Reading Teen

The Taker is definitely one of my favorite books of 2011. From the very first page I was captivated ... REALLY captivated. Now I know that sounds cliche', but its true. I've never read a book where the main character goes back, and tells the most compelling, interesting and addictive story from the early 1800's to present day . When I wasn't reading this book, I was thinking about it all the time. It really consumed my thoughts and I'm kinda glad it's over. That statement really was a complement, because The Taker sorta drained me. I didn't spend much time with my family while reading this book, I was consumed in every way.Alma Katsu was born to write. She did a wonderful job building the characters and storyline. Oh and what a storyline it was...The story begins with Lanore "Lanny" handcuffed and brought to the hospital with a police escort (present day). Luke the handsome doctor has to care for her while the police are searching the woods of St.Andrew, Maine for the body Lanny supposedly stabbed to death. Lanny is pretty and mysterious, so Luke pays extra special attention to her... drawn to her. She begins to tell Luke her story, of what happened, how she got in this present predicament. Luke wants to believe her, but is having a hard time. When Luke decides to free one of her cuffed hands from the hospital bed, she grabs a scalpel and plunges it deep in her stomach leaving a huge gash. The very deep cut starts to heal right before Luke's very eyes. Now he must make a decision... Lanny needs his help to escape the police. Luke wants to hear her story, of how she became immortal, and it all starts back in same town, same place... MAINE TERRITORY 1809. This is where the book comes to life, as soon as Luke helps Lanny escape, she must in return...explain herself.I felt a need to know the whole story as Luke did. Sometimes I felt like I was sitting next to Luke, staring at Lanny, as she told her story. From the different places she lived, and the horrible things that happened to her, to becoming Immortal, and the price she had to pay. I could see her in my mind, just sitting there telling her story. The book went back and forth from present day to the 1800's very nicely. I enjoyed Lanny's story more than the present day parts of the book. You will get wrapped up as much as I did, Alma Katsu is an amazing storyteller and Lanny proves that! I could re-read this book again back-to-back, I'm not kidding.Amy