This was one of the best books I have read in ages! Imagine a novel that grips your entire being both physically and emotionally throughout the story. Every aspect of this story was so well crafted, from the scenery (I was always there with the characters), to the credibility of the storyline, to the characters. I cannot find any fault but highly, highly recommend reading this story that takes place at the end of slavery in the Caribbean. This book shares strength of character, love, fear, determination but mostly, hope.

I can't wait to read this author in the future…what a marvelous debut!

What a clever concept carried out by a cast of characters, from varied walks of life, with one thing in common…life has gotten a bit too difficult for each of them in different ways. Yet this storage facility has given them each a chance to escape, figure things out, and change their lives as their stories become intertwined.

Metropolis pulled me in & held my interest until the last part of the book when she managed to tie the ends up too neatly for my taste. Otherwise, I’d say this is another good read from a great author. I recommend you pick this one up!

I found myself drawn to this book as my dearest friend is legally blind and has been for almost 25 years. What I found was not what I expected. I did appreciate the author's honesty and style of sharing his story, but I often found myself thoroughly disgusted with his stubborn nature. I could not understand why he couldn't easily share his loss of sight with those who needed to know all around him. He brought many difficulties upon himself by not being open and honest in both his professional and personal life.
On the other hand, I was impressed with how much he was able to achieve with little help from others.

That being said, at the end of the book I sat and pondered and realized that I have full vision, have never been in such a difficult situation, and don't have a clue how I would have behaved in the same predicament. I do believe James Hill has redeemed himself by sharing it all now as it is never too late for others to learn from this honest, witty memoir.

I finished reading Mrs. March weeks ago, yet every time I look at this cover, I shudder. This psychological rollercoaster of a ride kept me reading to discover what was really going on in the mind of poor Mrs. March. At times one feels disgust for her, at other times pity. One can't really say too much lest it gives away too much. I can only say that poor Mrs. March is very much worth the read if you like digging into someone's mind to decipher what is truly going on. I now must read it one more time just in case I missed anything. What a wonderful character and a fine suspenseful story for a debut writer. I can't wait for her future books.

This story is based upon a true story of the wind telephone in Otsuchi, Japan, built by a gentleman upon the loss of his cousin as a way to deal with his grief. The location of this phone booth is a windy piece of land, thereby lifting your words off into the wind. The cover art and the story premise had me from the beginning and I was not disappointed.

This was a very quick read and I very much appreciated the extras thrown in to give more texture to the story, such as the playlist for the radio show, where Yui worked , on the night the gentleman called in to share about this phone booth, or what Yui’s mother and daughter were wearing on the day of the tsunami.

This story is basically about loss and coping, caring for others, finding one’s way out of grief into love and hope again. Dealing with loss is so very personal and having the wonderful phone booth as a healing device was very special for so many of the characters in this story.

This book was exactly what I needed at this time and I do think it will touch so many as we all deal with loss in many ways throughout our lives.

I applaud Anne Griffin for her ability to evoke so much emotion from the perspective of one old Irish man. By the end of the book it is clear that a simple act or word in one's life can, and does, have a ripple effect and often through generations. This is about how we love, work, live life and deal with all life has in store for us, the good and the bad. I could not put this book down!