the salespeople at Borders did me wrong! in their defense, i had but 10 minutes on my parking meter and made a hasty decision to buy this book.
and w...more the salespeople at Borders did me wrong! in their defense, i had but 10 minutes on my parking meter and made a hasty decision to buy this book.
and what a book! what a dumb book. boring story. i kept waiting for the story to get moving and it never did.
this is a slow story about a bunch of english ex-pats living in hong kong and going to parties, having affairs, stealing things. Part 2 gets only mildly interesting when the japanese invade.
boring boring boring characters. i didn't really care what ended happening to them.
i found claire to be as chiffony ( i just made that word up) as her dresses which were incessantly described
i found will to be exceptionally dull, just like his name. will (my apologies to any wills out there). maybe he was totally hot and good in bed?
and trudy... ah trudy. could i punch her in face? pleaaaase????? she was so terribly annoying i couldn't take it. "spoiled brat" would sum her up. every time her name came up i was irritated.
perhaps the author is anitcipating this becoming a movie? so many visual details of dresses and surroundings and sweat beads running down claire's back that had nothing to do with the story. so the scene was set? for what? a dumb story?
ug. i hate dumb books.
and what's with the name "locket"? it reminds me of michael jackson's kid, Blanket. (less)
this book was a fast read for me. being rather nostalgic myself, i found it pretty funny and amazing how Bryson could remember the details of his chil...morethis book was a fast read for me. being rather nostalgic myself, i found it pretty funny and amazing how Bryson could remember the details of his childhood. all those nuances which had been completely wiped from my memory were all brought back. he brilliantly recalled the state of mind of a kid. i loved all the anecdotal stories about silly little things like being so familiar with every detail of his house because he was so bored he studied every square inch of it.
i didn't give this book more stars because i thought it could have used MORE of those stories. the issue i have with this book, as with Walk in the Woods, was it was too heavy with facts and history. i still love his humour and enjoy his books.(less)
good book to read if you live in chicago and have an interest in its history. i learned a few things from reading this. on the other hand, while the s...moregood book to read if you live in chicago and have an interest in its history. i learned a few things from reading this. on the other hand, while the story of the psycho-killer is interesting to read since it's true, the author's liberties with dialogue and other details drove me nuts. how on earth did the author know the killer's facial expressions and what not. i can't stand that kind of stuff. although i put this in my "garage-sale-pile" it's not my book to sell. it's my sister's. but i think she's going to sell it at the garage sale. yeah!(less)
while the writing style was nice and the historical info interesting, i still found the book mediocre. in fact i think it was kind of dumb. maybe the...morewhile the writing style was nice and the historical info interesting, i still found the book mediocre. in fact i think it was kind of dumb. maybe the movie is better. i couldn't wait to finish just to get it out of the way. (less)
the description of this book sounded much better than it actually was. i didn't like this book, but i give it an extra star because it was a pretty cr...morethe description of this book sounded much better than it actually was. i didn't like this book, but i give it an extra star because it was a pretty creative idea for a book. (less)
i bought this book so i could get it (and his other books i have) signed by my hero at borders. i will say i was disappointed with it. it was a very q...morei bought this book so i could get it (and his other books i have) signed by my hero at borders. i will say i was disappointed with it. it was a very quick read, but i didn't care for the story or the characters. regardless, i still LOVE his writing style. and it was worth it just to see him in person. he's HOT! (ha ha! don't tell my husband...)(less)
i really hated this book while i was reading it. i picked it up because i was curious about the Romanovs and knew nothing about them. i guess i should...morei really hated this book while i was reading it. i picked it up because i was curious about the Romanovs and knew nothing about them. i guess i should have researched a bit to find a better historical novel. i was irritated with the trivial dialogue throughout the book. how the heck does the author know what the heck they talked about? i gave it two stars because i did actually like the historical stuff and the family trees. the rest was stupid.(less)
I agree with "Tina" who reviewed this book earlier (read her review) . i had a similar scizophrenic experience with this book. in the end though, i ha...moreI agree with "Tina" who reviewed this book earlier (read her review) . i had a similar scizophrenic experience with this book. in the end though, i have to give it only 2 stars. in my naive little brain i kept thinking this book couldn't possibly be someone's memoir-nobody is that messed up. as much as i LOVE bathroom humour, i found it more disturbing and demented when i read the poopoo scene. it went in my garage-sale pile when i was finished reading it.(less)
this book was the typical depressing story of the submissive-wimpy-asian-girl who always gets screwed at the end. this book reaffirmed in my head why...morethis book was the typical depressing story of the submissive-wimpy-asian-girl who always gets screwed at the end. this book reaffirmed in my head why i hate reading these kinds of books (like all the those amy tan books) and will never pick one up again. it always happens, it's a great story, you can't put the damn book down, and in the end the character pisses you off beyond belief because she ALWAYS has to save face or can't dishonor her family or some other BS. i have enough drama in my life, i don't want to need about someone else's. (less)
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