, and must decide what to do with the knowledge. The author gives us three different stories and viewpoints, which can occasionally be frustrating as the reader is wondering "What is the secret?!" All three storylines meet, and I often found myself wondering, "What would I do?" All in all, an interesting and thought-provoking novel. I look forward to reading other works by this author.

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Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson

Paulson, Ingrid. Valkyrie Rising. New York: HarperTeen, 2012. nook book.

Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As a child, I was obsessed with Norse mythology, and I really enjoyed this modern tale. Ellie is a "normal" teen girl, annoyed by her older brother Graham's protectiveness and confused by her feelings for his best friend, Tuck. All three go to visit Ellie's grandmother in Norway and discover some strange goings-on. Paulson does a nice job of weaving Norse mythology into the story. For those unfamiliar with Norse mythology, all is explained. Great teen read for anyone looking for something supernatural (not necessarily vampire).

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