This book is an eye-opener and heart-breaker! Who knew how the poverty-stricken coped with the idea of a hurricane approaching and finally hitting Bois Sauvage, Mississippi. The family is so real - the mother has just died having her fourth child. The oldest, Randall, is hoping for his school to pay his way to a basketball camp; the second son, Skeetah, is devoted to his pitbull, China, and her newborn puppies. But the main character, Esch, is a 14-year-old girl who discovers she is pregnant by one of their circle of "friends". We live the prelude to Hurricane Katrina thru Esch.
I hope this author writes more books - she is a poet with descriptive words and phrases.

It's been a long time since I've read a book this good. The characters are from all over - an evangelical Christian family discovers their connection with Muslims from Pakistan and Iraq during the War on Terror. The Christian matriarch, Faith, is a woman of incredible compassion and bravery - in the world but not to her family. The world of the Muslim woman is heartbreaking.
I love the meaning of the "sweetness of tears":"Tears are proof that there is love in the world. Tears are only bitter when we cry selfishly for ourselves...tears that flow from the love in your heart" for others are sweet tears - let them fall.

This book began as if it were going to be an indictment of what American has become as a result of the Patriot Act, and it could have been. An innocent man, taken in by the FBI, losing all his "friends" (including his rabbi), smeared in the media and finally expected to plead guilty of a crime for which he had been set up.

Instead, it morphed into a Danielle Steel story about his daughter running away to Israel and meeting a man who just happened to be able to prove her father was innocent all along - not once, but twice. Gosh, what a coincidence!
It was a good read - but unbelievable.

Although I can't imagine living in a polygamist situation, the lives of these women were completely believable. Since it was set in "modern-day" Nigeria, I was expecting it to compare to Alexander McCall Smith's series set in Botswana. Absolutely nothing like it except for the talent of the author.
Though you begin knowing Baba Segi and his wives as a whole family, each one has a complicated life leading up to this strange living situation. I could not imagine why an educated modern woman would want to become a part of this patriarchal "kingdom" until I read of her background. Likewise, each wife has a unique story of her own before becoming what she is.
The author is a poet and this is her first novel. I certainly hope she writes more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one.

What a miserable life this book's characters live. I found the only redeeming things about this book were excellent wording and the idea that we are more than rich compared to these poor people. I can't imagine living like they live - working for no pay; living in atrocious conditions; not even toilet paper! And a lot of the book was about what toilet paper is needed for...

I didn't see any point in the descriptions of filthy living - beatings, bodily functions, etc. In fact, I felt as if the author were on drugs while writing the book.

When I first picked up this book, I felt I knew who was "stuffing" us. We are stuffing ourselves. Of course, we are, but it's not that simple and we shouldn't take on all the guilt.

Naturally, if something doesn't taste good, we're not tempted to eat it. But what makes it taste good? Usually FAT and sugar. Comfort food almost always contains one or both of these culprits. But how can food manufacturing companies make a product taste good and also be good for us? They really are trying to do just that. This is the premise of this informative and easily readable book.

Not by banning "bad" foods, but by making them more healthy. I was relieved to know there are successful companies who are researching our obesity problem just as some energy companies are researching viable alternative energy sources. If you want to read about some good news for a change, this will fit the bill.

It’s hard to believe this book was written for young adults. Everyone should read it.
It’s not just the plot that will draw you into this book. It’s the way it’s written that will hold you just as enthralled. Narrated by Death, colors are used to describe the surroundings as souls are taken up. Within the beautiful words is an ugly world of Nazi Germany during World War 2.

The main character, Leisel, goes through more tragedy in her young life (not short life, for she lives longer than almost every other character in the book) than we can imagine. The theme of the book, while touching on the fate of German Jews, is centered around poor non-Jewish Germans of that awful time. Leisel’s most precious possessions are books she first finds, then begins stealing. She uses them to comfort her neighbors while they are hiding in a basement during the air raids.

The characters in this book illustrate in a completely readable fashion the history of China. Each generation of these amazing women has its own happiness and tragedy. Their lives made me appreciate what we as Americans take for granted every day. They were poor beyond imagining, but their faith and their courage unshakable. You don't have to be familiar with Chinese food to realize what it signified and how it brought the women together, but at the end you will be.

This is a highly readable book - you will have a hard time putting it down.

I had a hard time reading this book. It's very well written, but I feel it would be enjoyed only by an artist or someone with an art background.The story is lost in all the colors, techniques and language of art.
The characters themselves were frustrating. So selfish and self-consumed. And the locations - from England to Paris to Italy - so typical of artists. The only real character in the book was the protagonist's friend, Anne, who showed up too infrequently.
I did not care for the book - in fact, I was relieved when I finished it.