Erin’s Comments (group member since Feb 07, 2016)

Erin’s comments from the 2017 Reading Challenge group.

I really wanted to like this book because I heard the author's wife speak on NPR and it was so moving. I think the content was very interesting and the writing was superb, but I just couldn't get into it.

I have had a difficult time thinking about what to write for this review. This book had a relatively interesting narrative and dialogue. The character development was good for the main character, but not as much for others. It all felt a little unrealistic to me. The story was also extremely dense. There were so many complex and inter-mingled histories that it weighed down the narrative a bit.

Overall, though, I think I liked the book. It was very interesting to learn more about this little-known and rarely discussed piece of Middle Eastern and World history.

I would have a hard saying whether this book was particular good or not good. It wasn't poorly written, the characters are relatively interesting and mildly believable. It was an interesting, tragedy and than redemption story. Typical plot and character development. There wasn't anything that stood out as not good, I guess it was just there...

I really enjoyed this book. It crossed into a lot of socio-cultural and economic issues in modern India. The relationship between the two women is so striking. I laughed and cried. This work was very emotionally driven and the writing was phenomenal. Truly, a must read.

This was an enjoyable and fast read. Really interesting introduction to a complicated and little known piece of American history. The book allowed me to learn a little about the orphan trains of the late 19th and early 20th century. I know desire to read more about them. I wouldn't say that this was a particularly deep insight kind of book. It would be good for young readers or those who are just entering historic fiction as a genre.

Natália, thanks!! The reviews are quite mixed. Seems like 'loved it' or 'loathed it' with few in between.
Did you read it?

I'm considering "A Casual Vacancy" by J.K. Rowling for this category. Wondering if it fits...
There was quite a lot of fuss after it was first published. Thoughts?

Wow! I can find few faults with this book. The writing was pretty good. The story was very intriguing and the narrative flowed well. The author took the reader on a journey through ethically behavior, art history, and the tumultuous nature of misguided love. This was a very fast read for me, because I could not put the book away. I wanted to know the mystery. The narrative was so impressively written that I discovered the outcome just a page before it was presented by the main character. Honestly, this is a truely great read. I highly recommend it!

I really enjoyed this work, once I realized that each chapter is a different narrater and short story. I guess I hadn't read the inside cover, otherwise I may have realized earlier. The work is quite powerful and brings a perspective that I never could have understood. After reading, I still feel like I could never put myself in their shoes, but definitely feel a different form of empathy for the topic than I had previously. Really worthwhile, especially if this is outside of your normal reading habit.

Concepts here are interesting and applicable for many fields. However, no need to bean entire book. It got extremely repetitive and I lost interest about 1/3 of the way into the work.

This boook was quite an interesting read. The story carried well, especially toward the end of the novel. The writing was pretty good; although, it was repetative atmany points. Overall, I like that it was written by an historian who obviously had respect for the characters.

Hi @crashqueen73
I hope you are enjoying this series! I just made a post about the third book. There might a bit of spoiler in there (FYI), but not really. Would love to hear how you're enjoying the series.

This is the third in a series that begins with Outlander. All were written by D. Gabaldon.
The story is about a couple who met through very strange circumstances and continue their romantic relationship through space and time. This book deals a lot more with Scottish diaspora and Scotland in the decades after the English have squelched the uprisings in the early 18th century.
This is a great series for those interested in historial fiction and romance (without it being overdone). While there are plenty of sultry scenes; for the most part, they add to the story about the two main characters, rather than being a burden on story-line. The historic detail in these books is very good.

Hi y'all! My name is Erin. I am a student of Public Health. I studied history for most of my life. I love books from many different genres. I've been looking for a book club that will provide flexibility for my schedule and not too much pressure. I'm really into historic fiction, general fiction, and memoirs. I like reading books about food, life, and love.