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Review Date: 11/19/2008
Helpful Score: 2
What a fun book! Weezie is a "picker" - she haunts garage sales, estate sales and dumpsters looking for antiques and treasures. She is living in a carriage house in the historic district of Savannah. Her ex-husband got custody of their refurbished townhome across the yard. He and his fiance are living there making her life miserable. When Weezie discovers the fiance's body at an estate sale stakeout, she is a prime suspect....
The characters are wonderful, the plot moves quickly, and the ending was very satisfying. I highly recommend this!
The characters are wonderful, the plot moves quickly, and the ending was very satisfying. I highly recommend this!
Review Date: 3/11/2009
Helpful Score: 2
This was the first time I've read this author. I think I will read more of her books. This was a wonderful read chronicling the lives of friends who "re-discover" each other due to the untimely death of one of their own. They are all at that "mid-life" point, which means a lot of soulsearching and life changes. Sometimes I find books with multiple main characters to be confusing, but not this one. I truly identified with, and enjoyed, all the characters and their development. Of course, one of my favorite movies of all time is The Big Chill, and this was very similar.
Review Date: 4/21/2009
This was an amazing book with an amazing main character, Shae-Lynn. I could not put the book down. The author's narrative and description were flawless. I admit to being fascinated with coal miners, since both my grandfathers worked in the Penna mines. But the mines are just a subset of the book. It is really a book about how a character is molded from childhood into adulthood. It is at times heartbreaking, almost infuriating, but also quite enlightening. And, in the end, triumphant.
Five stars...... without reservation.
Five stars...... without reservation.
Review Date: 9/21/2008
Helpful Score: 1
I loved this book. It is a nostalgic snapshot of smalltown American life in the 20th century. The book moves through the decades from the 40s to the 90s. The characters, from the youngest to the oldest, are charming and lovable. She really brings the characters to life, with all their quirks and eccentricities. And there are a lot of characters, all connected by friendship or family ties in this wonderful small town. And even though she jumps around from person to person, it never gets confusing, and you are treated to the type of relationships forged by close friends and family. There are moments that will make you laugh out loud, and moments that will touch your heart. It is, at times, poignant but not overly sweet. Following the families and friends as they grow up and grow older through the years is a treat. She brings most of the characters back in the sequel to this book, "Can't Wait to Get to Heaven". I can hardly wait to read that one!
Review Date: 2/13/2010
Helpful Score: 3
After reading some reviews, I approached this book with caution. Words like "darker", "drug use", etc. made me apprehensive. Yes, it was all of that, but it was still a compelling read. As is usual with Alice Hoffman books, I had a difficult time putting it down. I thought the story was very good, the characters well-developed, and her usual symbolism was in abundance. Sometimes her endings are ambiguous and not neatly tied up, but I have come to expect that from Ms. Hoffman. And in most cases (including this one), a tidy ending would nullify the richness of the story. No pat endings for her! To me, it was a satisfying read. I loved it.
Review Date: 11/12/2007
Helpful Score: 9
It is a work of fiction, but sometimes reads like non-fiction. I found myself absorbed in it. Yes, it is an incomplete work. It is tragic that the author was killed before it could be completed. I found it to be a fascinating glimpse into the personal horrors and human reactions to war. The appendices tell the rest of the story, and that story is true and more tragic than anything the author could have penned.
If you are looking for a classic start-to-finish novel, this is probably not going to be a satisfying read. If you are a WWII history buff, this story about the German conquest/occupation of France will not disappoint you. I personally loved it and finished it in only two days. I could not put it down.
If you are looking for a classic start-to-finish novel, this is probably not going to be a satisfying read. If you are a WWII history buff, this story about the German conquest/occupation of France will not disappoint you. I personally loved it and finished it in only two days. I could not put it down.
Twelve Mighty Orphans: The Inspiring True Story of the Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
5
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
5
Review Date: 11/6/2007
Great book! It's a true story that is at times heartbreaking and other times inspiring. Because it is a true story, it is not wrapped up into the ultimate happy ending. But it leaves you satisfied all the same. Living in Texas, the descriptions and the locations are very familiar. It would not surprise me if this book became a movie.
Twenty Thousand Roads: The Ballad of Gram Parsons and His Cosmic American Music
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
3
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
3
Review Date: 7/13/2008
This book haunts me. The author exhaustively researched Parsons' tragic life, from birth to death. The story begins with his tragic family - a father's suicide when he was 12 years old, an alcoholic mother, a very wealthy southern upbringing, etc. The book is also chronicle of the music scene in the late 60s/early 70s. To me, it was a tragedy of a man with a vision who couldn't get out of his own way. He was self-destructive, but gifted. I have always believed that Parsons doesn't get the credit he deserves, but it may be that while his peers respected his talent, they also despised the fact that he was a liability to himself and everyone around him. The biggest shame is that he met the perfect partner in Emmylou Harris and had just begun to explore that partnership. I really believe that he would have become a legend if they had the opportunity for more collaboration. If you've never heard their take on "Love Hurts", get thee to youtube and check it out. It is hauntingly beautiful.
I suggest that you have Parsons music handy while you are reading this book. The author gives the most incredible information on almost a song-by-song basis. I find myself using the book as a reference when listening to the music. For that reason, this is one book I am going to keep for a while. It is an encyclopedia of Parsons work that is a perfect accompanimate to his music.
I suggest that you have Parsons music handy while you are reading this book. The author gives the most incredible information on almost a song-by-song basis. I find myself using the book as a reference when listening to the music. For that reason, this is one book I am going to keep for a while. It is an encyclopedia of Parsons work that is a perfect accompanimate to his music.
Review Date: 10/29/2008
Helpful Score: 10
This book is about a family in Alabama during the depression. The story begins with a baby being dropped into the family well. Although that really isn't the main theme of the story, it is interwoven through the narrative. This is a book about a family struggling to survive in hard times. It is about compassion for your fellow man. It is about the doubts of a young girl who wonders whether there is something else in her future besides being a wife and mother. Also, race relations, and labor struggles, hopes, dreams and disappointments. I know that sounds like a lot to cover in one story, but it is very well written and compelling. I am the granddaughter of coalminers, so I found that part of the story especially interesting.
I loved the story of this family, especially the relationship between the parents and their children. The struggles of the family in hard times were long and difficult, and yet the parents taught by example the need to always be compassionate and charitable, even though you have very little of your own.
I loved the story of this family, especially the relationship between the parents and their children. The struggles of the family in hard times were long and difficult, and yet the parents taught by example the need to always be compassionate and charitable, even though you have very little of your own.
Review Date: 9/7/2009
Helpful Score: 2
An extremely well-written book. Two sisters, 11 and 15, disappear at a mall. Thirty years later, a mystery woman claims to be one of the sisters. The book toggles back and forth between present and past times. It is a bit timely since the true story of Jaycee Dugard has been in the news. The only problem that I have with this book is that the main character, the returning sister, seems to be rather unsympathetic, in my opinion.
The story of the parents and the detective involved in the case was very strong. I was not surprised at the ending, even though it was supposed to be shocking. It was a good read though and I finished it quickly.
The story of the parents and the detective involved in the case was very strong. I was not surprised at the ending, even though it was supposed to be shocking. It was a good read though and I finished it quickly.
Review Date: 10/15/2007
This is a wonderful story about people coping with MS. If you have MS, or a loved one with MS, this is a very inspiring read.
Review Date: 5/8/2010
Anyone who experienced parochial school in the 60s, 70s (myself included) will laugh out loud at many events in this book. This was an enjoyable, fun read. I finished it in one day - highly recommend it!
Review Date: 4/19/2010
I can sum this book up in one sentence: I thought it was a waste of time. The plot has been done before, and much better. 1984 anyone? The characters were one-dimensional. I suppose it is written for a much younger audience. I definitely would not recommend it.
Review Date: 5/6/2010
Helpful Score: 4
An incredibly disturbing book. Very disturbing. There was no resolution to the story either. Thank goodness it was a very fast read, because I would have felt that my time was wasted otherwise. The peripheral characters were undeveloped, and there was really no back-story to the main character. This psychotic individual was just dropped onto the pages and there was nothing sympathetic about him, nor were there any clues given as to how he became so twisted. I felt like I needed to take a shower after reading this because it just made me feel soiled. Not a pleasant read.
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