I was really excited to receive this as a First Impressions book and expected that I would love it because the plot intrigued me and I love Hawaii. But I didn’t love it and am hesitant to recommend it to serious readers.
The book had all of the elements that I look for in a book but I just couldn’t connect with the characters other than Chris, who seemed too hood to be true, and the youngest daughter, who never failed to amuse and delight me. I wish the mother would have had some of that sparkle.
Lindsey’s decision to buy property unseen and to sink everything she had into a business that she knew absolutely nothing about did not fit with her being highly educated and devoted to her three children. Perhaps this poor decision could be attributed to the shock of her husband’s death/disappearance,
I loved the descriptions of the land and of the family’s struggles to fit in. The writing was well crafted but I felt like I was reading a screenplay that would be fleshed out by the actors making it real. I wouldn’t be surprised if the movie rights were already sold; the plot and characters were made for the big screen.
I was happily surprised by the unexpected twist that the book took and this saved the book for me. Before this event, the plot seemed predictable and even a bit contrived I wondered if the handsome stranger who just happened to do all of the necessary electrical work and give solid business advice would be the savior of this impulsive decision to run a business that she knew absolutely nothing about.
I’m happy that I read the book first, but am looking forward to seeing the movie version.

I feel bad about not being able to rate this book higher because 1) I really liked Ms Chang's other books and 2) because it is very well written. That being said, it was a struggle for me to finish. I didn't like any of the characters and the plot seemed a bit contrived in places.

I don't know to whom I would recommend this book although it would be a good choice for book clubs interested in discussing themes of complicated family relationships, the immigrant experience, and family owned businesses.

I would actually rate this book at 3.5 in that it was better than average but not quite 4 stars. As I read Home Sweet Home, I felt like I was reading a screenplay rather than a novel. The writing tended to be utilitarian rather than literary and many of the characters seemed like caricatures with a specific role to play. I realize that I was reading an uncorrected proof, but was frequently tempted to pull out my red pen. Hopefully a good editor will fix my biggest annoyances.

The story itself is a good one. It felt well researched and believable. I learned a lot about South Dakota, ranching, and the Joe McCathy era. The book's strengths in my opinion are the descriptions of ranching life and the quality of the dialogue.

Perhaps reviewers who like reading screenplays will rate this book more favorably than I did. That being said, I found it a satisfying and edifying read despite not being especially enjoyable.

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. I finished the book over a week ago and can't stop thinking about it. The haunting question that this book raises is "if you had a 50/50 chance of carrying a gene that would result in your early death from a horrible disease that had no cure, would you take the test to find out?" The book reads like a novel in that it is easy to read, has memorable characters, and is, at times a page turner. Unlike a novel, the characters are real people and their horrifying story is all too real, which means the author cannot promise a happy ending nor even a satisfying one. I was totally fascinated by the unfolding of the medical discoveries and research that were occurring around the world. The author connected the pieces in a way that was both informative and understandable.

I had a really hard time reviewing this book. I read the book non-stop about two weeks ago and can't stop thinking about it. This should merit a very positive review. It is also beautifully written. So what is my problem? The book is simply too full of cliches and stereotypes for me. Does the world need another book about a wealthy and beautiful college woman who falls for a talented but poor budding poet? Other characters in the book fall predictably into their assigned roles. I think book clubs could have great discussions using this book as a launching point.Obviously this is just my opinion, but I can't imagine many male readers who would like this book. In the acknowledgments the author claims that this is not autobiographical,yet his last paragraph leads me to believe that a memoir may have been a more honest way for him to tackle this story.

I have read a fair number of time travel novels, but Every Anxious Wave had some unique features. I especially liked the quirky characters, both main and secondary, who seemed real to me and kept the book from getting too weird. I also liked how the author used Chicago and Seattle locations to ground the story. Only allowing the wormhole to take travelers back to favorite rock concerts was an unexpected twist which I enjoyed. I personally didn't like the author's portrayal of the future, but I guarantee that this book will result in some lively discussions.

I LOVED this book! It made me laugh and cry and everything in between, and I hated to see it end. Despite knowing the inevitable outcome, I wanted to know everything there was to know about Rabbit Hayes and her family and friends. The universal themes of death and dying and coming to grips with saying good bye to a loved one were grounded in the specific details of a specific person in modern day Ireland. I highly recommend this book.

This book is better than good, but I only give 5's to books I think everyone should read. That being said, Still Life Las Vegas is a great read for those who are willing to read something out-of-the ordinary. The most noteworthy feature of this book are the periodic graphic novel inserts. I found myself looking forward to the next installment. I was surprised to learn that this is the author's first novel because of both the polished language and the emotional depth. I cared about the characters and loved the quirky details. Despite some of the crazy plot situations, I found the book believable and enjoyable.

In some respects, I wish I had never read this book. While it is definitely well-written (no pun intended), has strong characters, and raises some critical questions, the book is haunting and I can't get disturbing images out of my head. This will be a great selection for book clubs and for readers who like to grapple with difficult issues. I would hesitate to recommend The Well without this disclaimer. I am sad after reading this book but am in awe of the writer who was able to create this world. She deftly balances the beauty of the land with the variety of troubled relationships of the characters.

This is a disturbing novel. I can't say that I "liked" it, but I can't stop thinking about it. Perhaps the situation and the dialogue struck a nerve with me and that is not always pleasant. We all yearn for second chances and forgiveness and we all hope that we will be noble in our suffering. By alternating the first person narrative among the three major characters, the author was able to convey the complexity of the issues and the strong pull of self. I strongly recommend this book for discussion groups and for people who do not require Hollywood endings from their novels.

This was a difficult review for me to write because I wanted to like the book more than I do. The premise of "what would you do in this situation?" intrigues me and as a medical thriller, the book is successful. I found myself reading late into the night engrossed in the story. Usually this is sufficient for me to consider a book above average and worth recommending. The problem arises, however, in that the main characters aren't believable, the minor characters are caricatures, and the dialogue is often awkward or stilted. Other than plot, the book doesn't have much to offer.

I only give 5's to "must reads". I was tempted to rate this book a 3 because some of the dialogue just didn't ring true and because I have read many other novels about being a girl in China. This being said, I couldn't stop reading The Scavenger's Daughter and am intrigued by the fact that it is the first in a forthcoming series. I look forward to reading the next book, both to see if the writing improves, but more importantly because I've grown attached to the characters. I think this will be an excellent book for discussion, and will be an eye-opener for readers unfamiliar with this recent period in Chinese history.

The Good House is both enjoyable and well-written. It is the story of Hildy Good, the 7th generation descendant of Sarah Good, who was persecuted as a witch during the infamous Salem witch hunt. Hildy is the narrator of this book and I thoroughly enjoyed her insights and opinions about the people and events of her life. She refuses to admit, however, that she is an alcoholic in need of help. Despite this problem, she is a successful real estate broker, partly because of her ability to "read" people which she considers a party trick rather than a gift. Hildy is a complex character, whom I greatly enjoyed meeting. The plot feels contrived at times, but the book is well worth reading.

I simply cannot stop thinking about the characters in this book. I can't say that I enjoyed The Devil in Silver because it is so disturbing, but it is very well written and definitely worth reading. I kept reminding myself that this is fiction, this is fiction, but am haunted by the thought that it might actually be based on reality.

I agonized about giving this book 4 or 5 stars, but decided on 4 because despite the plot that kept me reading into the wee hours of the morning, and characters that I became quite interested in, the writing just didn't rate 5 stars. I think this book will be quite successful, and while I totally enjoyed reading it, I would pass it on to someone rather that keeping it.

This is an excellent book. I finished reading it 2 weeks ago and can't stop thinking about it. I was afraid that it was trying to ride on the success of Slumdog Millionaire, but I was dead wrong. This book stands strongly on its own strengths. Somehow I missed the fact that this is non-fiction, which makes its readability even more incredible.It affected me like a great novel does as opposed to a book about current events or journalist’s report. The characters are unforgettable and the fact that millions of people live in places like Annawadi is both eye-opening and heart-wrenching.

This is the most incredible book that I have read in years! It is in a league of its own and I predict that it will be a huge success. This is THE book that I plan to buy for family and friends.

This is one of the best books that I have read in a very long time. The author captures the tragedy of early-onset dementia in a skillfully crafted and very readable format. The characters are memorable and the interplay of their relationships added to the complexity of the book. I will definitely be recommending this book to both of my book clubs.