#32 The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
This book was a NY Times best seller. It's set in Paris and follows the lives of a 52 year old concierge and a 12 year old girl who both live in the same building. Both are highly intellegent and feel isolated. The plot involves events which bring them together and changes their lives.
This wasn't an enjoyable read. The characters were not likeable. The author tried to impress us with tons of prentenious references to classic books and arts and subjected us to tons of 'deep' thoughts from the characters. Towards the end, you could see the author made some interesting points but it wasn't a pleasant journey getting there.
#33 The Weight of Silence by Heather Gundenkauf
It happens quietly one August morning. As dawn's shimmering light drenches the humid Iowa air, two families awaken to find their little girls have gone missing in the night.
Seven-year-old Calli Clark is sweet, gentle, a dreamer who suffers from selective mutism brought on by tragedy that pulled her deep into silence as a toddler.
Calli's mother, Antonia, tried to be the best mother she could within the confines of marriage to a mostly absent, often angry husband. Now, though she denies that her husband could be involved in the possible abductions, she fears her decision to stay in her marriage has cost her more than her daughter's voice.
The writer does a nice job creating characters and their voices are distinct. Her books always flow well. There wasn't much suspense in this book, it felt more like a character study.
