| |
|
The Resurrectionist
Jack O'Connell
Algonquin Books, 2008
A powerfully entertaining page turner
+ A Real Worcester Tornado!
+ Kept me interested:
I hadn't read any of Jack O'Connell's novels before so I wasn't sure what to expect. What I got really impressed me. O'Connell shows he can is a master of suspense, drama, science-fiction and fantasy. The story is well narrated and constructed -- you don't know where you're going, but you don't ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The White Tiger: A Novel
Aravind Adiga
Free Press, 2008
Ehalivan 2
+ Incredible Journey Through A Changing India
+ Finely perceived
+ Brilliant first novel!
+ Dear Mr Premier, there are some things about India you should know...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Gift of Rain: A Novel
Tan Twan Eng
Weinstein Books, 2008
Luminous, Sweeping Epic With a Unique and Complex Hero
+ An entertaining, sometimes exhilirating novel
+ Wonderful Book
+ truly a gift
+ I am in awe
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Condition: A Novel
Jennifer Haigh
Harper, 2008
I loved this book!
+ Fan Letter
+ Didn't want it to end
Ultimately any story told is only as good as the voice telling it. Jennifer Haigh's voice is pure gold.
I loved this book because of Jennifer's ability to mine the depths of her character's minds and hearts and convey it with wit, charm, intelligence and humanity. She weaves the tale of these ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The God of War: A Novel
Marisa Silver
Simon & Schuster, 2008
The God Of War
+ Good story
+ Marisa Silver and THE GOD OF WAR...and a boy named ARES RAMIREZ
+ The God of War
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Philosopher's Apprentice: A Novel
James Morrow
William Morrow, 2008
A fun, amusing read, with many dashes of philosophy
+ To Morrow, tomorrow
+ Four Stars
A very good read, with a setting in the science fiction present. Lots of fun playing with philosophy and how it can or cannot infuse your life. A woman clones younger versions of herself, then hires moral counsellors to fill in the gaps in their upbringing (or lack thereof). Explores how this ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Enchantress of Florence: A Novel
Salman Rushdie
Random House, 2008
Don't care
I just read about half of this novel and finally said to myself, I don't care. I don't care about the characters or what happens to them. I don't care about the story since I am not sure if there even is a story. I don't know what to think of it. I'm confused and I don't care. So why am I ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Beautiful Children: A Novel
Charles Bock
Random House, 2008
decent
somewhat disappointing after all the media attention this book received. can just picture Bock sitting in his dark little apartment, relishing his every sentence. not that there's anything wrong with that...but the writing seems too self-conscious. reminds me of a cheesy film noir. the theme ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Willing
Scott Spencer
Ecco, 2008
**SPOILER REVIEW**
+ Willing Reader
***SPOILER REVIEW*** Read no further if you don't want to know the ending...
I just finished this book, and was amazed at how it turned out. I read the other reviews to see if I was on the right track with my interpretation, but no one seems to agree with me. At first I was quite disappointed and ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Unaccustomed Earth
Jhumpa Lahiri
Knopf, 2008
Another well-written Lahiri book
+ Human nature and Indian culture in a beautiful collection of stories
+ Another great book by Lahiri
For those who have already read Ms. Lahiri's stories before and would like to have more of the same (trials and tribulations of Indian immigrants in a new country)this is a perfect sequel. Apart from that, it is a lovely book to read too that I enjoyed every bit. However, as Ms Lahiri shows great ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Reserve
Russell Banks
Harper, 2008
UNRESERVED loss of innocence...
Russell Banks never does take the reader quite to the moment of the explosion of the Hindenburg.
But that image - haunting, ominous, and looming - weaves through the pages of The Reserve to suggest what is one of its overarching themes... loss of innocence - as it applies to the novel's individual ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Plague of Doves: A Novel
Louise Erdrich
Harper, 2008
The interconnectedness of everything
+ Magnificent
+ The Ways We Need Each Other
+ Disjointed, but still Pretty Good
+ Plague of Doves
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Outlander
Gil Adamson
Ecco, 2008
`Abundance lay about her but she starved'
+ Read Out Loud
+ Great Read
In 1903, a newly widowed young woman of 19 is escaping the consequences of both the murder of her husband and the events surrounding it. Her brothers-in-law are intent on catching her to make her face justice. This sets the scene for a brutal journey through the cold western wilderness of the ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Story of a Marriage: A Novel
Andrew Sean Greer
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008
A multi-layered shimmer that bedazzles
+ Ultimately rewarding
+ "This is a war story. It was not meant to be."
Andrew Sean Greer is a riot of talent. He carves his words with such precision that one can have no choice but to be surrender to his writing. His works, including Story of a Marriage, always deal with the subtle underplay of the human mind, and ultimately reveal the fragility of our existence.
I ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
World Without End
Ken Follett
Dutton Adult, 2007
a wonderful read
+ Maybe not Pillars, but still good quality
+ Compelling
This was even better than Pillars of the Earth. A gripping tale with well developed characters and plot. It's an interesting look into life in the 14th century.
|
|
|
|
|
|
