This book was everything I enjoy reading in a novel--fictional memoir laced with historical fiction with an interesting, insightful main character ( Isaac). I was intrigued by the structure of the book which divided Isaac's life into 12 chapters, each covering a single day in his very long and very well lived life. The chapters eloquently transported me through the life passages of Isaac, with each highlighting a defining moment for him. Bart Yates effectively drew me into the heart and soul of Isaac. The emotions of Isaac during some of the harrowing moments of his experiences were palpable to me. This book would be an excellent choice for a book discussion group since the many cental theme in the book- family, friendship, love, loss, survival, -- would provide a plethora of topics to explore.

I look forward to reading some of Bart Yates' other works. Thank you for providing me with this complementary copy!

I really enjoyed reading this remarkable book for several reasons. The writing is beautiful, evoking in me a wide range of emotions which included sadness, anger, sorrow and shame for the abuse inflicted on Native Americans. I also felt hopeful and proud for these 3 women who persevered and moved forward with such power and love. As a young child with a vivid imagination, I could relate to finding comfort and companionship within the world of dolls. Each of the women's characters are well developed and the use of metaphors throughout the book was magical to me. The final part of the book successfully filled in a few "gaps", completing any lingering questions for me.

This novel would be a good choice for a book group, providing many interesting discussions.

I very much enjoyed this book and read it in a day and a half! Monika Helfer has created a personal and heart wrenching history of her family over the course of four generations. The origin of this story begins with the protagonist - Maria- and her enigmatic husband Josef raising their family in total isolation after they are shunned by the surrounding hostile village community. Most of the characters are richly developed. Maria perseveres as a proud yet tormented soul who has only ever desired to experience" one great love" in order for find her life worth living. The children survive the scorn and torment of the pious local villagers by developing resilience, determination and strong family bonds in the face of extreme hardship. I was deeply touched with one character in particular- the village postmaster- who forms a profoundly touching relationship with Maria. He embodies pure benevolence and symbolizes humanity at it's best. The author masterfully weaves in many themes surrounding wartime, isolation, survival, family love and loyalty. This novel is fully captivating, and therefore would be an excellent choice for book group discussions.

Our Missing Hearts is another example of the prolific mind of Celeste Ng, who has masterfully created an enthralling and engrossing story of the extraordinary bond between mother and child. This book contains everything that I cherish in a well written novel : suspense, excellent character development, deep thought provoking messages and beautiful prose .
I was particularly moved by the determination of Bird to reconnect with his mother whose profound love for him forced her to make decisions that no parent should ever have to make. Our Missing Hearts would be an excellent choice for a book club. The masterfully written sub plots broaden our understanding of "real life" situations encountered by many Americans in our current (and past) cultural climate. I can't wait to discuss this book with my own book group!

As a fan of historical fiction, this book provided me with a powerful account of the Dirty War in Argentina and is definitely worth reading if you are interested in learning about this period of time in our world's history. The author has written an informative, compelling narrative about the repression, violence and cover-up which defined the period of time from 1976- 1983.
I was particularly moved after learning of the emergence of the Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, which to this day, 40 years later continues to fight for justice for approximately 30,000 people who "disappeared" at the hands of the brutal military dictatorship during this time.
The story of the protagonist- Paloma Larrea and her determination to find her true identity is written in a heartfelt and compelling manner which drew me in at the very onset of this novel. I was able to connect with several of the other characters whose struggles were quite palpable. These pivotal characters are perhaps representative of thousands of individuals who continue to struggle and strive for the truth about missing loved ones. This is story needs to be told and Andrea Yaryura Clark is adept at capturing readers with a deeply touching and emotionally charged account of the many faces of humanity and the lives of those impacted by this brutal period of time.