Cinder : The Lunar Chronicles book 1 by Marissa Meyer 390 pages

I don't often shout at my CD player when listening to books, but I did with Cinder.  As soon as the last line was read, I screamed, "WHAT?!?  That's how you're going to end???"  Talk about a cliffhanger!  The book is actually a super cool scifi book for teens.  A teenage cyborg girl, with no memory of her life before she became a cyborg, works as a mechanic.  She has to earn the money to satisfy her stepmother (who is mean, but definitely has an evil streak) and two stepsisters.  One stepsister is her only human friend, while the other is nearly as cruel as her mother.  Cinder, cyber mechanic extraordinaire, meets the handsome Prince Charming...I mean, Prince Kai, when he shows up at her booth asking her to repair his android.  A series of catastrophic events lands Cinder as a test subject for the plague that is ravaging her world.  This is when things really start to get out of hand.  This is a little bit adventure, a bit of mystery, a touch of romance and a lot of futuristic cool.  I highly recommend this title, but be prepared to experience the I-must-have-the-next-one feeling when it's over!

This was an audiobook version read by Rebecca Soler.

Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart 331 pages

This book takes place in the near future. America is at war, deeply in debt to China, the National Guard is on every corner and people are rioting in Central Park. Privacy doesn’t exist. Everyone carries an äppärät, a smart phone like device that streams personal info to anyone who wants to know, rates your health, sex appeal—even your performance as a lover—credit rating and so on. All you have to do is point it at someone. Youth is worshipped, everyone is obsessed with death. Enter 39 year old Lenny, out of shape, balding and unattractive who after a semi one night stand—a lot of alcohol was involved—falls madly and instantly in love with 24 year old Eunice. Both are born of immigrant families, both have serious family issues and suffer from a lack of self-esteem. Lenny convinces her to move in with him.

This was a must read because it was a book club selection. Only one member showed up and I have no doubt it was because of the book choice (minus the four members who are out of town). And that’s too bad. Because after several starts and put downs, I eventually got to the place where I read it in one sitting. And it is sad. But more than that it’s scary. Because the scenario presented doesn’t feel impossible. Indeed it feels like we’re on our way already.

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely. Even though only one member attended we had a rousing hour long discussion. And like me she also picked up then put down the book several times before she eventually read it.