OHMYSOUL I could not put this book down. Judging by this reading alone, Joshilyn Jackson is quite the gifted author and I will now read every other one of her books I can find. The story is so intricately woven around a small Southern family - mostly females (and all that entails!) - caught in the web of tradition, correctness, life and human nature. It was funny, sad, happy and thought-provoking and I didn't realize just how puzzled I was about the title until it clicked. Oh my! A perfectly wonderful read!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this hard-to-put-down story of a ten year old white girl, taken captive by the Indians that killed her parents, then taken back and returned to her family some four years later. I remember enough of my Oklahoma and Plains Indians history courses to know the events ring true, related in such a way to have genuinely touched my heart. I would not hesitate to read another work from Paulette Jiles, and highly recommend this book.

Fast becoming my favorite author, every book I've read by Ms. Umriger becoms my new favorite novel. This one also takes place in India, exploring the lives and tenuous but tender relationship between a monied woman and her dedicated long-term help. In an interview, the author said it took her six months to write this story which she has been working on her entire like. Apparently, she was raised in a home with help, and the relationship's complexities are fleshed out like someone with a huge heart, and first hand experience. Very well done.

An unconventional family with an unconventional story - I read it in a single sitting while sitting at the beach. Each family member is quirky, but believable, and the storyline takes many twists and turns until the surprisingly satisfying ending. It's basically the story about what remains of a blended family after the actual owner of the home passes away and none of the rest of them move out - or move on - until a whirlwind wedding changes everything for all of them. It was the perfect book for a lazy afternoon!

I love reading a well-written book (as this was) with a unique story line (as this has) and especially one where I only THINK I know what is coming next (which was also true of The Headmaster's Wife). I thoroughly enjoyed reading this in one day (a three-hour flight). It was an easy read, with a compelling plot, and quite surprising twists and turns. If the ending had been more believable (or at least more satisfying) I would have given it five stars. The acknowledgements were very enlightening at the end, however, and helped to clear some of my unsettled thoughts about the novel. That being said, I plan to read more of Greene and have no doubt I will discover some five stars there.

Thrity Umrigar is my new favorite author. This is the third of her books (in a row!) I have read now, and each have been unique, powerful, and wonderful reads. The author is a great story-teller, character developer, and plot line weaver. What talent!
This story involves the lives of an American couple who lose their only son, and try to repair their hearts and marriage with a fresh start in India only to find themselves at odds with each other's political views and an involvement with another bright young boy. Their tragic beginning unfortunately leads to an even more tragic ending as they handle (and do not handle) grief in their own divergent ways.

The brief descriptive preview of the book drew my attention immediately. I thought I knew by the title where the book was going, and the author's choice of style - going from one voice to the other of the two voices back and forth throughout the novel - seemed to confirm my suspicions. Artfully describing two different worlds, with a subject matter very much on the minds and hearts of most Americans today, it was very much worth the read.

The two women from vastly different circumstances told very similar stories. Both mothers are broken-hearted over loss, but both are also strong, resilient, and capable fighters. The writer wrote convincingly from each of the two perspectives. There was no sense of prejudice for one viewpoint or the other, no over-dramatization, no hints of a political or moral point of view whatsoever.

I felt this was a well-written and believable narrative that evoked both sympathy and anger over some of the issues we are faced with today. The easy flowing story highlighted the dichotomy between protecting our borders, and protecting the welfare of the endangered. The writer exemplified the difficult balance that lies between protection for current laws on the one hand, and protecting those who would break them on the other, subtly suggesting there is no simple 'one size fits all' answer.

The ending was bittersweet, but satisfying. I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend this book!

The Lion Seeker has a very good storyline and is an intricate weave of history, character development and cultural differences in South Africa as World War II looms on the horizon of one Jewish family. Certainly an excellent work for a first-time novelist, the book is a rich blend of Shindler's List, The Godfather, and Sophie's Choice.
Occasionally difficult vernacular at time slows the reading flow at times, but it also adds to the development of place and time for this serious novel. The main character is not always likable - but none of them are, really.
Halfway through the book, the description of and meaning behind Lion's Rock was so well written, I thought it would have been worth the read if it had ended there. While remaining important, and revisited later, things were actually just getting started at that point.
And it was certainly worth the time invested to finish the book.

This was a great read that kept my interest piqued to the end. The back-and-forth-by-chapter method of character development and plot building was both unique and effective.
While you become aware that these two women know each other, only one of them is currently aware of a past relationship, but the details are not immediately clear. A constant question of whether a simple revisiting of history or a more menacing curiosity kept me intrigued, and the reason behind this interest in an old acquaintance remains a mystery until the last chapter.
However, I found the final wrapping up of loose ends in that last chapter to be less than satisfying, and am anxious now to read other reviews to see what I missed!
On a side note! the book cover of my copy was spot on. Both the title and author's name were duplicated in contrasting fonts in black on a solid dark red background. Perfect!

This novel tackles 'love and war' from a primarily female perspective offering insights from opposing perspectives. The language is rich, descriptive and compelling, as is the storyline. A fast and rewarding read, it was both thought provoking and emotionally engaging. Centering on the disturbing conflict in Sri Lanka, relationships and families are woven close together on one hand, divided and torn apart on the other. As a central character tried to explain the situation, "It is a war between equally corrupt forces . . . clear distinctions . . . moral certainty . . . " does not exist.

I discovered that I tend to read too fast! This novel encouraged me to slow down in order to more fully appreciate and better understand the cultural and behavioral opposites at work, as well to simply appreciate and enjoy the work of this creative wordsmith.