This was about a family with secrets. The husband beats the wife and one night, the abuse becomes tragic and a teenager becomes an orphan. This story This was about a family with secrets. The husband beats the wife and one night, the abuse becomes tragic and a teenager becomes an orphan. This story is told by 4 narratives. The first narrative is the local pastor. The character is likable enough. Steve is torn up about the tragedy and decides to leave the congregation. He becomes involved with a writer who comes to town to find out more about Katie and her parents. I thought this relationship was a bit far fetched but tolerable. The second narrative was told by one of the investigators, Catherine who suspects Steven was involved in one of the deaths. I did not like this character at all and I thought the investigative work was pretty shoddy. The third narrative was from the voice of Heather, the writer whose own past is just as tragic as Katie’s. She writes about angels. The angel aspect was a little odd but it added something to the novel. Heather is eccentric and I was surprised at how the relationship with Steven played out. The final narrative was Katie. I didn’t feel like she was your typical teenage girl. But then again, her circumstances were definitely extraordinary. Overall, the book was all right. I liked the writing style using the four narratives, and it did keep my interest. I just thought some of the characters and events were too weird to be believable and hence the novel lost some credibility with me....more
This book set off a variety of thoughts and opinions while I was reading it. First, I thought it began a little slow. The novel is about a family EmmaThis book set off a variety of thoughts and opinions while I was reading it. First, I thought it began a little slow. The novel is about a family Emma, who just lost her husband, Dora her daughter, Bobby, Emma’s mentally disturbed son and Kyle, Dora’s son. Emma is trying to adjust to being a widow. A likable character, I liked the transformation the author made with her. She goes from a passive wife to a strong, ambitious widow. Dora is married to Donny. Donny is very religious and down right rigid. Dora accepts this marriage as a punishment for her actions long ago. She is living with guilt from the past. This guilt transforms her from a rebellious wild teenager to a meak, lost soul who is so consumed with her own issues, she can’t see through the blinders she has put on. Kyle is a typical teenager. He has incredible love and patience with his Uncle Bobby and together they take a job with a landscaper, Jake, who has just returned to his childhood town. Jake is also an ex-boyfriend of Dora. The middle of the novel picked up and peaked my interest. I was excited to continue the story. I loved the characters Emma and Kyle. I could not stand Dora. The author was on a roll until the end. I felt a bit cheated. I thought there were things missing from this story. I didn’t think the author did a very good job resolving the conflicts. I appreciate the gardening tie in with the rare flower the landscapers were planting through the town. But the author pulled the plug on this part of the story too soon, I thought, and almost made it irrelevant. I am not thrilled about this book and hesitate to suggest it to anyone. There are too many other, better reads out there to waste time on this one. ...more
"timeliness is important to make sure an organization does not get sloppy"
This was a fascinating book. Politics aside, I thought this was a well writt"timeliness is important to make sure an organization does not get sloppy"
This was a fascinating book. Politics aside, I thought this was a well written, honest depiction of Bush 43's time in office. If you think about all that happened during W's 2 terms, 9/11, Afghanistan and Iraq wars, Hurricane Katrina and the financial crisis, to name a few, it was not an easy 8 years.
I appreciate W's honesty. He admits there were some decisions he made that were wrong. However, he explains in detail, why he made some of the decisions he did. He made them with the fate of the American people in mind. It is interesting to hear his point of view, his side of the story, when the press or other politicians had communicated something totally different.
George W Bush is a man of faith. He is very interested in talking to people, getting their point of view. He wrote letters to over 5,000 families who lost love ones in the war. He invited several of the them to the White House. He respects the office of the President and felt honored to have served.
Bush had some interesting opinions of the various leaders and political figures he was in contact with. He is not afraid to express disappointment with some Republican leaders, US allies or popular celebrity figures, as well as, praise Democratic leaders, and other people who publicly did not support him. To me, that shows a lot of character.
I recommend this book to anyone who is interested to learn about the years 2001-2009 from his prospective. You do not have to agree with him. You do not have to be a Republican. Just open your mind and re-live some recent history, you will not be disappointed. ...more
I have read 4 other books by Irving. They were far better than this one. Irving’s plots are layered. His characters are complex and extraordinary. ThiI have read 4 other books by Irving. They were far better than this one. Irving’s plots are layered. His characters are complex and extraordinary. This book was no exception. I plodded through and I admit, there were parts I enjoyed.
Irving will take you back in time and set you up for what’s to come. Then he will fast forward and set you up for what just happened. He did it so much in this book, I was annoyed.
The story is about Daniel and his father, the cook. Something tragic happens when Daniel is 12 which forces the pair to go on the run. They live in various parts of the US and Canada and meet some interesting folks along the way.
Irving obviously wants the reader to know his politics and how he feels about certain politicians but there was no place in the book for it. This was another thing that annoyed me. If you want to write a book about politics, put a political title on the front of it and tell us what you think. Don’t write a story and have the characters ramble on about your political views just so you can get your voice heard. I don’t care about your political views. I wanted to read a good story. You just about ruined it for me.
I was disappointed in this work. John Irving is a great story teller. He just didn’t tell this one very well....more
This book won the Novello Literary Award. It is a bookclub book. I didn’t hate this. I liked the story line. I liked the main character. The story is This book won the Novello Literary Award. It is a bookclub book. I didn’t hate this. I liked the story line. I liked the main character. The story is about Parrish McCullough. Her father dies when she is 6. She spends the rest of her childhood trying to figure out life vs. death. Race relations plays a big part in the storyline. The author starts the book in Mississippi out right before Parrish goes to college. Then she takes us back to when Parrish was born in Japan. One of the things I thought was very interesting is, at the beginning of each chapter, the author wrote a paper and then included comments by various teachers and professors. The problem is, this book did not flow. It was choppy. The relationship between one chapter and the next was not bound together in some cases. I’m not sure exactly what the main theme is. Especially after reading the ending. I have no clue what it means and why it ended the way it did. This book was long and too drawn out. I was ready to have it end. I am disappointed with it because I thought it had the potential to be really good. ...more
#6 of the Genero-Kensey Series-I am so happy these characters spoke to Lehane so he could write another book. This is a great series and I was waiting#6 of the Genero-Kensey Series-I am so happy these characters spoke to Lehane so he could write another book. This is a great series and I was waiting for it to continue. Lehane is a great writer. He can really bring out the love shared between Angie and Patrick. I enjoy the humor and the conversations between these two. The heavy parts of the book is another gift from Lehane. There is always a lesson. The lesson is never easy. Moonlight Mile has characters from Gone Baby Gone. Amanda McCready is missing again. But in this book, she is 16. Patrick did the right thing in book 4. Or did he? Society would favor his decision but was it the best thing for Amanda? Patrick is about to find out. And everything Amanda has experienced in her life, has made her the teenager she is today. The climax is a bit wild and far fetched but the writing keeps the reader engrossed. I am thrilled to have these characters back and I hope they keep talking....more
#4 of the Armand Gamache series- This is the first book I have read in the series. The mystery revolves around the death of Julia Morrow. She is part #4 of the Armand Gamache series- This is the first book I have read in the series. The mystery revolves around the death of Julia Morrow. She is part of a family reunion at the resort the Gamache couple is staying at. This very dysfunctional family becomes suspect after Julia is found in the yard of the resort after a storm. The beginning of the book was a bit slow. After about 100 pages, however, I started to get really excited about this book. I love the way the author writes. This is a murder-mystery but the subtle, very dry humor that is dribbled throughout the pages is brilliant. I like the Canadian mountain setting. I don’t think I have read a book that took place in this area. Reminds me so much of the Adirondecks. So, I was traveling down a very exciting path as a reader. Liking the book. But then, it took a turn down Boring Drive. The poetry and art references are not my thing. We left Boring Drive and came back to Interest Lane, but by now, the mystery is slowly being solved so my interest was peaked again. But, sadly, the resolution was disappointing to me. I felt it was a bit rushed and far fetched. With that being said, I still liked the writing. Enjoyed the book. I just didn’t love it. ...more
#3 of the Haller series. Sometimes when authors become famous, they lose their edge and start mass producing novels to meet quick deadlines and make m#3 of the Haller series. Sometimes when authors become famous, they lose their edge and start mass producing novels to meet quick deadlines and make money. This, however, is not the case with Connelly. I think he gets better after every book. This book was one of the rare ones that I could not put down. This was a Mickey Haller book but Bosch played a big part in it. The plot is about a convicted murderer who is granted a retrial. Instead of defending the accused, Haller is asked to prosecute. He brings in one of his ex-wives, Maggie McPherson, a prosecutor, to help him. He also asks Harry Bosch to be the lead investigator. Twenty four years ago, Jason Jessup was convicted of abducting and killing 12 year-old Melissa Landy. As a result of the current DNA practices, it is discovered that semen found on the dress Melissa was wearing was her step fathers, not Jessups. So, the DA decides to retry the case. Clive Royce is the attorney defending Jessup. There are many twists and turns throughout the plot. Bosch throws himself into the case as always. Maggie and Mickey surprisingly work well together. Connelly is one of the best mystery writers of today and he keeps getting better....more
I knew I liked this book after reading the prologue. As long as the author doesn't screw up the ending...this one has me hooked!
This is a story of a sI knew I liked this book after reading the prologue. As long as the author doesn't screw up the ending...this one has me hooked!
This is a story of a southern family. When you read that sentence, you may think there isn’t much to it then. What is so special about it? Well, the best part of this book is twofold. The characters and writing. I could tell I was going to like this book after the first 5 pages. There was something about the southern dialect and the character description that caught me and made me want to find a corner, curl up and keep reading till I couldn’t read anymore. It is very rare for a book to catch me like that. The author did such a great job depicting a large, somewhat dysfunctional, southern family with humor, happiness, sadness, anger etc. all the ingredients found in the inter-workings of a family unit. She did it in a way that made you think you knew them. Or someone like them. The setting is the mountains of North Carolina which made it even more special. I have already started looking for some more books by this author. Highly recommend....more
This book is a spin-off from Little Women where this author fills in the mystery of Mr. March’s experience in the Civil War.
I am glad I did not give This book is a spin-off from Little Women where this author fills in the mystery of Mr. March’s experience in the Civil War.
I am glad I did not give up on this book because the first 100 pages were a drag. First of all, I wish authors would just tell a story. I love Moehringer’s quote from the Tender Bar…"Do you know why God invented writers? Because he loves a good story. And he doesn't give a damn about the words. Words are the curtain we've hung between him and our true selves. Try not to think about the words. Don't strain for the perfect sentence. There's no such thing. Writing is guesswork. Every sentence is an educated guess, the readers as much as yours.” I wish all writers would keep that in mind when they wrote. I felt like Brooks was too much into the art of writing the right prissy word instead of telling the story.
Secondly, I was getting a little worried that I had missed something. Maybe I fell asleep in the middle of the page? Brooks did some foreshadowing on the character Brown and I thought I missed the background. When actually, you find out later the relationship between the main character and Brown.
There was a lot of bouncing back and forth between past and present until they caught up with each other. That was probably around the page I thought the book was starting to pick up. 160?
The history of the Civil war, race relations, slavery etc. was very interesting. The main character, Mr. March, was complex. He was a good man. At least he tried to be. He was obsessed with doing his part. Doing the right thing. But, there was a cowardly aspect that messed with him. There were scenes where he really should have jumped in the fight but he didn’t have the will. He was weak, but he recognized his weakness and did whatever he could to try and make it right even if it meant hurting his family.
I liked the Afterword portion of the book where Brooks thanks her husband for exposing her to Civil War history. She says “she gets it now”. So do I....more
I keep saying this series needs a character shake up. A major one. Ok, no big shake up, but the plot was a bit different from the others and there is aI keep saying this series needs a character shake up. A major one. Ok, no big shake up, but the plot was a bit different from the others and there is a climax that sets this book apart.
The best thing about these books is the humor and the characters that we read about in every book. Evanovich has created her own little niche and she is profitting from it. There is no one out there like her.
These books can't go on forever without some change. I'm still waiting for it. She definitely needs to take it in another direction or people are going to get bored. This book was a good start. I hope it continues in #17......more
I had a couple records by the Carpenters growing up. They were part of my childhood. Karen’s voice is so unique. No one has come close to sounding likI had a couple records by the Carpenters growing up. They were part of my childhood. Karen’s voice is so unique. No one has come close to sounding like her. There have been other books written about the Carpenters but I don’t think any of them were like this. If this book is true, it does not paint a nice picture of Karen’s family. Specifically Richard and Agnes, Karen’s mother. I believe they both contributed to Karen’s self image which led to her Anorexia and then her death. Schmidt does not hold back in this book. I believe most of his information came from Karen’s friends. They obviously were very fond of Karen and had a lot to say. I think the chronological story of the Carpenters was very interesting and I enjoyed the musical references. Karen’s story is very sad and I think this book is going to leave a lasting impression on me. ...more
t’s been a while since I’ve read a book that grabbed me like this one. I liked the story, I liked the writing style and I liked the characters. The stt’s been a while since I’ve read a book that grabbed me like this one. I liked the story, I liked the writing style and I liked the characters. The story is about a woman who saves a little boy on the streets of New York and gets national attention. That’s not ALL the attention she gets. Soon, her past starts to unravel and share secrets she was not prepared to discover. One thing I like about this author is her talent with words. It amazes me when an author can capture a certain phrase so that you stop, go back, read it again and say to yourself, “Wow, that’s an interesting way to say it.” On page 114, Unger is describing the character of a writer. “Writers are first and foremost observers. We watch. We lose ourselves in the watching and then the telling of the world we find. Often we feel on the fringes, in the margins of life. And that’s where we belong. What you are part of, you cannot observe.” That’s it, that’s the quote that stuck out for me. ”What you are part of, you cannot observe.” This distinguishes the memorable writers from the not so. I really enjoyed this book. I’m going to find other books by this author. I hope they are just as good!...more
This is the 3rd book I have read by Picoult. This author is very brave to take on such controversial and emotional issues like suicide, date rape and This is the 3rd book I have read by Picoult. This author is very brave to take on such controversial and emotional issues like suicide, date rape and school shootings. I think she has a talent for this type of writing. She grabbed me from the beginning of this book and I could not put it down. The plot is riveting but her books are also character driven. I found myself pivoting between the various characters I was drawn to. Nineteen Minutes is about a school shooting. There are so many aspects to the plot besides just the shooting. You see all the lives that are impacted by the shooting. The victims, the victims parents, friends and family, as well as, the shooter and his family, the lawyers, the judge and the police force. Picoult doesn’t miss a thing. Plus, she adds a little twist at the end that made this story even more interesting. This is not a happy book, but it made me want to keep reading until I finished. I was definitely moved at the end and I sat down with my son and had a conversation about bullying....more
#9 of the Lincoln Rhyme series, the quadriplegic criminalist. This was another great work by Deaver. The subject is electricity. Deaver obviously does#9 of the Lincoln Rhyme series, the quadriplegic criminalist. This was another great work by Deaver. The subject is electricity. Deaver obviously does a lot of research. It was interesting. I always learn something when I read a Deaver book. This is one of my favorite series. In this one, Rhyme and Sacks and their team is on a case involving someone who is diverting electricity to electrocute people in NYC. The manipulation revolves around Algonquin Electric, the major electric company in the city. In the background, Rhyme is also on the tail of another criminal. Someone who slipped thru their fingers in one of the previous cases. This book is also a turning point for Rhyme’s personal life. I am looking forward to the next book in the series to learn more about it. I highly recommend this series. I don’t think I’ve rated any of these books lower than a 4....more
This book was about a writer who decides her next book is going to be about her childhood friends with the focus on Callie who was accused of killing This book was about a writer who decides her next book is going to be about her childhood friends with the focus on Callie who was accused of killing her infant son. The setting is Baltimore. I find it very frustrating when an author makes it difficult to figure out where you are and who you are reading about when they transition from one chapter to another. This novel was choppy and somewhat disorganized. I found I was often trying to figure out which character she was writing about and where we were in time. Present? Past? The ending was OK. It did tie up loose ends, however, it was anticlimactic. The author revealed pieces of the story bit by bit which builds suspense, however, I felt like she placed these revelations in inappropriate places. It became confusing. This is the second book I’ve read by this author. I really liked What the Dead Know. This one was not her best....more
**spoiler alert** I'm going to finish this book, but I'm not going to like it. I am not thrilled with the writing style of this author. People appear **spoiler alert** I'm going to finish this book, but I'm not going to like it. I am not thrilled with the writing style of this author. People appear in a scene with no history, background, nothing to tell the reader who they are. Who is the rafiqi? One chapter begins, "The rafiqi arrived, a thin, balding man with battle scares." That's it. Another thing that bothers me is Elphie is declared a witch by an elephant? She's always been a witch but it wasn't official until the elephant told her? There are gaps in time and with that, key information to help the reader figure out what is going on. The plot is so choppy, I came very close to giving up. Hopefully, the last part of the book does a 180 and I'll be eating my words and singing it's praises....
OK I'm done...Glad to be done. This book was terrible. I ask you, all you Wicked fans out there. Please tell me what you liked about this book because I can not figure out why it was so popular. I guess I didn't get it. Maybe it is the writing style. This type of writing is not comfortable to me. I like a story teller that gives me the background, history, guides me through the tale with the history of the character and reminds me what has been happening. This author did no such thing. The story was very choppy. Character development was lame. I forced myself to finish the book. I saw the musical and I really enjoyed it. It is so far off the book, it should not even be called wicked. I guess there is enough of a similarity it passes all the relative tests. After reading this, I'm glad the musical is nothing like it....more
Wow! The writing in this book is truly amazing. The story is about this man who is in a car accident and is burned very severely. While he recuperatesWow! The writing in this book is truly amazing. The story is about this man who is in a car accident and is burned very severely. While he recuperates, this mentally disturbed woman starts visiting him. She begins telling him stories of her life. Her life in the 13th century. And he was supposedly there too. These stories are just as fun as the main plot. The author’s imagination is extravagant. I was in awe as I turned every page. The darkness and the depth of the book made for a slow read. And to be honest, in places, it became too deep for me. However, I do appreciate the talent of this writer and the story is so unique, I think people will be talking about this book for a very long time....more
**spoiler alert** #16 of the Havers-Lynley Series-I am always reminded, as I read these books, of how distinctly this author stands out as one of the **spoiler alert** #16 of the Havers-Lynley Series-I am always reminded, as I read these books, of how distinctly this author stands out as one of the best mystery writers of today. George has a way of writing her characters so that each of them stand out with a different voice, an unique personality. My favorite character has always been Barbara Havers and I really missed her in the last book. She is back with a vengeance in this one and I was smirking along with her idiosyncratic antics.
One of the things I admire about George is, she has shaken up this series and has taken her characters to another level after killing one of them off. I read several other mystery series and I’ve about stopped some of the because of the lack of creativity. George has out done herself in this book. She weaves a disturbing tale of murder by children within the main plot. I kept wondering what revelance this mini plot had but I knew I would find out eventually. And I did. And I was amazed at how well George pulled everything together at the end.
The main plot was about a woman, Jemima, who is found murdered in a cemetery. The new Superintendent in training, Isabelle, and the team, which includes Havers and Nkata, are tasked with solving the murder. Isabelle calls on Tommy Lynley to support her in order to gain respect from the others on the team. He is still recovering from the loss of Helen, but feels he is ready to come back in a supportive role.
The one thing I had a hard time with was the relationship that developed between Tommy and Isabelle. I do not like the character, Isabelle. She is aggressive, self absorbed and narrow minded. Plus, she’s an alcoholic. I’m still scratching my head as to what Tommy sees in her. There is nothing positive about this woman. I am sure George has something up her sleeve that will be revealed in upcoming books about these two and I’m looking forward to finding out what it is.
One of my favorite series that I highly recommend! You will NOT be disappointed....more