Someone on Twitter recommended this book to me. It's an easy read, though I took my time reading it. It's easy to see the Christian parallels in this...moreSomeone on Twitter recommended this book to me. It's an easy read, though I took my time reading it. It's easy to see the Christian parallels in this story, but isn't an overly-religious book in any way. It's told more like someone of another culture may explain where rain comes from, as a myth. The characters in this story are amazing and I actually found myself laughing out loud in a few parts. I even cried in one part. So yeah, a lot of emotions if you allow yourself to really get into it and what's going on. I don't want to give anything specific away, and you may not laugh out loud or cry, but if you allow yourself to become immersed in this book as I did, you will definitely feel some emotions.(less)
I always enjoy reading Mary Higgins Clark's mysteries. I read this one in two sittings. I appreciate that Clark's stories aren't too gory or intense....moreI always enjoy reading Mary Higgins Clark's mysteries. I read this one in two sittings. I appreciate that Clark's stories aren't too gory or intense. In fact, my 13 year old daughter read this one too and she also liked it very much.
The characters aren't extremely deep, but you do get a pretty good idea of the major players. In order to keep the book short enough to read quickly, Clark jumps quickly from what happened long ago to modern day. There were some pretty far-fetched, almost cheesy situations, but I was okay with that for this story.
Everything is tied neatly in a bow at the end and you don't have to wait until the very ending to learn what happens. If you're looking for something easy to get lost in for a weekend, this is a good choice.(less)
I didn't realize until after I had finished this book that it was the third in a series. I really only read it to begin with because it was a free dow...moreI didn't realize until after I had finished this book that it was the third in a series. I really only read it to begin with because it was a free download from Kindle.
The first half of the book was a bit confusing and did not really hold my attention. I found myself having to reread several pages because I realized I was skimming the words, not really paying attention to what I was reading. However, I hate to start a book and not finish it, so I plugged away. When the book was nearly over, I actually found myself enjoying it. Maybe if I had read the first two books, this one would have been a little more enjoyable to me.
The story is told by the main character in the story, who occasionally skips back and forth (Pulp Fiction style) between two different things that are going on -- the current situation he has gotten himself into and then something in the future that happens that we will eventually learn. See what I mean by how this can be pretty confusing?
There's a lot of violence, bad language and adult situations (drugs, sexual situations, etc). I actually think this wouldn't make a half-bad movie, but this is something I'd much rather see on the big screen than read about.(less)
Thought I'd check it out to see if it's okay for my 13 year old daughter to read. The answer is no. In fact, I'm not sure I'd want my 16-year-old read...moreThought I'd check it out to see if it's okay for my 13 year old daughter to read. The answer is no. In fact, I'm not sure I'd want my 16-year-old reading it. There are a lot of references to sex, drinking and drugs, not to mention the language.
It's not bad if you're a fan of chick lit, but I don't really see what all the fuss is about and why it was made into a TV show.
Very quick read! The story is written by two authors. Each wrote a chapter independent of the other and...more**spoiler alert** *****contains minor spoilers
Very quick read! The story is written by two authors. Each wrote a chapter independent of the other and then collaborated for the third. Chapter one is about a man who kills hitchhikers. Chapter two is about a hitchhiker who kills the drivers. For chapter three, the two meet in an obvious way. It's really a gross story, but I totally respect the method used for writing this short story.(less)
I've enjoyed the Mary Higgins Clark books I've read and a few other scattered mystery/horror novels, but this one wasn't really like the others. It wa...moreI've enjoyed the Mary Higgins Clark books I've read and a few other scattered mystery/horror novels, but this one wasn't really like the others. It was a little more graphic and had an element of supernatural with the psychic twist. I didn't dislike the book and it kept me interested enough to read it all the way through, but I doubt I'll purposely pick up anything else by this author.(less)
Wow. One of the few books I can say I really enjoyed from cover to cover. I like how Stockett used different characters to tell the different parts of...moreWow. One of the few books I can say I really enjoyed from cover to cover. I like how Stockett used different characters to tell the different parts of the story. Headlining the chapters with a different narrator really helped weave the story together.
As a child of the '70s, race was an issue for me growing up, but not a big issue. I do recall stories my mom told me, though, about how her black friend had to wait outside when she went in to get a drink at the soda fountain. I can't imagine growing up during a time when that was "normal." I love how Stockett used humor to make her characters come alive. I could almost hear some of the things spoken under Minny's or Abilean's breath. I loved the witty comebacks uttered by Skeeter.
I read this book out loud to my 16-year-old daughter and she really enjoyed the story too. She had a lot of questions along the way, too, so I really loved how it opened a dialogue for us and gave me an opportunity to talk with her about some of the issues she found troubling.(less)
This is just the second Mary Higgins Clark book I have read and I have to say she is quickly becoming a favorite. I never thought I'd enjoy mysteries...moreThis is just the second Mary Higgins Clark book I have read and I have to say she is quickly becoming a favorite. I never thought I'd enjoy mysteries so much, but I really do enjoy the plot twists. Her books are very easy to read and the characters are quite likable. This one I finished in one day. It's amazing that in a book so easy to read (and so hard to put down) that I could actually love some of the characters (and hate others).(less)
Ever since I found out Oprah was duped by this guy, I've wanted to read the book. I wish I knew how much of it was true and how much of it was embelli...moreEver since I found out Oprah was duped by this guy, I've wanted to read the book. I wish I knew how much of it was true and how much of it was embellishment.
James is a drug addict and an alcoholic. We go with him to rehab - through the highs and lows. He does not hold back when describing the events of this story. We sit in the dental chair with him when he endures the root canal without any novocain. (Incidentally, I happened to be reading that part of the book while I was waiting to see the dentist -- not good timing.)
This is a guy I did not like at all at the beginning of the book, but grew very fond of by the end of the novel.
Without giving too much away, I don't care if this is fiction or non-fiction. It's a great story. Very raw. The stream-of-consciousness writing can be a bit tough to follow. He also doesn't use quotation marks when someone is speaking. (less)
I've been considering how to review this book in a way that won't give away the ending. It's a great love story with a believable plot. I'm still tryi...moreI've been considering how to review this book in a way that won't give away the ending. It's a great love story with a believable plot. I'm still trying to figure out how a male author can write like this -- in a way that makes female readers want to be the leading lady in the novel.
You can read the summary to find out what the story is like. I won't reiterate the plot. I will tell you that it was a story I couldn't wait to continue reading. It's a book I could see myself revisiting later on. It's something I would recommend my friends read -- if you like this genre.(less)
My second time reading it, and I loved it just as much the second time as I did the first.
It's really interesting to see a foreigner's view on America...moreMy second time reading it, and I loved it just as much the second time as I did the first.
It's really interesting to see a foreigner's view on America. Especially after having been an expat for the past three years, I know that an outsider's view of a nation isn't that of those who are from that land. My view of Japan is very different from the Japanese view. Same with Singapore. And hearing from a Pakistani who lived and worked in America was a great way to see my own country.
The story takes place mostly at a cafe in Lahore. The storyteller sees an American man and asks to have a seat at his table. He then begins talking to the man about his time in the USA. We learn the storyteller (Changez) graduated from Princeton and went to work for a respected valuation firm. He fell in love. He was there for 9/11. We hear from his perspective what New York City was like during that time. This is not a true story, but I did find myself believing it to be true as I was reading it.
There are unanswered questions in this story. If you don't like things to be left hanging at the end of the book, you won't appreciate the ending. It's not all tied together in a neat little bow in the end. You are left wondering, "What happened next?" But I, for one, kind of liked that.(less)
Very easy read. Told from the perspective of a young teenage girl who just can't seem to do anything right. Her mother sends her away to live with her...moreVery easy read. Told from the perspective of a young teenage girl who just can't seem to do anything right. Her mother sends her away to live with her father in Texas. At first she doesn't want to go, but then learns to like it and decides to stay, even though her mother wants her back.
Trying not to give anything away, let's just say the storyteller has some pretty messed up perspectives about what's wrong and what's right. She is able to twist something morally wrong to make it "okay."
Reading this made me relive some of my young teenage years, whether I wanted to or not. And as the mother of a 13 year old girl, it was probably a good idea to read this. I can't say that the girl's thoughts are "normal" for most girl's her age. But who's to say they're not? I guess it made me realize we are all products of our upbringing, and when you've got two parents with twisted views (as Jasira's have), this is sometimes what results.(less)
I didn't think I was going to like this book, but it was the first one chosen for our book club, so I sucked it up and read it. I was really surprised...moreI didn't think I was going to like this book, but it was the first one chosen for our book club, so I sucked it up and read it. I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I love that about book clubs -- they make you read things you wouldn't normally read.
The book is about two Chinese city boys who are going through "re-education" in the mountains. The man who is the leader of the village where they are being re-educated sends them off to watch movies so they can then return to the mountain village and re-tell the stories. We are also introduced to the little Chinese seamstress, who becomes the boyfriend of one of the boys. She is also enamored with their storytelling, and her life is greatly changed because of it.
It's a fairly short book, but not really an easy read. I did notice I had to go back and re-read a couple of times when I wasn't paying close enough attention to my reading. If you are looking for a good story that makes you think a little bit, this one is great!(less)
My son had to read this book for school. I read it ages ago and had forgotten how good it was. I love Shirley Jackson. If you've never read the Lotter...moreMy son had to read this book for school. I read it ages ago and had forgotten how good it was. I love Shirley Jackson. If you've never read the Lottery, that's a *great* story! In fact, I may have to download that one next for the Kindle.
Charles is a short story, and that makes it difficult to write much of a review without spoiling it for you. It's about a little boy who comes home every day from school with a story for his parents about Charles - a boy in his class who is quite a trouble maker. His parents enjoy hearing stories about what Charles has done every day, and can't wait for their little boy to come home and share with them each day what happened at school with Charles.(less)
The title for this book comes from the fact that there are a lot of things you can do with 19 minutes. You could mow the lawn. You might get a filling...moreThe title for this book comes from the fact that there are a lot of things you can do with 19 minutes. You could mow the lawn. You might get a filling. It's the length of a sitcom without the commercials. In 19 minutes your entire life can be changed. This book focuses on that. In 19 minutes a high school student who had been picked on and bullied since his first day of kindergarten took four guns to school. Ten students ended up dead. Many others were injured.
I had a hard time putting this book down. I remember very vividly the horror of Columbine, and the many school shootings that followed. I was doing news for a radio station when all this happened, so I had to report on these events on a regular basis. It was horrific. I had nightmares about Columbine.
This book shows a side you don't get to see very often. The story shows all aspects of the event, but you get a lot of information about Peter -- the kid who eventually went to trial for shooting his classmates. We see the kind of torture his family is put through -- how they wonder where they went wrong. Things we never think about when we hear of such horrible events are brought to light in this fictional tale of a school shooting. I was glad to be forced to consider them. It's easy for people to sympathize with the victims, but Peter was also a victim. He was taunted and tortured. The book allows you to see every side.
I also like how the chapters are set up in this story -- a month before, the day after, ten years before, ten minutes before, etc. The author does a great job at allowing the reader to understand the sequence of events.
I'm no criminal expert, but I am a huge fan of CSI and other crime shows. Jodi Picoult did a great job at gathering her facts when writing this book. I never felt like it was just a bunch of cop lingo thrown in for good measure. It really felt authentic. It's the first book I've read from this author and I can't wait to download another one!(less)
I'm sure everyone who reads this book ends up feeling like they need to make a list. Maybe I'm wrong, but I know that's how I feel.
It's about a girl w...moreI'm sure everyone who reads this book ends up feeling like they need to make a list. Maybe I'm wrong, but I know that's how I feel.
It's about a girl who ends up completing a list of 20 Things to Do By My 25th Birthday. Only it's not her list. The girl who wrote the list died when she only had one thing crossed off the list. Now June wants to finish the list for her. Some of the things on the list are pretty easy (throw away my bathroom scale). Other things are a little more time-consuming (Make Buddy Fitch Pay).
I'm well past my 25th birthday, but I'm thinking a list of 40 Things to Do Before I Turn 40 might be in order. Well, maybe not 40.(less)
This book was like a really bad B-movie. But at the same time, there were parts of it that really made me laugh out loud. It's kind of like having to...moreThis book was like a really bad B-movie. But at the same time, there were parts of it that really made me laugh out loud. It's kind of like having to stare at a car wreck when you drive by.
Don't read this book. But if you do, be prepared to laugh. But really, don't read this book. But if you do, don't get mad at me for "recommending" it to you. I'm warning you, don't read this book.(less)
I found myself reading this book a little bit slower than the others. Often because I know the Scripture the author is quoting, I sort of rush through...moreI found myself reading this book a little bit slower than the others. Often because I know the Scripture the author is quoting, I sort of rush through it. This time I took the time to read it fully, more slowly, and grab the context of how it fits within the situation in the story.
Maybe because I read this one a little more slowly, I found that I enjoyed this book more than some of the others. I like how things are going for Father Tim, for Dooley, for Cynthia, for Hope, for George. I'm not sure how many books are in this series, but as I read I keep hoping this is not the last one. (This is not the last one, by the way.)
I'm growing very comfortable with this author's particular style of writing. Toward the beginning of the series I was a little bothered by what I considered the over-use of some phrases. Now I'm getting to where I am a bit upset if I don't see one of those phrases (such as, "and he meant it.")
How this series didn't get more attention than it did is beyond me. I'm looking forward to my Kindle getting here so I can download the next one!(less)
I really don't like this author's writing style, but I like the characters in this series. I've seen some of the movies that have been made from Meg C...moreI really don't like this author's writing style, but I like the characters in this series. I've seen some of the movies that have been made from Meg Cabot's books and I have to say they are definitely better than the books, which is weird. At first I thought maybe she was British and I just didn't 'get' her writing style. That's not the case. She's an American. She uses far too many dashes in her writing -- something I'm not really too keen on to begin with ever since I decided when I was in college I'd major in English and then Broadcasting -- to make me happy.
Isn't that hard to read? Why separate the sentence like that??!! That whole "to make me happy" thing to finish the sentence ... grrrr ... by the time I read all that was between the dashes I have forgotten how the sentence even started!
I read the second book in the series (Size 14 Isn't Fat Either) before I read this one. I'm not sure if I'll read the third Heather Wells Mystery or not. Depends on how desperate I get, probably.(less)
Heather Wells is a former pop star. Her mom took off with all her money when her career tanked. Her ex-fiance is getting ma...moreNot your typical chick lit.
Heather Wells is a former pop star. Her mom took off with all her money when her career tanked. Her ex-fiance is getting married to the girl he cheated on her with. She lives with her ex-fiance's brother, who she is madly in love with.
Okay, so far it sounds like a typical chick lit book.
But there's a murder at the college and Heather plays a role in solving it, although she promises everyone she won't get involved.
This is book 2 in the series, and I didn't read book 1, so I'm not sure what happened the first time around.
It's a fairly easy read, but I don't like how the author uses all these parenthetical statements. It gets confusing after a while and you forget how the sentences even started.
Still, I like the story line. It's not completely believable, but that's not to say these things couldn't happen. Especially in today's screwed up society. It does seem like something you'd see in a B movie. Still, it was entertaining and nice to not have to think too much when reading this book.(less)
I was a bit skeptical when I picked this book up. It's very different from what I typically read. But a friend said great things about this series, so...moreI was a bit skeptical when I picked this book up. It's very different from what I typically read. But a friend said great things about this series, so when I saw it at a used book store, I picked it up. I finished reading it in four days.
It's an easy book - only about 250 pages. It's put together kind of like a bunch of short stories, but each of the stories relates to the others.
Some of the names are hard to pronounce. I'm not sure how African towns and names are supposed to be said, but I came up with my own pronunciations in my head and just rolled with it.
There isn't anything about this book I didn't like (unless you count the pronunciation thing, but that wasn't a biggie). The characters are charming, and I love the not-so-evident humor. The deal about the government made up of a bunch of constipated people made me laugh out loud! (What would these people accomplish? Nothing. They'd try to pass legislation and fail.)
Definitely worth reading, and I can't wait to pick up the next book in the series. Here's hoping the used book store in Singapore has it!(less)
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