1 to 16 of 16
Review Date: 12/8/2007
Helpful Score: 1
This is a story of grown-up siblings coming together and confronting, at one sister's insistence, the childhood in which one sister always seemed to be left out or put down. Each one has their own version of shared occasions, and it isn't easy for them to see the others' viewpoints. At some point, they realize that the shadows in their memories tell a different story than what they prefer to remember. Elizabeth Berg is a great writer, and I recommend this book.
Review Date: 2/9/2009
I guess I'm in the minority here. I couldn't get into the story at all because it was so poorly written. I thought maybe it would get better if I kept reading, but I gave up after several chapters.
Review Date: 9/22/2007
Great writing from Joyce Carol Oates - a whole town focuses on a teenage boy accused of killing a man. They think and talk of him, not with disgust or revulsion, but with something akin to adoration. Everyone either claims to know him well or wishes fervently that they could know him and be a part of his life. And how does the object of all this worship and longing react? That's the interesting part!
Review Date: 1/3/2008
Helpful Score: 1
This is a well-written book that takes a young woman through a series of decisions - and emotions - when her fiancee is paralyzed after diving into unexpectedly shallow water. The fact that she had already been having doubts about their relationship before the accident and that she felt she might have been able to prevent the accident plays into her initial reactions. The ending is a bit surprising, but it follows her character.
Review Date: 6/11/2010
Helpful Score: 2
I thought this book was brilliantly written. The style seemed kind of dry at first, but then it really drew me in and I had to keep reading to find out the story behind the pictures. If I said any more, I'd ruin it for those who haven't read it - I highly recommend this book!
Review Date: 8/10/2007
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent book with interesting characters - some humorous, some troubled, some eccentric. I recommend it!
Review Date: 5/11/2009
This is the first book I've read by this author, and I doubt that I'll read any others. Her writing style seems to consist of a lot of sentence fragments, and after one or two chapters, I found it be irritating. Very irritating. If you like completely unrealistic fantasies (as in two men meeting two women and knowing in the first moment that each had found his lover, his soulmate, his reason for being, etc.) and you don't mind the writing style, then this is the book for you. Maybe. Maybe not.
Review Date: 3/8/2008
Helpful Score: 3
This is an exceptional book - even though I'm not "into" the Civil War, I found this to be very, very interesting. It explores the decisions and personalities on both sides of the Battle of Gettysburg, as well as the lay of the land, and helps you understand what went on throughout the planning and duration of the battle and why it was so devastating to all. You might think a novel based on one battle would be rather dry - not true, it is very readable. I recommend it!
Review Date: 6/28/2014
Excellent book - this was one I couldn't put down, had to keep reading to find out what had happened in the past.
Review Date: 12/8/2007
I always like Maeve Binchy's books. This one covers a lengthy period of time for two young women, starting in their childhood during WWII. You get to see the contrast between a very much alive (and lively) Irish family and the rather sad existence of a couple with no real sense of "family". The young women share their ups and downs as they cope with growing up, parents, lovers, and marriage - with some unusual twists along the way. The ending was completely unexpected - you'll have to read it!
Review Date: 9/1/2009
Helpful Score: 1
This book contains The Lilac Bus and the Dublin 4 stories. The Lilac Bus is the chosen means of transportation for a group of individuals who travel home from Dublin every weekend. Each person has his or her unique personality and fears/hopes/foibles, and a chapter is devoted to each one's story which overlaps one or more of the other passengers' stories. The Dublin 4 is (as you might expect) a series of four stories about people living in Dublin. Although I don't usually read short stories, I enjoyed everything in this book and highly recommend it!
Review Date: 8/11/2007
This is a great book for introducing children to the idea of reading and writing poetry. A young boy who doesn't think he could ever like or write poetry ends up doing just that, progressing from very simple lines to the story of his much-loved dog. The format of the book is nicely laid out and easily read - probably best for 4th-5th graders.
Review Date: 12/8/2007
Helpful Score: 1
I read this after enjoying another of Ann Patchett's books. The setting for this book, a home for unwed pregnant girls, was unusual, and Rose, the main character, had a complex personality. She craved freedom, yet stayed for years as the cook at the home, and because of her need for freedom, lied her way through her years there. Although I think she came to love some of the people around her, she remained an enigma to those who loved her. I recommend this book!
Review Date: 8/10/2007
Helpful Score: 1
I recommend this book to all parents and also to anyone who was bullied or who realizes he/she was a bully in past years. Since she went through it - and survived - Ms. Blanco offers not only her story but insight into what does and does not help kids who are tormented. Some of the events are appalling - how can people be so horrible to someone because she's "different" - and show just how important it is (for some) to be accepted by their peers, even when it means hurting others. The ending, although happy, is surprising when you find out how the events are remembered by the bullies.
Review Date: 1/29/2011
I read this book because I had read another of Johansen's books and found it to be pretty good. I didn't realize this was going to be a mindless romance story (and it was all I had to read on a long flight). If you like romance fiction with a pretty-boy hunk, this is for you. If you want any kind of a half-way believable plot with characters that might resemble real people, find another book!
Review Date: 1/2/2022
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