The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

When I went on the ski trip I woke up pretty early most mornings.  When I woke up I would go ahead and get out of bed and go downstairs so I wouldn't disturb the guy I was rooming with (it was bunk beds...we were not in the same bed).  The second morning I forgot to grab my book when I went downstairs.  I didn't want to go back in there so I looked at the dozen or so books they had on the bookshelf in the living room and decided on this one because it was not very big and I already knew the author.

Here is a synopsis from Nicholas Sparks' website:

Travis Parker has everything a man could want: a good job, loyal friends, even a waterfront home in small-town North Carolina. In full pursuit of the good life—boating, swimming, and regular barbecues with his good-natured buddies—he holds the vague conviction that a serious relationship with a woman would only cramp his style. That is, until Gabby Holland moves in next door. Despite his attempts to be neighborly, the appealing redhead seems to have a chip on her shoulder about him…and the presence of her longtime boyfriend doesn’t help. Despite himself, Travis can’t stop trying to ingratiate himself with his new neighbor, and his persistent efforts lead them both to the doorstep of a journey that neither could have foreseen. Spanning the eventful years of young love, marriage and family, The Choice ultimately confronts us with the most heartwrenching question of all: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive?

Some Nicholas Sparks books are so sad a predictable.  This one wasn't bad.  I flew through the first half. I love that his books are set in NC because I usually end up knowing some of the places he writes about.  I've been vacationing in Atlantic Beach almost all my life because my family has a timeshare there.  Beaufort, where the majority of the book is set is just over the bridge and is one of the cutest little towns ever.  Having been there really helped envision the story as it unfolded.

When I got to part two of the book I was like crap...here we go with the Nicholas Sparks tragedy portion of the book.  It sucked.  But suprisingly it had a happy ending.  Can you believe it? 

Not a bad book but not one to put on your must read list.  I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

The Host by Stephanie Meyer

I really enjoyed the Twilight series but had not heard much about this other book by Stephanie Meyer.  Then I heard it was going to be made into a movie and I had to read it because the book is ALWAYS better than the movie.  But in this case I am kind of hoping it's the other way around.

The book wasn't bad.  I just could not get into it and thus it took me forever to read!  It is a big book and I felt like maybe she should have cut some stuff out because it just was soooo LONG and not gripping me that I came to hate it a little. 

I know it sounds weird but it is about these aliens called "souls" that take over human bodies here on earth.  The main character "Wanderer" or "Wanda" has lived many lives on many different planets in many different bodies.  But this is her first time on Earth.  And her "host" Melanie is not very cooperative of her body being taken over. 

Melanie never completely goes away and they eventually become "friends" I guess you could say.  Melanie's thoughts and feelings are so strong that "Wanda" starts feeling them too.  This leads to them go look for her brother Jamie and her love Jared.  They are in hiding because they do not want to be taken over by the souls.

There is so much that happens and it was a pretty good story.  I can't wait to see the movie.  But I definitely didn't love this book just because it took me sooo long to get through so I only give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.