The ONLY criticism I have of this book is the author's overuse of metaphors and similes. However, she comes up with some great ones, so I forgive her....moreThe ONLY criticism I have of this book is the author's overuse of metaphors and similes. However, she comes up with some great ones, so I forgive her. Despite that tendency, Fulda is a very good writer. I kept wanting to stop and write down excerpts because I loved the way she put things.
Here are some of the things I liked about the book: The author takes on the fat acceptance movement for its own intolerance toward people who don't like being fat and want to lose weight. She refuses to despise the person she used to be. She doesn't apologize for having been fat or for being happy now that she's not. She doesn't blame anyone but herself for her weight problem. She doesn't sugarcoat what her life is like post-weight loss. She realizes that she could get fat again. She shows how an attitude change is the most crucial aspect of successful weight loss. She illustrates how behavior change is the second most crucial aspect. And she makes it clear that there are no short-cuts to losing weight and getting in shape. (less)
One thing I like about the Carol Jordan/Tony Hill books is that the characters are always evolving. In this one, Dr. Hill is given the opportunity to ...moreOne thing I like about the Carol Jordan/Tony Hill books is that the characters are always evolving. In this one, Dr. Hill is given the opportunity to learn more about his father, who he never knew and Carol Jordan faces a professional crisis. A lot is left hanging at the end of the book, but it is still a satisfying ending. I am glad, however, that I have the next book in my possession so I can get on with the story.
The murders in this book are heart-wrenching and McDermid doesn't spare our feelings. I was particularly upset at the death of Seth, one of the fourteen-year-old victims, all of whom were duped by a social network stalker. It's hard to read about the death of a child, especially one with so much promise and full of life.
I figured out the murderer's motive pretty early although I was wrong about the identity. But as usual the way that the MIT team, with the help of Dr. Hill, goes about solving the mystery. There are actually two mysteries in this book; the second one is a cold case. I suppose its inclusion was necessary to show how the MIT discharges both of its duties, which are to solve cold cases as well as current major incidents. But I found it a little intrusive.
There are a lot of references to things that happened in earlier books, which make you want to read (or re-read) them, but not so much that this book can't stand alone. However, I would still recommend that a newbie to this series starts with the first book and read them in order to see the evolution of the main characters more clearly.
The fact that I didn't finish this book pretty much says it all. I hardly ever quit on a book and I even got half-way through this one before I decide...moreThe fact that I didn't finish this book pretty much says it all. I hardly ever quit on a book and I even got half-way through this one before I decided I didn't want to subject myself to any more of it. One reviewer said something about it being interesting from the standpoint of being in a strange country (and I do mean strange) but I've read much better books about the jungle, etc., that were scarier than this one and didn't even use a supernatural element to get there.
I see that some readers liked this book A LOT, but the only thing this book had going for it in my opinion was that it was one of those "What would I do if I found myself in this situation?" books coupled with satisfying our fascination with gore and evil.
I think the fact that I wasn't really rooting for any of the characters made this hard to finish. What little identification I did have with the characters was pretty much obliterated by my distaste for them. While I could understand their utter inability to cope with the situation, I had little patience for the way that the characters did nothing but whine and blame each other for getting into, and not being able to get out of, the mess they find themselves in.
I also really, really hated the way the women were portrayed in this book. They were useless, passive and selfish and had no redeeming qualities. I was also puzzled by the fact that we got into some of the characters' heads, but not others. I would have liked to know how Matthias and Pablo, for instance, felt about what was happening. But all we got was the four spoiled and clueless Americans (which wouldn't have been a bad title for the book).
As usual, Jo Nesbo delivers an intricate plotline, but in The Leopard, he might have overstepped the boundaries, at least for this reader. I had much ...moreAs usual, Jo Nesbo delivers an intricate plotline, but in The Leopard, he might have overstepped the boundaries, at least for this reader. I had much the same reaction to this book as when I go to a movie and say, "That was great, but it was about a half hour too long." On the other hand, can you ever get enough of Jo Nesbo's writing or of his character Harry Hole?
Harry Hole is barely subsisting in a haze of drugs and alcohol when he reluctantly agrees to return from his self-imposed exile in Hong Kong to aid in a murder investigation. His father is dying and he has to also deal with the ghosts of his past. He becomes embroiled in a particularly nasty case of office politics at the same time that he is trying to track down the murderer, who is identified several times only to turn out to be the wrong man.
Nesbo packs so much into this book that it was difficult for me to take it all in: there are three locales--Hong Kong, Norway and Africa; a new love interest for Harry; more than one villain; several police jurisdictions; old and new cases of missing persons; faked identities; Harry's own struggle to try to find a reason for living; his relationship with his father and sister; brief (and unsatisfying) contacts with Rakel and Oleg (the love of his life and her son): more than one near-death experience for Harry; moral and ethical dilemmas; blackmail and betrayal; and believe it or not, much more.
This is not to say that I don't recommend this book. I still don't think you can go wrong with Jo Nesbo. Let's just say that this was an overly ambitious book that he still managed to pull off.(less)
I read this book slowly, like a meal I wanted to savor. I'm not saying it was of great literary quality, although there is some fine writing in it. Bu...moreI read this book slowly, like a meal I wanted to savor. I'm not saying it was of great literary quality, although there is some fine writing in it. But I so enjoyed all the different takes on what it means to be obsessed with food and body image in this society. There were also a few essays that were just about the meaning of food, how it comforts and connects us. I would recommend this to anyone who is feeling isolated by their own struggle with weight and food issues. (less)
I'd never read Ann Patchett before and this book made me want to read more. I've read some of the reviewers saying that they thought Bel Canto was bet...moreI'd never read Ann Patchett before and this book made me want to read more. I've read some of the reviewers saying that they thought Bel Canto was better; I hope so, because I really enjoyed State of Wonder.
I love novels that take you into environment that are unfamiliar to me; that take me outside of my comfort zone and make me realize how big this world really is. I suppose there's a lot to criticize in this book, but I saw the negatives as realistic outgrowths of being in this situation.
I liked the way the author set up the suspense about Dr. Swenson and that she didn't disappoint when she finally appeared. There were many mysteries in this book (not the least of which was the jungle itself) which were handled deftly, adding richness to the story.
There's a diverse cast of characters, all of whom are distinctly drawn. The science was made interesting even if some of it was a bit implausible (but then, stranger things have been discovered by scientists). I thought the premise was intriguing and that the moral, ethical and physiological issues were fascinating. (less)
I normally love Michael Connelly, but I thought this book was underwhelming. At times I even wondered if he had written it, or had a minion do it for ...moreI normally love Michael Connelly, but I thought this book was underwhelming. At times I even wondered if he had written it, or had a minion do it for him according to a formula. There was too much explanation of things that didn't need to be explained, or would have been better if they'd been shown through action. I thought Harry came across as mean and belittling to his partner and just generally self-centered and arrogant. Frankly, I didn't find any relationship in this book to be interesting or appealing. Maybe it was just a bad reading day. (less)
I'm mystified at the high rating of this book. Especially when I compare it with other 4+ star books. I can only conjecture that its popularity comes ...moreI'm mystified at the high rating of this book. Especially when I compare it with other 4+ star books. I can only conjecture that its popularity comes from the fact that it is a Young Adult novel and has many elements in it that would appeal to teen readers.
The main characters are teen-agers whose parents have signed the orders to have them unwound (i.e., killed and used for donor organs). They've each narrowly escaped being sent to the harvest camp and are now on the run for their lives.
As of now, I've decided to stop reading this book, even though the writing isn't bad, because I just can't accept the premises. I can't see an America which allows for the "unwinding" of one's children at any age. The unwinding order is inviolable and cannot be changed. So--a teen can be condemned to death without a trial or legal recourse. Right.
As a reproductive rights proponent, I was really disgusted by the implication that the agreement that settled the Second Civil War (which was fought over abortion) supposedly satisfied both sides by making life sacred from the moment of conception but then allowing for the murder of teen-agers by parents (or the state, in the case of wards of the state) who, for whatever reason, don't want them anymore. Right.
For one thing, it makes it sound like people who are pro-choice are appeased by being able to kill children when they're older, as if their only reason for wanting to keep abortion legal is because they really really want to murder children. As in: "If we can't kill them in the womb, at least we get a second chance when they're teens." Right.
And although pro-lifers can be inconsistent about when they deem life to be sacred (for example, they're not always against capital punishment), I find it difficult to believe that they would ever condone the murder of children in their teens.
I understand that these kinds of books are popular with teens right now and I can only guess that it appeals to their feelings of isolation and persecution at the hands of adults. Having the three teens sort of win in the end (I skipped ahead) symbolizes that teens have more power than people give them credit for. Also, today's teens in particular are more likely to be pessimistic about the future so they are attracted to dystopian novels like The Hunger Games novels.
I'm not saying that this book is a total waste of time: for the reasons I give above I think that the average teen would find it interesting at the least. What I would recommend, though, is that parents make a point of reading the popular YA novels in order to get an idea of what their teens are being fed and perhaps better understand their fears and concerns about the future.
I started to read the second book in this series first and I had trouble getting into it because I didn't know the main character's background. This i...moreI started to read the second book in this series first and I had trouble getting into it because I didn't know the main character's background. This is one series where I think it's best to start at the beginning.
I particularly liked the depiction of small town life in this book. The main character, Rebekah Martinsson, reluctantly goes back to the town she comes from to help out an old friend. The author skillfully weaves several mysteries together in this tale of one woman coming to terms with her own past.
This is one of my all-time favorite books. I read it at a pivotal time in my quest for God. It showed me that faith is not incompatible with the intel...moreThis is one of my all-time favorite books. I read it at a pivotal time in my quest for God. It showed me that faith is not incompatible with the intellect. Lewis was incredibly smart and insightful and expressed himself so intelligently that I found it impossible to NOT believe in God after reading this and Mere Christianity. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wonders how to find God in a secular world. (less)
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