Archer is a proven story teller and this one did not disappoint. The story is about Danny. On the night he proposes to his girlfriend, Beth, they deci...moreArcher is a proven story teller and this one did not disappoint. The story is about Danny. On the night he proposes to his girlfriend, Beth, they decide to meet up with Bernie, Beth’s brother, and Danny’s best friend, to celebrate. At the bar are four college friends who are celebrating a birthday and have had their fair share of wine and spirits. When one of them starts making nasty comments toward Beth which prompts Bernie and Danny to react, she decides to try get them out of there as quickly as possible. One of them, Spencer Craig, follows them out and starts a fight as Beth is trying to grab a cab. What happens next is a turning point that changes their lives forever. Danny is sentenced to 22 years in prison for he would rather go to prison as an innocent man, than agree to a plea that would be admitting to a crime, he did not commit. The power of four, all for one and one for all, maybe strong, but it does not stand up to the power of revenge. The master story teller takes you through a suspenseful rollercoaster ride of twists and turns which keeps you riveted till the end. I chose this book because I had recently read “Kane and Abel” and absolutely loved it. I was just as impressed with this one(less)
**spoiler alert** -I am a huge fan of ARS. I have read almost every one of her books. This one left me scratching my head. Why did she end the book th...more**spoiler alert** -I am a huge fan of ARS. I have read almost every one of her books. This one left me scratching my head. Why did she end the book the way she did? The only thing I can think of is, she wanted it to be talked about. If that is the reason, I think she accomplished her goal. If you go out to Amazon or Goodreads, there are already discussion threads on it. The story is about a woman, Lilly, whose husband dies and she is traveling to the family house in Maine with his ashes. Then the story goes back to her childhood when she summered in Maine with her family. With a little background and vivid descriptions of the Maine Coast, the childhood memory focuses on 1962 when Lilly met Jon. Lilly is 11 years old and knows she is in love with Jon. The dark side of Anne Rivers Siddons novels appears in this one in the form of a beautiful blond girl named “Peaches”. She finds Jon and Lilly kissing and makes up some story to make it sound like they were doing much more. This sets the tone for the next series of events that leads to tragedy. Tragedy that pulls Lilly’s family away from their Maine home for several years. The next timeframe is Lilly’s teenage years in Virginia and dealing with the sickness of her mother and her eventual death. This brings Lilly and her Dad into a very tight bond. A bond that is very difficult to break. When Lilly is eighteen she meets Cam. This part was kind of unbelievable to me. The way she just happens to meet him at a restaurant and he spots her thinking she was someone else and they kiss. He ends up having dinner with the family and they are instantly in love? No way. Their courtship is short. They get married in the Maine house and then you fast forward to the present. The last part of this book was very odd. Lilly is trying to figure out what Cam was doing at the Maine house when he died after he told her he was somewhere else. She gets the letters “From D in Sante Fe” and discovers that Cam spent a lot more time in Maine than she knew about. The ending was very abrupt and full of mystery. The young boy comes to the house and Lilly answers the door. She sees Cam in his face and knows immediately he is the son of Cam and Peaches. Then she dies and Jon appears and she says “It was you all the time, wasn’t it?” And Jon says “I’ve been here the whole time.” Then there is an Epilogue involving the cat and the boy. I’m assuming this is telling us that the cat has spent a lot of time with the boy in Maine. Which confirms the fact that Cam was up there a lot and the boy was his? A lot of questions at the end of the book. I don’t particularly like that as a reader. I feel more comfortable when all loose ends are tied up and there is a sure resolution in the ending. This was just too vague for me. Not one of my favorites(less)
From the Guernsey Island: Dawsey Adams-Finds the book with Juliet's name on it and initiates the first letter. Lik...more**spoiler alert** Cast of Characters:
From the Guernsey Island: Dawsey Adams-Finds the book with Juliet's name on it and initiates the first letter. Likes Charles Lamb. Asks Juliet to help him find a copy. Friends with the soldier who father's Elisabeth's baby (Christian Hellman). Mrs. Amelia Maugary-the lady that invited everyone to roast the pig Isola Pribby-She liked the Bronte Sisters. Eben Ramsey-Read Shakespeare. Liked the quote "The bright day is done, and we are all for the dark." His daughter and baby died in childbirth the day the Germans came. His grandson was sent to England. He now takes care of him. Adelaide Addison-Bitter woman. Does not want Juliet to write about the Society. Elizabeth McKenna-supposedly had a baby out of wedlock whose father was a German soldier. She was arrested by the Germans and taken to a camp. Has yet to return. Her child is being raised by the island. Clovis Fossey-Friend of Eben. Read poetry to his wife Nancy. John Booker-he only reads one book over and over the Letters of Seneca. He pretends to be his former employer and lives in his house and drinks all of his wine during the war. Will Thisbee-talks about religion and the soul and ego mentioned by Freud. Clarea Saussey-read the book of cookery recipes in the Society and was driven away. Sally Ann Forisher-wrote to Juliet about having scabies Micah Daniels-told about Vega box.
Review:
Oh boy...I should know enough not to rely on all the hype when deciding on whether to read a book or not. It's not like I really disliked this book. I was just prepared to be blown away and I wasn't. Maybe because of the format this book was written in. Letter form. I had a difficult time staying on track. I felt like I was missing things and had to go back and reread. I hate doing that. The idea of the book was interesting. To tell a story thru letters between several people made it seem very realistic. Some of the story lines were tragic. The description of the island makes me want to go there or study the history of Guernsey Island during WWII. I just couldn't get overly excited about this.(less)
I liked this better than #13. For some reason, I thought it was funnier. There were new characters introduced here…Mario aka Zook, Marelli’s relative....moreI liked this better than #13. For some reason, I thought it was funnier. There were new characters introduced here…Mario aka Zook, Marelli’s relative. He seemed like a typical teenager who is really into the internet games. Mooner (a character from previous books) appears in the middle of this one to hang with Zook and play video games. Brenda, a recording artist who Steph and Ranger provide security for. And Gary, Brenda’s stalker are added to the mix in this one. Then you have the regular “characters” Lulu, the voluptuous, Ranger, the hunk, Morelli, the other hunk, Grandma Mazur the hip senior citizen and Stephanie, the bounty hunter who can’t settle down. I adore the banter between all the characters especially Lulu and Stephanie. Lulu has some great lines and phrases (some really good ones for male parts), I find myself giggling through the whole thing. This is not my favorite of the series, but it was a pretty good one.(less)
**spoiler alert** I thought this book was extremely well written. However, as a reader, I felt totally cheated at the end. After 562 pages, I thought...more**spoiler alert** I thought this book was extremely well written. However, as a reader, I felt totally cheated at the end. After 562 pages, I thought the ending might have been more satisfying. More concrete. I was so mad, I almost threw the darn book. You spend that long reading a book and routing for the main character and when you get to an ending like that, you want to yell at somebody. Or, discuss it. I really want to know what other readers have thought about this book. Most of the early reviews have ranted and raved about this book. I am glad I read this. Just wish I felt better about it.(less)
I read this in 2008. It was chosen as a bookclub book so I'm overjoyed to read it again.... 2008 review... This was one of those books I got totally los...moreI read this in 2008. It was chosen as a bookclub book so I'm overjoyed to read it again.... 2008 review... This was one of those books I got totally lost in. I would read it in the Y and before I knew it, I was on the bike for 7 miles and it felt like only 1. Barbara Walters was like a fixture on our shelf in our living room as a kid. Always there, but I didn't pay much attention to her. Looking back, I remember that fixture and I am reliving my childhood and all the memories of my family and the history of our time during the 60's and 70's. Yes, Barbara does a little bragging about her success in TV, as she should. However, she is also a very honest and down to earth celebrity. Although she felt comfortable in front of the camera, she did not always feel comfortable in her own skin, especially in her personal life. She felt a lot of guilt when it came to her family. Especially with her father and sister, Jackie. I admire her for her success as a woman. She paved the way for the opportunities that women have today. I also admire her for her candidness. She does not hold back in this book. She tells you the celebrities she liked to interview and those she did not. She was very honest about her professional relationships with her colleagues like Harry Reasoner, Frank McGee, Star Jones and Rosie O'Donnell. This book is a very thorough look at her life from beginning till now. It is a complete history of her life with humor sprinkled through out each chapter. I am so glad I read this book. It makes me want to learn more about her, watch "The View", listen to her new radio show that is replaying her "Specials" and google every name mentioned in her book. I also feel like I have completed a history lesson. A lesson through the eyes of one of the best female journalists of our time.To the woman who traveled everywhere, met almost every important person there was to meet and achieved more than ever imagined, thank you for setting an example for the woman of today. Bravo!!
2010 Review First, It is amazing to me how much I forgot, after 2 years, about a book I've read. Rereading the parts about Barbara's childhood was interesting and I couldn't remember it from before. I'm impressed with the way she was able to recognize memories from her childhood and how it impacted her adult life. Especially, around famous people and how she handled them during interviews. She believes the atomosphere in her father's nightclubs educated her. " Those early years at the Latin Quarter also affected the way I later asked questions and listened to answers. I knew that the childhood years of most celebrities were their most poignant and oculd often explain their future choices, as of course, it has mine. I learned when to be quiet and just listen. And I knew what could bring tears." "For the next 20-30 years, maybe even forty, I would feel no matter how high my profile became, how many awards I received, or how much money I made, may fear was that it all could be taken away from me. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to link that insecurity to my father's roller-coaster career or to my mother's constant anxiety or my sister's needs. I have, as I've said, always felt I was auditioning, either for a new job or to make sure that I could hold on to the one I had. Important events and people mentioned in this book: Al Capone Joe Kennedy WWII The Rosenburg Trial and Roy M. Cohn The sinking of the Andrea Doria
Interviews Judy Garland Truman Capote Rose Kennedy Lawrence Olivier Warren Beaty-not one of her favorite interviews Princess Grace-another one of her not so favorites Arafat-This is the interview where 2 of her colleagues were killed flying the interview feed to Jordan. She was almost on that plane. Begin and Sadat
Here is a quote from Reagan when Barbara was visiting him on his ranch. He just blurted this out while he was showing her around. Amazing! "I've always believed that there was some plan that put this continent here to be found by people from every corner of the world who had the courage and the love of freedom enough to uproot themselves, leave family and friends and homeland, to come here and develop a whole new breed of people called American. You look at the beauty of it. And God really did shed his grace on America as the song says."
I like Barbara's comment about why she doesn't give her political views on camera. This is one of the things I really like about her.
Here's a quote from Margaret Thatcher. A Quote Margaret's father said to her "You never just go and do something because someone else is doing it. That is wrong. You never just follow the crowd for the sake of following the crowd because you don't like to stand out. You make up your own mind about what is right. And then you try to persuade other people to follow you."
After reading this book again, I realized why I loved this book so much. Barbara is a fascinating woman and a great writer. This book was WELL written. Plus, her interviews of just about all the famous people in the last 30 years, are so interesting. I learned a lot from this book and I like Barbar Walters. That's about it in a nut shell.
I read “Bright Lights, Big Ass” a while back and liked it. That’s why I decided to read this one. I must have not been in the mood for this. It defini...moreI read “Bright Lights, Big Ass” a while back and liked it. That’s why I decided to read this one. I must have not been in the mood for this. It definitely was funny but I was annoyed with the random thoughts and the lack of flow. This isn’t really a story. It is a “memoir” of how someone who decided to lose weight, join Jennie Craig, Weight Watchers and a gym. Lancaster has a great sense of humor and a unique way of words. I think that is why I enjoyed her other book so much. I think one dose was enough, however. I didn’t enjoy this one as much and couldn’t wait to finish it. Sorry. (less)
This is my first Meltzer and it won’t be my last. I love the style. The author reveals a piece of the mystery at the turn of every page. Great suspens...moreThis is my first Meltzer and it won’t be my last. I love the style. The author reveals a piece of the mystery at the turn of every page. Great suspense. I also enjoyed the Superman angle. Very interesting. I was a little disappointed in the ending. I wasn’t sure if I understood it all. I may have to go back and re-read it to make sure I understand. The author obviously did a great deal of research. Makes the book more credible. It isn’t just another mystery. A quote: “There’s the life you live and the life you leave behind. But what you share with someone else—especially someone you love—that’s not just how you bury your past. It’s how you write your future." Bravo!(less)
#15 of the Havers-Lynley series- This phase of the series follows the death of Helen and Lynley has left Scotland Yard and is walking aimlessly along...more#15 of the Havers-Lynley series- This phase of the series follows the death of Helen and Lynley has left Scotland Yard and is walking aimlessly along the English coast. A section of coast that is known for surfing. That was an interesting aspect of this book. When Tommy reaches the area of Casvelyn, he finds a body on the cliffs by the shore. He runs up to a cottage hoping someone is there and breaks the window to get in. He finally finds Daidre who helps him find a phone to call the authorities. Since he was the first to find the body, he is ordered to stick around town to answer questions. And thus begins the investigation of Santo Kerne's murder. I was really looking forward to reading this book. I really think this author is in a league all by herself. Her writing is incredibly intricate and yet woven in a complete and satisfying way. However, the climax and the ending left me unsettled. This book was over 6oo pages and it took a while to get the stories established. So I was expecting an exciting and satisfying ending. It just wasn't delivered the way I expected. I still love the series, this one just wasn't my favorite.(less)
This is quintessential Deaver. The killer, 522, has been killing people, calling in anonymous tips and then plants evidence on an innocent victim so t...moreThis is quintessential Deaver. The killer, 522, has been killing people, calling in anonymous tips and then plants evidence on an innocent victim so they are accused of the crime. The question is, where does he get the information about these innocent victims so he can get the evidence to plant? Answer? SSD. This company gets all sorts of computerized data on people and sells it to other companies. Keeping up with federal and state privacy laws, of course. When Arthur, Lincoln's cousin, is caught up in 522's scheme, to be convicted of rape and murder, Lincoln decides to investigate the case, with the help of all the usual characters, Amelia, Ron, Mel and Lon.
There are 2 things I love about Deaver's books. The first is the author's style of putting the reader inside the killer's head throughout the book. Not many mystery writers do this. I think because they may be afraid it will give clues away but Deaver has a talent of helping the reader see through the eyes of the killer which helps pull you deeper into the story. The other thing I like is the way he sets up the reader into thinking the killer has the edge and the plot is headed for a bad scene and then BOOM, Amelia or Rhythm have jumped ahead and figured something out while you were off in some other character's head. Then the story takes an unexpected twist. Deaver's books are loaded with interesting information, (like identity theft in this one) as well as, suspense and drama. It is rare for me to rate a Deaver book anything less than a 4 or 5. I've read every one of the Lincoln Rhyme series and if you are a thriller-mystery type reader, you don't want to miss adding this series to your repertoire. Deaver is one of the best.(less)
This was a fascinating book. Although fiction, the reader gets a history lesson about the socio-economic turmoil that occurred right after WWI in the...moreThis was a fascinating book. Although fiction, the reader gets a history lesson about the socio-economic turmoil that occurred right after WWI in the US. Specifically, wages for community jobs like the police force, were at poverty levels. Working conditions were terrible.
Lehane sets up the story in Boston, a place he sets most of his novels. Danny is one of the main characters. He is a cop who gets pulled into the group of police that are fighting for better wages and better working conditions. At first, he is actually a plant trying to help his father and the Feds find out who is involved in unionizing. Danny’s father is a Police Captain. After being undercover for a while, Danny actually starts to believe in the cause and becomes one of the leaders against his father’s wishes.
Luther is the other main character. His story exhibits the racial atmosphere of the time. After losing his job, he travels south to Tulsa with his pregnant girlfriend. After getting mixed up in a bad scene with a crime boss, Luther is forced to leave his girlfriend and go on the run. He ends up in Boston and is employed by Danny’s family.
Woven throughout these two stories are exerpts of the life of Babe Ruth during this time. I am assuming the author is a big fan of Ruth and was eager to place him in the story somehow. It is an interesting part of the book, but not necessary.
The novel itself is told in such detail, it took me a while to get into it. But once I did, it became an enjoyable read. I like books where the story is good AND I learn something simultaneously. Although this is not my favorite Lehane work, I still highly recommend it. (less)
Connelly has some of the best quotes in his books. "There is nothing you can do about the past except keep it there." A quote from Mickey Haller when d...moreConnelly has some of the best quotes in his books. "There is nothing you can do about the past except keep it there." A quote from Mickey Haller when discussing his prior addiction to OxyContin.
This was a fantastic read! Mickey Haller is taking a break from the law. After being injured, and becoming addicted to pain pills, he is planning on getting back into his practice gradually. When one of his colleagues, Jerry Vincent, is murdered, Haller has suddenly found himself back in the game. With 31 clients. Jerry Vincent had Mickey appointed to take over his practice if anything was to happen to him. Now Haller has inherited one of the most high profile cases of the day. Walter Elliot is a prominent producer in Hollywood and is accused of killing his wife and her lover. Enter Harry Bosch. Harry is in charge of the Vincent murder and he thinks Haller knows more than he does.
I thought Connelly was great at writing from the prospective of a LA homicide detective. He does an equally great job writing as a defence attorney. I can't wait to see what Connelly does next!(less)
I am very troubled by this book. First, I found it so unnerving that someone could write about killing their mother. What kind of person does that? We...moreI am very troubled by this book. First, I found it so unnerving that someone could write about killing their mother. What kind of person does that? Well, I googled on Alice Sebold to find out and discovered that Ms. Sebold was brutally raped while attending college at Syracuse University. I believe that this brutal act of violence may be the catalyst that has caused Ms. Sebold to teeter on a violent edge that few authors dare to go. This book is about and told through the voice of Helen. Helen grew up with a mentally ill mother and a father who turned out to be almost as ill. Helen kills her 86 year old mother and the book follows Helen through the events that occur after the crime, as well as, Helen's thoughts of her past. There is a small section of the book that gives the reader an idea of what it was like for Helen to be a daughter of a mother like hers and how the title of the book relates to the story. “The moon is whole all the time, but we can’t always see it. What we see is an almost moon or a non-quite moon. The rest is hiding just out of view, but there’s only one moon, so we follow it in the sky. We plan our lives based on its rhythms and tides.” “I knew I was supposed to understand something from my father’s explanation, but what I came away with was that, just as we were stuck with the moon, so too we were stuck with my mother.”(less)
**spoiler alert** This was a rare book that really moved me. It touched me in several ways. First, the autho wrote this book and hit on a topic but in...more**spoiler alert** This was a rare book that really moved me. It touched me in several ways. First, the autho wrote this book and hit on a topic but in an indirect way. The subject, or shall I say, the main subject is racism. Radical racism in the South during the 50’s and 60’s. Normally, the story would be about a black family and how they were impacted from the social atmosphere of the times. But in this story, the author used two white people. Two white people who were not racist. Two white people who grew up in the South and who did not support segregation during that tumultuous time. Cole and Marie. Cole is who the story is about. Cole is in his late 60’s and is dealing with the the past. The past that involved Marie, a force that impacted his life so severely, he needs a psychologist’s help to sort out his feelings. He communicates these feelings thru his writing. His source is letters from Marie. Letters from Marie after she left their hometown in Georgia and moved to New England. Cole met Marie when she moved to his hometown in their senior year of high school. Everyone thought Marie was crazy. Cole did but in a way he was intrigued by her intelligence and boldness. They first come together as a dare. Cole’s friend’s pay him to take her out. He asks her out but returns the money to his friends. Marie and Cole’s relationship is like a play. A lot of their conversation and actions are set up to get a rise out of the community. But when Marie gives her controversial Valedictorian speech about racism in town, she sets the tone for some future dramatic activities. Cole will never see Marie again after graduation. But they continue to communicate thru letters. Marie always said Cole was going to be famous. And famous he becomes. While walking up on a demonstration at the University he is attending, he is caught up on a deadly crossfire. One of the black woman in the crowd is shot and killed and Cole just happens to catch her as she falls. A local reporter captures the moment on film and Cole’s picture is flashed around the world. This does not sit well with the locals in his home town. It becomes the catalyst of a fire set at a black families home that mames a small black boy. One of the black boys Marie wanted to teach to read. Cole, unable to cope with the guilt, moves to Vermont where he becomes a University Professor. After 50 years, one of his class mates contacts him to see if he will be attending the 50 year high school reunion. At first, he doesn’t want to attend. But the thought of the reunion brings back all the memories of the past and he decides to go. The idea of this book and how it was written was so interesting to me. I loved how the author took this controversial topic and weaved a love story within it. The ending was truly as surpise to me. Not what I expected. There are so many things to discuss about this book, I wouldn’t know where to start. I do know that I liked it, it is very thought provoking and I would be interested in reading more books written by Terry Kay. (less)
This book was a disappointment. It sounded so interesting. A true war story of the Warsaw Zoo. It had potential but it fell apart. It did not flow. It...moreThis book was a disappointment. It sounded so interesting. A true war story of the Warsaw Zoo. It had potential but it fell apart. It did not flow. It was choppy and sometimes it was hard to follow, time and place. The author, I think in order to educate the reader, went off on tangents that made it even more confusing. There were some really interesting parts of this book especially Polish heritage, the war, the “Ghetto”, the zoo and the animals and of course, Antonia, Jan and their family. I just think the author could have done a better job telling the story. (less)
have mixed feelings about this book. The book is about two sisters who disappear. Several years later, a woman appears who claims to be one of the mis...morehave mixed feelings about this book. The book is about two sisters who disappear. Several years later, a woman appears who claims to be one of the missing sisters. The suspense and mystery, I thought, was stellar. I loved the plot and the way the author built up the suspense. I think this is one of the best mysteries I have read in a long time. On the other hand, there were parts of the book where I felt like it was stuck in the mud. I thought there was development on some characters that was not necessary. Too much detail about a minor character that became the source of the drag. I liked the book and would recommend it but would mention its flaws(less)
This has to be one of the best chik-lit novels I have ever read. This is loaded with plenty of drama and humor and it kept me wanting more and was ver...moreThis has to be one of the best chik-lit novels I have ever read. This is loaded with plenty of drama and humor and it kept me wanting more and was very hard to put down. The story is about Ginny. Her daughter has left for college and she is alone. She misses her daughter terrible and doesn’t think she can cope. But she picks herself up and decides to do something about it. She rents a room in her house to a woman suffering from a broken heart. Her name is Laurel and her brother, Perry, is to die for. This is a light, funny and enjoyable read. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this popular British author. An opportunity I may not have had if it wasn’t for book-crossing. I am going to join another ring and this author will be added to my “favorites” list.(less)
This was a light and fluffy read. I enjoyed it. I have had the opportunity to read some great British Chick Lit and I haven’t found one that I didn’t...moreThis was a light and fluffy read. I enjoyed it. I have had the opportunity to read some great British Chick Lit and I haven’t found one that I didn’t like. This was about Helen, aka Eleanor. She is having an affair with a married man. She thinks she loves him and begs him to leave his wife and family for her. When he shows up on her door step one day with all of his stuff, she realizes she has made a big mistake. What she does about it and the people involved is pretty risky. I loved the humor and the fast pace read. I would definitely recommend this book!(less)
#1 of the Jane Bunker mystery-If you like to read books about the ocean and the fishing industry off the coast of Maine, this was an excellent story a...more#1 of the Jane Bunker mystery-If you like to read books about the ocean and the fishing industry off the coast of Maine, this was an excellent story about that. Since the author used to be a captain herself, she has a lot to teach us about this subject. I thought the mystery aspect of this book could have been better. There wasn’t that much of a climax. And when the mystery was solved, it was kind of lame. I’ve read The Hungry Ocean by Greenlaw and thought it was great. I think the author’s attempt at mystery writing was valid. Hopefully it will get better as the series continues. (less)
This author is starting to really grow on me. And why hasn’t she been picked up by an American Publisher? This lady is really good. This book was a cr...moreThis author is starting to really grow on me. And why hasn’t she been picked up by an American Publisher? This lady is really good. This book was a cross between a V.C Andrews and Anne Rivers Siddons. A very tangled story about love and family but with a twist. An evil twist. There were several parts that stood out for me. Hugh’s speech to Rory in the hospital was memorable. I loved the wildlife journal. It makes me want to start one. Being a music lover, I loved Ettie’s lecture to Rory about music. “Music doesn’t need you, it’s you who needs the music. Never forget what you owe the music and always treat it with respect. It has been lent to you for a while. For your lifetime. You don’t own it so don’t play as if you do.” Words I will never forget. I also enjoyed Flora’s description on how to play Gertrude and Hamlet in the closet scene. This is a book I will not forget. It is very well written and I am so glad I had the opportunity to read it. This author is going to be added to my favorites list. (less)
- This is a quick and enjoyable read for the most part until the end. The story is about 2 Japan natives who fall in love during WWII. Mieko is called...more- This is a quick and enjoyable read for the most part until the end. The story is about 2 Japan natives who fall in love during WWII. Mieko is called to war but vows to come back to his lover, Tori. While he is gone, the bombing of Hirashima and Nagasaki take place and almost all hope for a reconciliation is gone. Don’t loose hope though, there are actually happy parts to this book. The problem I have with it is after finishing it, I felt like I was snookered by the author. It was like he set me up to tell a simple fictional story and then at the end you realize he is trying to publicize his political agenda. Not fair. The idea is definitely unique and it made me stop and think but it still left me with a bad taste in my mouth. 2.5 1-18-08 Interestingly enough, the author of this book responded to my comments. I think he was hurt by my negative comment about his political agenda. The thing is, I don’t mind when a writer uses fiction to express his political views as long as they are open and honest about it and I know it going in. If there wasn’t an Epilogue commenting about AIDs and Nuclear Weapons, I never would have come to the conclusion I did. Without knowing anything about the writer or this book, after reading it that is the conclusion I made whether the writer intended it or not. Sorry if he was hurt by it.(less)
This was a fantastic story. Jacob Jankowski is a 93 year old man. When the circus pays a visit to the lot across from the Nursing Home he lives in, it...moreThis was a fantastic story. Jacob Jankowski is a 93 year old man. When the circus pays a visit to the lot across from the Nursing Home he lives in, it takes him back to when he was employed by a circus during the depression. And so the book alternates between today and the 1930’s. This book grabbed me from the beginning. Especially since Jacob attended school at Cornell and caught the circus train on it’s way to Utica. Places I am very familiar with. The fact that he is Polish is another plus. This story is put together very well. Gruen obviously did her research and I finish this book with some knowledge about Jamaica ginger paralysis, exotic animal behavior and of course, the circus. It is definitely going on my personal list of “classics” and “1001 books to read before you die”. It doesn’t get any better than this.
This is the second time I read this book and I feel the same way I did when I read the first time in 2007. It is a wonderful book. I love the story of the 90 year old man reminiscing about his time in the circus back during the depression. Gruen’s idea is truly a masterpiece. (less)
I picked this book up from the Astronaut Hall of Fame. It looked so interesting, I started reading it on the way home. Wright gives a brief overview o...moreI picked this book up from the Astronaut Hall of Fame. It looked so interesting, I started reading it on the way home. Wright gives a brief overview of about 20 tragedies that have occurred in various parts of Florida. Beginning with The Wreck of the Plate Fleet in 1715 and ending with the 4 hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast in 2004. I was definitely educated reading this book. I do remember hearing about the NASA tragedies, as well as, the hurricanes. I was not aware of the bridge collapse of the Skyway Bridge or the Condominium collapse, among others. Although there were some editing issues with this book, I am glad I read this. It definitely added to my trip. (less)
This was a very unique book. It starts off with a letter from a young girl who is writing to a college asking to be let back into the program she was...moreThis was a very unique book. It starts off with a letter from a young girl who is writing to a college asking to be let back into the program she was in. She tells the director of this school that she has a diary and some letters from the civil war. It is unclear if she sends the Director all that she has or just writes to tell him about it but then the book switches over to the diary and so the story begins. The setting is Agate Hill, North Carolina and it is just after the Civil War ended. Molly Petree is the author of the diary. She begins to tell about the people that have come to live on Agate Hill after her mother and father and brother have died. At first, I was not that thrilled about the story. It was difficult for me to follow all the characters and how they were related to Molly. Since it was told in the form of a diary, it made it even more difficult. But then, when Simon Black comes and takes Mary to the private school in Virginia, I started to take more interest in the story. From that moment on, I began to like it a little better. This is normally not my favorite genre. But since this was a book club book, I felt obligated to give it a try. I am glad I did. It is such an extraordinary work, I don’t think I will forget it. (less)
This was one of the most suspenseful mysteries I have read in a long time. It’s Nina’s birthday and she is getting ready to take her kids and her boyf...moreThis was one of the most suspenseful mysteries I have read in a long time. It’s Nina’s birthday and she is getting ready to take her kids and her boyfriend to Florida for Christmas. While trying to get everything ready for the trip, a surprise birthday party occurs supposedly put together by her daughter, Charlie. When Charlie doesn’t show up for the party or for the departure of the trip, Nina becomes frantic with worry. The first thing she does is go to the police but they don’t believe Charlie is in danger. Just another teenager who is trying to make a statement with her parents by hiding out for a night. Nina doesn’t believe it so she takes it upon herself to try and find her daughter. As a mother, Nina’s gut feeling is, something is drastically wrong here. As a mother, the thought of a missing child can suck the life right out of you. I was pulling for Nina every step of the way. This is a quick read and it keeps you on the edge of your seat right up until the end. Highly recommend. (less)
This was a very moving, character driven novel. Loaded with emotion, The Friday Night Knitting Club is about women who become friends through a knitti...moreThis was a very moving, character driven novel. Loaded with emotion, The Friday Night Knitting Club is about women who become friends through a knitting club that was formed by accident. Walker & Daughter is a knitting store formed by single mom Georgia. With the help of her dear friend Anita, Georgia runs this NYC store with not only great knitting supplies and projects, but with some friendly guidance and advice, (not necessarily on knitting). The knitting club forms when a handful of women start coming to the store on a regular basis every Friday evening. These women come together and start to develop friendships that help get them through some stressful times in their lives. I thought the book started out with a bang. I wanted to keep reading until I finished. The second part of the book went from a thoughtful, emotional character driven style to a more story-telling narrative. This didn’t take away from the novel but it was obviously different. I couldn’t wait to get to the end to find out what happened. I probably read it way too fast. One of the interesting things about this book: The author used the craft of knitting as her introduction to each of her chapters. Excellent book! Highly recommend!(less)
This book is about the life of Ayaan. It begins in Somalia where Ayaan is born. She is brought up in a Muslim family. Her mother wants to lead a very...moreThis book is about the life of Ayaan. It begins in Somalia where Ayaan is born. She is brought up in a Muslim family. Her mother wants to lead a very strict Muslim life, her father is a bit more relaxed but still obeys the Muslim rule.
Her father is a member of a political movement that is working against the president of Somalia, Siad Barre. As a result, the family had to move around a lot to be safe. First Saudi Arabia, where they were exposed to the very strict rules of Islam. Woman were totally covered and could not leave the house without a male family member. After Saudi, they moved to Ethiopia and then on to Kenya. Ayaan tried to live as a devote Muslim but she was disillusioned with the violence, the intolerance and the treatment of women.
When she was in her early 20's, her father arranged a marriage for her with a Muslim who was living in Canada. Ayaan was sent to Germany to await her VISA. While she was there and was exposed to Western culture, she made the quick decision to go to Holland and apply for refugee status and hide from her family. Eventually the family found her but she refused to leave Holland and divorced her husband.
Ayaan went to school in Holland and earned her degree in political science. She becomes politically active in Holland and is elected as a member of Parliament. She becomes an atheist and is very open about Islam and begins to speak and write about it's deception. The overall theme of this book is, there is no line drawn between moderate and extreme Islam. It is all the same. As a result of her openness, she has received many death threats and must live her life hidden from those that have sentenced her to death.
Some interesting and very eye opening quotes in this book about Islam. "Every society that is still in the rigid grip of Islam oppresses women and also lags behind in development. Most of these societies are poor; many are full of conflict and war. Societies that respect the rights of women and their freedom are wealthy and peaceful." ....the Quran is an act of man, not of God. We should be free to interpret it; we should be permitted to apply it to the modern era in a different way, instead of performing painful contortions to try to recreate the circumstances of a horrible distant past." In Saudi Arabia, every breath, every step we took, was infused with concepts of purity or sinning, and with fear. Wishful thinking about the peaceful tolerance of Islam cannot interpret away this reality: hands are still cut off, women still toned and enslaved, just as the Prophet Muhammad decided centuries ago." " Life is better in Europe than it is in the Muslim world because human relations are better, and one reason human relations are better is that in the West, life on earth is valued in the here and now, and individuals enjoy rights and freedoms that are recognized and protected by the state. To accept subordination and abuse because Allah willed it----that, for me, would be self hatred." As a member of Parliament, Ayaan proposed dramatically reducing unemployment benefits and abolishing the minimum wage. "From my experience as a translator with welfare cases, I knew that easy access to generous unemployment benefits leads to a poverty trap: people in Holland often make more money from welfare than they would in actual jobs."
Ayaan is my new hero. Her bravery and openness in her speech about Islam is truly amazing and sets an example. Our society needs to listen carefully to Ayaan and stop being afraid of being viewed as racist as they dare to scrutinize this backward culture. (less)
The thing I like about Mansell’s book is the happy endings. And I love her characters. Lottie and Freddie are my favorites in this one. Lottie is divo...moreThe thing I like about Mansell’s book is the happy endings. And I love her characters. Lottie and Freddie are my favorites in this one. Lottie is divorced with 2 kids and she is “making her mind up” between her new boss, Tyler who her kids don’t like and Seb, who her kids adore. There are sub plots in the book that keep it interesting like Freddie and his search for old friends and Cressida and her discovery of a new love. Freddie is the poster child for how to handle bad news. I adored his character. These books are fluff, but I really do enjoy them. The English setting is very intriguing.(less)
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