This book was chosen for our book club for this month. I had seen an article that compared it to Gone Girl so I had really high hopes for it, as I qui...moreThis book was chosen for our book club for this month. I had seen an article that compared it to Gone Girl so I had really high hopes for it, as I quite liked Gone Girl! Oh what a disappointment! I don't awnt to go into too much detail and risk spoiling anything for fellow book club members but WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH!
From the start all I could think was "Is this just an entire book about some dude bitching about his brother?!" Answer: Yes, but also other stuff I hate.
The middle of the book had me thinking "I hate this book, but I want to finish to find out what happens".
The end of the book had me thinking "I should have stopped in the middle when I wanted to."
Yeah, absolutely hated. I wish I could rate negative stars.(less)
This book was on our list for book club and I'd be lying if I said I was enthusiastic about reading it. I don't follow politics and I had never heard...moreThis book was on our list for book club and I'd be lying if I said I was enthusiastic about reading it. I don't follow politics and I had never heard of Queen Noor before being told about the book. Another down side was that it didn't even exist in ebook format... but let's move on.
The book was definitely educational, for someone like me with no knowledge about political issues in the middle east, I did find it interesting. The book disappointed me in a number of ways, though. She glossed over too many things, didn't go into detail and there was very little about her actual personal relationship with the king. The book feels like a "from our point of view" political book rather than an autobiography. It certainly isn't a love story, like it is described on the back cover.
I was halfway through reading the book when it came time for our book club discussion, and I don't plan on finishing it. It's not a BAD book, it's just not particularly good either. I have no desire to continue reading it.(less)
This was an easy read. It didn't knock my socks off or excite me to the point of recommending it to all my friends, but I enjoyed it and read it quick...moreThis was an easy read. It didn't knock my socks off or excite me to the point of recommending it to all my friends, but I enjoyed it and read it quickly. I like true stories, or fiction that is based on a true story, at least. (less)
I had such high hopes for this book, having picked it up in the airport before leaving for a holiday. I'd heard great things about the film and though...moreI had such high hopes for this book, having picked it up in the airport before leaving for a holiday. I'd heard great things about the film and thought the book would be even better. Boy was I wrong!
While I did learn a lot about what it is like to be paralyzed it was not at all what I expected. The book had no flow and jumped from one time to another without the reader being able to follow. I found it incredibly interesting in the beginning, hearing about his condition and the relationship with his wife but then it got old, very very quickly. The constant lusting after every woman who crossed his path, the jumping back and forth in time, the sudden introduction of people you have never heard of (like when he starts discussing his second wife and you are left going "Huh? When did she come along? Wait a minute... ").
The entire book just left me feeling like I'd missed something. Mainly, the relationship between the writer and his caretaker, which was supposed to be what the whole thing was about! If you've read the back of the book or heard anything about the movie, I mean.
What a strange but intriguing book. When I first started reading the ego of the narrator annoyed me but looking back I can see how it was necessary to...moreWhat a strange but intriguing book. When I first started reading the ego of the narrator annoyed me but looking back I can see how it was necessary to build up to the affect that the burns would have on him.
The descriptions of what it is like to be burned like that seemed so real, it really drew me in because I'm quite morbidly curious about things like that.
I loved the stories that are told throughout the book and how I found myself questioning (and still am) what was actually going on. Was Marianne really schizophrenic or was there some truth to the stories she was telling? In the end it doesn't really seem to matter. The relationship between Marianne and the narrator was so unique and interesting to read. I enjoyed it!(less)
This book was pretty good. After a long book that I just couldn't get into this was a nice, easy read. It wasn't crazy amazing but it was good and I e...moreThis book was pretty good. After a long book that I just couldn't get into this was a nice, easy read. It wasn't crazy amazing but it was good and I enjoyed the stories of the different women that the main character met along the way. The only complaint I could come up with was that it was often hard to follow who was who because a lot of the names are so simalar. Akka this, amma that... I lost track. It's not a book I'd tell everyone to rush out and read, but I still enjoyed it.(less)
Gave up on it... it was too slow and draggy and I couldn't get into it at all. Too much hinting about things happening and not enough THINGS HAPPENING...moreGave up on it... it was too slow and draggy and I couldn't get into it at all. Too much hinting about things happening and not enough THINGS HAPPENING.(less)
This book was actually pretty good, better than I was expected based on the opinions of some friends. It wasn't totally gripping and had me avoiding e...moreThis book was actually pretty good, better than I was expected based on the opinions of some friends. It wasn't totally gripping and had me avoiding everything else in life to finish it but it wasn't a chore to get through either. I quite enjoyed reading what it was (supposedly) like during the Salem witch trials and had no idea until I finished the book that it was actually based on real life and that Martha and Tom Carrier and their children really did exist. That added a different element to the story for me, knowing that all of this had actually happened. It's worth reading but I'd not urge people to rush out and get it.(less)
I enjoyed the most of this book. I love stories that give me a tiny bit of insight into what life is like in a situation like this. To be the parent o...moreI enjoyed the most of this book. I love stories that give me a tiny bit of insight into what life is like in a situation like this. To be the parent of a child who can 'break' at any time over the tiniest thing, it's unimaginable. Unfortunately, I have already read a number of Picoult's books and am too used to the pattern.
*Spoiler-ish* Another thing that really bothered me, and tore all of my enjoyment from the book, was the ending. It wasn't necessary and appears to just be thrown in there for shock value. If she had let the book stand on it's own and end naturally, rather than this shocking and depressing end, it would have gotten a much better rating from me.(less)
I borrowed this book from a family member while on holiday. I wanted something to read while I was camping and she recommended this one. What a story...moreI borrowed this book from a family member while on holiday. I wanted something to read while I was camping and she recommended this one. What a story this is! It's hard to imagine a world where women are treated so badly, but the relationships that develop between the characters, even though they are all in the worst moments of their lives, is quite touching. If The Kite Runner is even half as good, I can't wait to read it.(less)
Loading...
