**spoiler alert** This book was both hilarious and heart-wrenching. I read the entire thing in less than six hours; definitely an absorbing story. The...more**spoiler alert** This book was both hilarious and heart-wrenching. I read the entire thing in less than six hours; definitely an absorbing story. The book brings together two very different teenagers - Augustus and Hazel - who have one very important thing in common: they're Cancer Kids. As Hazel states early on (the book is written from her point of view), they aren't the saintly kids people like to hear about. The book was very real and raw in portraying the different ways Hazel, Augustus, and their support group friends deal with cancer: denial, withdrawal, anger, intense appetite for life right now. Woven into the mostly-innocent love story between Hazel and Augustus is their relationship with a book and its author. This unpredictable story handles a heavy subject in a light, yet not flippant, manner. One page could contain laugh-out-loud situations AND heart-wrenching pathos. It's an excellently-written book and a superbly-crafted story. I loved how Hazel was prickly and almost annoying at first, yet gradually the reader saw deeper into her soul. A feat well-accomplished considering the book was written in the first person, told by Hazel. There were so few instances where the story dropped to stereotypical YA conventions that these times unfortunately stood out against an otherwise great novel. First... the sex scene. The relationship between Hazel and Augustus was sweet and real, quite unconventional for a YA story. To me, the addition of them having sex actually made it much more cheesy and less believable. It was disappointing to arrive at that point and realize that Mr. Green was going to lower his standards to include such a YA genre-typical, yet very unrealistic, convention. My second issue with the storyline was the exaggerated character of the author. If the activities of the Wish visit to Amsterdam were rather improbable, I just couldn't take the almost-creepy reappearance of his character at the funeral. Fortunately, these two things were the only negatives in a great book. Setting the story aside, the main reason I couldn't give The Fault in Our Stars a higher rating was my personal issues with its philosophy. I understand and accept that the worldview expressed by Mr. Green through the characters is very different from my own, and yet I couldn't dismiss it. As a Christian, I found Augustus' and Hazel's beliefs about death and the meaning of life depressingly dark and hopeless. What were supposed to be the deeper messages of the book felt hollow and unsettling for me. I would caution any reader, but especially fellow Christians, that there is a definite philosophy preached in the book. It may be uncomfortable to some. All that being said, I think I would say it was a good book. I probably won't recommend it to everyone but I certainly will to some!(less)
The book got off to a slow start but once a quarter of the way through I was just as absorbed as I was with the first volume in the series. Ms. Rivers...moreThe book got off to a slow start but once a quarter of the way through I was just as absorbed as I was with the first volume in the series. Ms. Rivers is a great story-teller, weaving together the stories of several main characters into a cohesive whole. Continuing the story of the wealthy Roman Valerian family and their [former] slave Hadassah, An Echo in the Darkness finally brings to a quiet close all the dramatic themes of the first book. Perhaps less action filled, it is certainly just as surprising and compelling. While I thoroughly enjoyed the book and could barely put it down once I started, there are a few things that keep me from loving it. Primarily it is the fact that Hadassah, and most of the other Christians, are far too perfect. It's hard to relate to someone so devoid of failure. Secondly, while the book is so historically accurate in most areas (my inexpert opinion), there is one glaring exception: their spirituality. The Christians speak of "a personal Lord and Savior," and "asking Jesus into your heart." These are 20th century terms and concepts. Some of the more meaningful, spiritual conversations were hard for me to take seriously because they just seemed so cheesy. All in all, I would recommend this book to those who enjoy Christian romance and don't mind a bit of cheese and melodrama!(less)
A captivating, heart-wrenching story well-told. Something I appreciate about this book is that both main characters are flawed and contribute to the d...moreA captivating, heart-wrenching story well-told. Something I appreciate about this book is that both main characters are flawed and contribute to the drama at hand, unlike many Christian romances where one presents all the trials and the other reacts with saintly perfection. The characters of this book were real and believable. There were a few drawbacks to this book. First, all the characters seemed to relate to God in the exact same way - it seemed a little too forced at times. Second some of the details of the story seemed contrived or obvious, such as the kids being unaware of their parents' struggles. No teenagers are that dense. And third - perhaps biggest of all - the resolution of the story happened too quickly and too late in the book. It just didn't seem possible or natural. Serious struggles erased in a moment. After suffering alongside the characters for a whole book it was disappointing to have them resolved in an instant. And very unrealistic. However, all in all a great book and one I would recommend. It's one of the best Christian romances I've read and it has a beautidul message. (less)
Crazy Love is an excellent, brave book with an important lesson. Mr. Chan's writes in an inviting, easy-to-read, friendly style, yet he's firm in his...moreCrazy Love is an excellent, brave book with an important lesson. Mr. Chan's writes in an inviting, easy-to-read, friendly style, yet he's firm in his message and commitment to the truth of God's Word. He paints a picture of how truly having a "crazy love" for God would and should shape our lives. It's convicting without being condemning. My one major criticism of the book is that it probably could have been more succinct. This may be because I read this book with my Sunday school class, one chapter a week. After a little while, the chapters seemed sometimes to run together or just be the same message said a little differently. My guess is that this effect would be minimal reading the book as a whole rather than the slow, one-chapter-a-week pace I had. (less)
This was a wonderful book. Carol Kent uses the story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac as the model for the sacrifices we must make in life...moreThis was a wonderful book. Carol Kent uses the story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac as the model for the sacrifices we must make in life - both those we choose and those we have no choice but to make. Her message is all the more poignant for being woven through the story of her own Isaac sacrifice: watching her only, beloved son convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison, without parole. This book was incredibly encouraging and healing to me as I continue an "Isaac season," but I think it is valuable for both those who've gone through a heart sacrifice and those who haven't. Mrs. Kent is vulnerable and honest about her struggle to remain faithful through her years of trial. But faithful she has been and it is incredibly inspiring. I especially loved her image of "stretcher bearers." I have many in my life and hope I will be many times to others. I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE - male and female, young and old, suffering or not. (less)
A fun, "fluff" read. I was a bit disappointed that it didn't add much creativity to the original story. Some of the passages were even word-for-word l...moreA fun, "fluff" read. I was a bit disappointed that it didn't add much creativity to the original story. Some of the passages were even word-for-word lifted from P&P.(less)
I greatly enjoyed reading this collection of Jane Austen's early works. Her sparkling wit is fully evident in the sometimes sarcastic, often spoof-lik...moreI greatly enjoyed reading this collection of Jane Austen's early works. Her sparkling wit is fully evident in the sometimes sarcastic, often spoof-like nature of the stories, written mostly for enjoyment in the family circle. I would recommend this to any fan of Austen's, or really anyone.(less)
This is my favorite Heyer so far! Such an approachable, dear set of characters. I enjoyed the story being set with Adam, the hero, as the central chara...moreThis is my favorite Heyer so far! Such an approachable, dear set of characters. I enjoyed the story being set with Adam, the hero, as the central character. I found the book to be almost a story of his coming into his true self than an outright romance. I loved Jenny and kept wishing I could be her friend. The book closed with such a sweet and peaceful ending picture. I love some good cheesy drama, but this was such a real book. My only negative feedback would be that I got a little lost and bored during some of the detailed passages discussing the war.(less)
Alannajoanne
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