This book was a good read. It caught my attention right away and never let go. Paula McLain did an excellent job of writing & there was a lot of historical famous names that added to the story. I knew Hemingway for a great writer, but learned the other side of his life, which had a lot of hard moments to get through. Though he was a brilliant writer, in the end was it all worth it. I high recommend this book for book club read.

Based on the description of this book, and it's relatively short length, I had expected to devour it in one sitting. But I never really 'bonded' with the characters, even though I did like them. I rated this book a 4 because this might have been the wrong time for me to read such a book. The author did fascinate me with her exceptional prose; the kind that make you go back and reread a phrase, look up from the page and chew on it for a few minutes. If ever I have a rainy day with nothing to do I'd like to pull this book down and give it a second go.

Don't be misled -- this tiny book packs a huge punch; right to your heart. The author's simplistic and authentic voice gives those of us who've not walked through the dark valley of grief a true sense of the enormity of his loss. It's not often you find a book that lets you shed a tear and a smile on the same turn of a page. I'm recommending this book to friends, but hanging onto my copy!

This book surprised me; although I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting. It is a warm and witty story juxtaposed against an insight on HIV/AIDS in Rwanda and the lingering effects of genocide. Its a enjoyable book that opens the readers eyes to appreciate the gifts of life. Very well written. Recommend.

I enjoyed reading this book. While it is somewhat of a 'lightweight' - it is difficult to suspend disbelief in the characters' larger-than-life circumstances - it is a fast, easy read. So once you just 'go with it', the story is enjoyable. I was a little disturbed by the way the author has every character involved in an extramarital affair (except the ones she kills off); all of whom having married the wrong person ~ definitely overdone. All in all - a good read airplane or beach read. But, best not to put it in front of the unread books in line waiting their turn on your bookshelf.

I thought the book was going to be a quick easy read, and the brief sounded really interesting. I was very disappointed in it. Pearl seemed to be a self-centered person who only thought of herself. She gets Hallie, a new young promising student, and really messes her around. Pearl seemed to retaliate in many childish situations that she could not face. Hallie came from a very bad home situation and, I thought, Pearl was trying to live her life through Hallie's. Pearl was very childish in some of the decisions that she thought she was helping Hallie with and this made Hallie's life more dysfunctional.

Pearl needed to get her own life in order before trying to fix everyone else around her. By the end of the book, i was really disappointed in Pearl's choice of men and was more than ready to get through with the book.

This book is not one that I would recommend at all, I was more than glad to get to the end of it

The book was hard to get into. It kept switching back & forth between dad's childhood & present & Prentice's childhood & his present. There were times that you were left hanging, not knowing where the theme was going next. I felt it did not let you know there was a mystery until the last 100 pages or so. I can not recommend this book. I would compare it to "The History of Love" (which I finished reading before this one) and had the same feelings for it.