Question: Is the story in a book?

Living in a dangerous world controlled by a weak, desperate queen, Charlie is harboring a dangerous secret. In her world, classes are drawn and enforced by the language you speak, and it is a crime punishable by death to know a language other than your own. Charlie doesn't just know another class's language--she knows them all. It's a difficult ability to hide, and her life depends on appearing ignorant. But one night, at an underground club, Charlie meets an intriguing young man, Max, who seems different from everyone else. This is quickly proven when she catches him speaking a language she's never heard before. Their encounter isn't by chance, and soon Charlie's world will be turned upside down.The Pledge is a dark and magical book with a very unique concept. Derting's world, which is a blend of dystopia and fantasy, is dangerous and full of hidden tunnels and carefully kept secrets that Charlie is slowly exposed to soon after meeting Max. Her family has sacrificed a great deal to keep her secret safe throughout her life, so she's always cautious, but she soon gets sucked into a conflict much bigger than herself. There are more than a few shocking surprises along the way--people who aren't at all what they appear, long-kept family secrets, and other secret abilities--that keep this book suspenseful and intriguing, and the threat of a queen who will stop at nothing to get what she wants is chilling. The book ends with a satisfying, open ending that will leaves room for a sequel in which hopefully many unanswered questions and unresolved issues will be addressed. The Pledge is an interesting departure from Derting's other work, but it is unique and promising.Cover Comments: I absolutely love this cover! How the girl's face is partially obscured, how the title is displayed, the darkness of it--it's so intriguing and mysterious! I think that this is one that a LOT of people will be drawn to!

Answer: that keep this book suspenseful and intriguing

Living in a dangerous world controlled by a weak, desperate queen, Charlie is harboring a dangerous secret. In her world, classes are drawn and enforced by the language you speak, and it is a crime punishable by death to know a language other than your own. Charlie doesn't just know another class's language--she knows them all. It's a difficult ability to hide, and her life depends on appearing ignorant. But one night, at an underground club, Charlie meets an intriguing young man, Max, who seems different from everyone else. This is quickly proven when she catches him speaking a language she's never heard before. Their encounter isn't by chance, and soon Charlie's world will be turned upside down. The Pledge is a dark and magical book with a very unique concept. Derting's world, which is a blend of dystopia and fantasy, is dangerous and full of hidden tunnels and carefully kept secrets that Charlie is slowly exposed to soon after meeting Max. Her family has sacrificed a great deal to keep her secret safe throughout her life, so she's always cautious, but she soon gets sucked into a conflict much bigger than herself. <hl> There are more than a few shocking surprises along the way--people who aren't at all what they appear, long-kept family secrets, and other secret abilities-- that keep this book suspenseful and intriguing , and the threat of a queen who will stop at nothing to get what she wants is chilling. <hl> The book ends with a satisfying, open ending that will leaves room for a sequel in which hopefully many unanswered questions and unresolved issues will be addressed. The Pledge is an interesting departure from Derting's other work, but it is unique and promising. Cover Comments: I absolutely love this cover! How the girl's face is partially obscured, how the title is displayed, the darkness of it--it's so intriguing and mysterious! I think that this is one that a LOT of people will be drawn to!

Living in a dangerous world controlled by a weak, desperate queen, Charlie is harboring a dangerous secret. In her world, classes are drawn and enforced by the language you speak, and it is a crime punishable by death to know a language other than your own. Charlie doesn't just know another class's language--she knows them all. It's a difficult ability to hide, and her life depends on appearing ignorant. But one night, at an underground club, Charlie meets an intriguing young man, Max, who seems different from everyone else. This is quickly proven when she catches him speaking a language she's never heard before. Their encounter isn't by chance, and soon Charlie's world will be turned upside down.The Pledge is a dark and magical book with a very unique concept. Derting's world, which is a blend of dystopia and fantasy, is dangerous and full of hidden tunnels and carefully kept secrets that Charlie is slowly exposed to soon after meeting Max. Her family has sacrificed a great deal to keep her secret safe throughout her life, so she's always cautious, but she soon gets sucked into a conflict much bigger than herself. There are more than a few shocking surprises along the way--people who aren't at all what they appear, long-kept family secrets, and other secret abilities--<hl> that keep this book suspenseful and intriguing <hl>, and the threat of a queen who will stop at nothing to get what she wants is chilling. The book ends with a satisfying, open ending that will leaves room for a sequel in which hopefully many unanswered questions and unresolved issues will be addressed. The Pledge is an interesting departure from Derting's other work, but it is unique and promising.Cover Comments: I absolutely love this cover! How the girl's face is partially obscured, how the title is displayed, the darkness of it--it's so intriguing and mysterious! I think that this is one that a LOT of people will be drawn to!

There are more than a few shocking surprises along the way--people who aren't at all what they appear, long-kept family secrets, and other secret abilities-- <hl> that keep this book suspenseful and intriguing <hl> , and the threat of a queen who will stop at nothing to get what she wants is chilling.


Question: How do you like the life?

Donna Tartt's writing is superb. The Goldfinch turns a piece of art into a talisman that carries more than one life through troubled times. I believe that art is redemptive but Tartt demonstrates this as fact in The Goldfinch. Theo Decker's life has been both tragic and unplanned while also riddled with fortunate turns of fate. This is what makes the story compelling. For instance, at the beginning of the story he survives an explosion in the Meteopolitan Museum of Art. His mother is killed and he ends up walking out of the museum carrying a valuable masterpiece by Fabritius. And if this isn't bad enough for you an alcohol and gambling addicted father shows up to stake a claim on Theo, hauling him off to Las Vegas and essentially abandoning him in a failed housing development where "even Dominoes won't deliver." At least half of my reading time was spent on the edge of my seat and the other half hoping for a break to get this kid/young man out of the hot water he kept pitching into head first. And along comes Boris Pavlikovsky, Theo's best friend and one of the most endearing hoodlums you'll ever meet. Like I said, the book is long but it's one of the best stories I've read. PERIOD!

Answer: His mother is killed

Donna Tartt's writing is superb. The Goldfinch turns a piece of art into a talisman that carries more than one life through troubled times. I believe that art is redemptive but Tartt demonstrates this as fact in The Goldfinch. Theo Decker's life has been both tragic and unplanned while also riddled with fortunate turns of fate. This is what makes the story compelling. For instance, at the beginning of the story he survives an explosion in the Meteopolitan Museum of Art. <hl> His mother is killed and he ends up walking out of the museum carrying a valuable masterpiece by Fabritius. <hl> And if this isn't bad enough for you an alcohol and gambling addicted father shows up to stake a claim on Theo, hauling him off to Las Vegas and essentially abandoning him in a failed housing development where "even Dominoes won't deliver." At least half of my reading time was spent on the edge of my seat and the other half hoping for a break to get this kid/young man out of the hot water he kept pitching into head first. And along comes Boris Pavlikovsky, Theo's best friend and one of the most endearing hoodlums you'll ever meet. Like I said, the book is long but it's one of the best stories I've read. PERIOD!

Donna Tartt's writing is superb. The Goldfinch turns a piece of art into a talisman that carries more than one life through troubled times. I believe that art is redemptive but Tartt demonstrates this as fact in The Goldfinch. Theo Decker's life has been both tragic and unplanned while also riddled with fortunate turns of fate. This is what makes the story compelling. For instance, at the beginning of the story he survives an explosion in the Meteopolitan Museum of Art. <hl> His mother is killed <hl> and he ends up walking out of the museum carrying a valuable masterpiece by Fabritius. And if this isn't bad enough for you an alcohol and gambling addicted father shows up to stake a claim on Theo, hauling him off to Las Vegas and essentially abandoning him in a failed housing development where "even Dominoes won't deliver." At least half of my reading time was spent on the edge of my seat and the other half hoping for a break to get this kid/young man out of the hot water he kept pitching into head first. And along comes Boris Pavlikovsky, Theo's best friend and one of the most endearing hoodlums you'll ever meet. Like I said, the book is long but it's one of the best stories I've read. PERIOD!


Question: How is people's opinion about the book?

An absolutely fantastic book! I cannot wait to read the next one! This book has everything - adventure, betrayal (lots and lots of betrayal), romance, and the characterization is excellent! I didn't feel like this book read like fantasy either. Aside from talk of dragons and The Others, it felt more like I was reading historical fiction. My favorite thing about the book is the way that each chapter is told from the viewpoint of a different character. It gave so much more insight into the characters and their way of thinking. Characterization is a very important part of a book for me. Also, no matter what I thought was coming, I was surprised! Sometimes, not pleasantly. It appears that Mr. Martin doesn't have a problem with letting you get attached to a character and then killing them off. That's okay though. It made for a very interesting read.

Answer: An absolutely fantastic book

An absolutely fantastic book !

<hl> An absolutely fantastic book ! <hl> I cannot wait to read the next one! This book has everything - adventure, betrayal (lots and lots of betrayal), romance, and the characterization is excellent! I didn't feel like this book read like fantasy either. Aside from talk of dragons and The Others, it felt more like I was reading historical fiction. My favorite thing about the book is the way that each chapter is told from the viewpoint of a different character. It gave so much more insight into the characters and their way of thinking. Characterization is a very important part of a book for me. Also, no matter what I thought was coming, I was surprised! Sometimes, not pleasantly. It appears that Mr. Martin doesn't have a problem with letting you get attached to a character and then killing them off. That's okay though. It made for a very interesting read.

<hl> An absolutely fantastic book <hl>! I cannot wait to read the next one! This book has everything - adventure, betrayal (lots and lots of betrayal), romance, and the characterization is excellent! I didn't feel like this book read like fantasy either. Aside from talk of dragons and The Others, it felt more like I was reading historical fiction. My favorite thing about the book is the way that each chapter is told from the viewpoint of a different character. It gave so much more insight into the characters and their way of thinking. Characterization is a very important part of a book for me. Also, no matter what I thought was coming, I was surprised! Sometimes, not pleasantly. It appears that Mr. Martin doesn't have a problem with letting you get attached to a character and then killing them off. That's okay though. It made for a very interesting read.

<hl> An absolutely fantastic book <hl> !


Question: How is the book?

I was noticing various books of the trilogy in people's hands wherever I went and kept seeing it mentioned in articles getting good reviews...so I decided to try it myself.It has its good points and bad.The bad is, the book doesn't just grab you in.  It is a slow start, and I mean SLOW.  The first 50 pages or so Mikael is recalling the conversation that started the libel judgment against him.  While I understand that the story is important to the book and it's ending, it was an excruciating chapter that took me days to get through.  Once that was over, the story still moved along snail paced, going back between the lives of Mikael and Lisbeth (the girl with the dragon tattoo) separately.I continued to struggle until page 218 of 590, when something finally happened that was different and got me page turning.  After that, the book seemed to take off and from then on I didn't struggle and in 2 days I had the rest read.The good....it really is a good story, once it gets going.  I figured the mystery before the book told me, but it was a good journey all the same.  The characters Mikael and Lisbeth are good, especially when they are together, which isn't until beyond the halfway point.  In that regard, I felt the description of the book was a little misleading.  But once they are working together, it becomes a really good story and the pace really picks up.In all, if you can get through the uneventful first 200 pages, the rest is worth the time.

Answer: the book doesn't just grab you in.  It is a slow start, and I mean SLOW.  The first 50 pages or so Mikael is recalling the conversation that started the libel judgment against him.  While I understand that the story is important to the book and it's ending, it was an excruciating chapter that took me days to get through.  Once that was over, the story still moved along snail paced, going back between the lives of Mikael and Lisbeth (the girl with the dragon tattoo) separately.I continued to struggle until page 218 of 590, when something finally happened that was different and got me page turning.  After that, the book seemed to take off and from then on I didn't struggle and in 2 days I had the rest read.The good....it really is a good story, once it gets going

I was noticing various books of the trilogy in people's hands wherever I went and kept seeing it mentioned in articles getting good reviews... so I decided to try it myself. It has its good points and bad. <hl> The bad is, the book doesn't just grab you in. It is a slow start, and I mean SLOW. The first 50 pages or so Mikael is recalling the conversation that started the libel judgment against him. While I understand that the story is important to the book and it's ending, it was an excruciating chapter that took me days to get through. Once that was over, the story still moved along snail paced, going back between the lives of Mikael and Lisbeth (the girl with the dragon tattoo) separately.I continued to struggle until page 218 of 590, when something finally happened that was different and got me page turning. After that, the book seemed to take off and from then on I didn't struggle and in 2 days I had the rest read.The good....it really is a good story, once it gets going . <hl> I figured the mystery before the book told me, but it was a good journey all the same. The characters Mikael and Lisbeth are good, especially when they are together, which isn't until beyond the halfway point. In that regard, I felt the description of the book was a little misleading. But once they are working together, it becomes a really good story and the pace really picks up. In all, if you can get through the uneventful first 200 pages, the rest is worth the time.

I was noticing various books of the trilogy in people's hands wherever I went and kept seeing it mentioned in articles getting good reviews...so I decided to try it myself.It has its good points and bad.The bad is, <hl> the book doesn't just grab you in. It is a slow start, and I mean SLOW. The first 50 pages or so Mikael is recalling the conversation that started the libel judgment against him. While I understand that the story is important to the book and it's ending, it was an excruciating chapter that took me days to get through. Once that was over, the story still moved along snail paced, going back between the lives of Mikael and Lisbeth (the girl with the dragon tattoo) separately.I continued to struggle until page 218 of 590, when something finally happened that was different and got me page turning. After that, the book seemed to take off and from then on I didn't struggle and in 2 days I had the rest read.The good....it really is a good story, once it gets going <hl>. I figured the mystery before the book told me, but it was a good journey all the same. The characters Mikael and Lisbeth are good, especially when they are together, which isn't until beyond the halfway point. In that regard, I felt the description of the book was a little misleading. But once they are working together, it becomes a really good story and the pace really picks up.In all, if you can get through the uneventful first 200 pages, the rest is worth the time.

The bad is, <hl> the book doesn't just grab you in. It is a slow start, and I mean SLOW. The first 50 pages or so Mikael is recalling the conversation that started the libel judgment against him. While I understand that the story is important to the book and it's ending, it was an excruciating chapter that took me days to get through. Once that was over, the story still moved along snail paced, going back between the lives of Mikael and Lisbeth (the girl with the dragon tattoo) separately.I continued to struggle until page 218 of 590, when something finally happened that was different and got me page turning. After that, the book seemed to take off and from then on I didn't struggle and in 2 days I had the rest read.The good....it really is a good story, once it gets going <hl> .


Question: Is this book based on rumor of real story?

The first thing to say is that not everyone will find OOTP better than the previous books. The tone is darker, Harry is very upset and feels different than the other books and character development is much stronger while plot twists and turns are down-played.But for me this is just an incredible book! The first two chapters are, in my opinion, the best two that JK Rowling has ever written. From there things slow a little bit but my interest did not waiver one time.We find out much more about the past of Sirius, Snape and Harry's own father James than we had done. Perhaps most importantly we find out Trelawney's first prediction and why Dumbledore has kept Harry in the dark up till now.Many questions are answered in this book but many are left open and, as it ends we wonder, now that the wizarding world is more united, what is the Dark Lord going to do about it? Will Harry fulfill his destiny or will Voldemort overcome him?And, on a lighter side, will Fred & George become the big kingpins on Diagon Alley, is Hermione wearing her Christmas present from Ron and what were there OWL results!On a practical note, those who do not have much experience of English slang might want to keep a British dictionary handy with this one - the book seems less "translated" than the others and much better for it.Finally, the wait was long but oh so worth it!

Answer: books

<hl> The first thing to say is that not everyone will find OOTP better than the previous books . <hl> The tone is darker, Harry is very upset and feels different than the other books and character development is much stronger while plot twists and turns are down-played. But for me this is just an incredible book! The first two chapters are, in my opinion, the best two that JK Rowling has ever written. From there things slow a little bit but my interest did not waiver one time. We find out much more about the past of Sirius, Snape and Harry's own father James than we had done. Perhaps most importantly we find out Trelawney's first prediction and why Dumbledore has kept Harry in the dark up till now. Many questions are answered in this book but many are left open and, as it ends we wonder, now that the wizarding world is more united, what is the Dark Lord going to do about it? Will Harry fulfill his destiny or will Voldemort overcome him?And, on a lighter side, will Fred & George become the big kingpins on Diagon Alley, is Hermione wearing her Christmas present from Ron and what were there OWL results!On a practical note, those who do not have much experience of English slang might want to keep a British dictionary handy with this one - the book seems less "translated" than the others and much better for it. Finally, the wait was long but oh so worth it!

The first thing to say is that not everyone will find OOTP better than the previous <hl> books <hl>. The tone is darker, Harry is very upset and feels different than the other books and character development is much stronger while plot twists and turns are down-played.But for me this is just an incredible book! The first two chapters are, in my opinion, the best two that JK Rowling has ever written. From there things slow a little bit but my interest did not waiver one time.We find out much more about the past of Sirius, Snape and Harry's own father James than we had done. Perhaps most importantly we find out Trelawney's first prediction and why Dumbledore has kept Harry in the dark up till now.Many questions are answered in this book but many are left open and, as it ends we wonder, now that the wizarding world is more united, what is the Dark Lord going to do about it? Will Harry fulfill his destiny or will Voldemort overcome him?And, on a lighter side, will Fred & George become the big kingpins on Diagon Alley, is Hermione wearing her Christmas present from Ron and what were there OWL results!On a practical note, those who do not have much experience of English slang might want to keep a British dictionary handy with this one - the book seems less "translated" than the others and much better for it.Finally, the wait was long but oh so worth it!

The first thing to say is that not everyone will find OOTP better than the previous <hl> books <hl> .


Question: What is the concept of the book?

I'm new to Neil Gaiman, having only read "Good Omens" before, about four years ago. With "American Gods" I might become inspired to truly dive into this author's rich body of work. This book has a very creative treatise. Old pagan gods still live on as destitute characters in the real world, as long as a few isolated pockets of people still venerate them. Meanwhile, really old gods that are completely forgotten by humanity have disappeared into oblivion. The major religions couldn't even obliterate these decrepit old pagan gods for good, but the real gods of modern America may finally do it - the harsh gods of money and technology. The straight man in the novel is a hapless ex-con named Shadow, who eventually realizes that the bizarre characters he keeps running into are those decaying pagan gods who need his help in their struggle. Shadow also eventually bumbles into the realization that these gods are allying themselves with him for a greater purpose. The concepts behind this book are indeed fascinating and highly creative. Unfortunately the book must be docked one star because the action peters out towards the end, and the anti-climax takes way too long wrapping up a bunch of boring subplots. But still, Neil Gaiman is clearly one of the modern masters of innovative, speculative fiction.

Answer: inspired to truly dive into this author's rich body of work

I'm new to Neil Gaiman, having only read "Good Omens" before, about four years ago. <hl> With "American Gods" I might become inspired to truly dive into this author's rich body of work . <hl> This book has a very creative treatise. Old pagan gods still live on as destitute characters in the real world, as long as a few isolated pockets of people still venerate them. Meanwhile, really old gods that are completely forgotten by humanity have disappeared into oblivion. The major religions couldn't even obliterate these decrepit old pagan gods for good, but the real gods of modern America may finally do it - the harsh gods of money and technology. The straight man in the novel is a hapless ex-con named Shadow, who eventually realizes that the bizarre characters he keeps running into are those decaying pagan gods who need his help in their struggle. Shadow also eventually bumbles into the realization that these gods are allying themselves with him for a greater purpose. The concepts behind this book are indeed fascinating and highly creative. Unfortunately the book must be docked one star because the action peters out towards the end, and the anti-climax takes way too long wrapping up a bunch of boring subplots. But still, Neil Gaiman is clearly one of the modern masters of innovative, speculative fiction.

I'm new to Neil Gaiman, having only read "Good Omens" before, about four years ago. With "American Gods" I might become <hl> inspired to truly dive into this author's rich body of work <hl>. This book has a very creative treatise. Old pagan gods still live on as destitute characters in the real world, as long as a few isolated pockets of people still venerate them. Meanwhile, really old gods that are completely forgotten by humanity have disappeared into oblivion. The major religions couldn't even obliterate these decrepit old pagan gods for good, but the real gods of modern America may finally do it - the harsh gods of money and technology. The straight man in the novel is a hapless ex-con named Shadow, who eventually realizes that the bizarre characters he keeps running into are those decaying pagan gods who need his help in their struggle. Shadow also eventually bumbles into the realization that these gods are allying themselves with him for a greater purpose. The concepts behind this book are indeed fascinating and highly creative. Unfortunately the book must be docked one star because the action peters out towards the end, and the anti-climax takes way too long wrapping up a bunch of boring subplots. But still, Neil Gaiman is clearly one of the modern masters of innovative, speculative fiction.

With "American Gods" I might become <hl> inspired to truly dive into this author's rich body of work <hl> .


Question: How was the detail?

This book was simply amazing.  It is a fantasically crafted story that follows the narrator's genetic history from 1920s Turkey through 1960s Detroit to present day Berlin. Equal time is spent describing the lives of Cal's grandparents, parents, and Cal himself.  I completely disagree with those that complain that "the real story" (about the hermaphrodite) doesn't start until Cal's life begins in 1960.  Each story is so rich, so alive, and so very relevant to the person Cal eventually becomes. I felt so close to the Stephanides family that I cried for Cal, for his parents Milton and Tessie, and his Grandmother Desdemona in the final pages of the book. I did not want this book to end. I believe this book will become the classic it deserves to be.

Answer: fantasically crafted story

This book was simply amazing. <hl> It is a fantasically crafted story that follows the narrator's genetic history from 1920s Turkey through 1960s Detroit to present day Berlin. <hl> Equal time is spent describing the lives of Cal's grandparents, parents, and Cal himself. I completely disagree with those that complain that "the real story" (about the hermaphrodite) doesn't start until Cal's life begins in 1960. Each story is so rich, so alive, and so very relevant to the person Cal eventually becomes. I felt so close to the Stephanides family that I cried for Cal, for his parents Milton and Tessie, and his Grandmother Desdemona in the final pages of the book. I did not want this book to end. I believe this book will become the classic it deserves to be.

This book was simply amazing. It is a <hl> fantasically crafted story <hl> that follows the narrator's genetic history from 1920s Turkey through 1960s Detroit to present day Berlin. Equal time is spent describing the lives of Cal's grandparents, parents, and Cal himself. I completely disagree with those that complain that "the real story" (about the hermaphrodite) doesn't start until Cal's life begins in 1960. Each story is so rich, so alive, and so very relevant to the person Cal eventually becomes. I felt so close to the Stephanides family that I cried for Cal, for his parents Milton and Tessie, and his Grandmother Desdemona in the final pages of the book. I did not want this book to end. I believe this book will become the classic it deserves to be.


Question: How is book?

This is the last book of the trilogy, and when I finished the second book, I had to immediately buy this one and start reading it. I couldn't put it down. This one is a little different than the first two, but it's still good. I was sad when I finished it and didn't have another one to read.

Answer: it's still good

This is the last book of the trilogy, and when I finished the second book, I had to immediately buy this one and start reading it. I couldn't put it down. <hl> This one is a little different than the first two, but it's still good . <hl> I was sad when I finished it and didn't have another one to read.

This is the last book of the trilogy, and when I finished the second book, I had to immediately buy this one and start reading it. I couldn't put it down. This one is a little different than the first two, but <hl> it's still good <hl>. I was sad when I finished it and didn't have another one to read.

This one is a little different than the first two, but <hl> it's still good <hl> .


Question: Can you know what your opinion?

I have a new won respect for journalists after reading The God Delusion. Lee Strobel's books,[Case for a Creator; Case for the Real Jesus; Case For Faith] written from the personal professional integrity of that discipline, makes a glaring difference in the believability on this subject.Richard Dawkins is popular the same way the biting criticism, cynicism, from Simon of American Idol fame is popular. We are a tabloid loving society. Howard Stern gets paid millions of dollars to, 'not tone it down.' Dawkins goes for the shock and awe, and shock you will get. He gets affirmation from other atheists who prod him on. Like the 5 year old who wins the approval of his 7 year old brother by one day telling mom to, "Shut up."But does God have for himself another worthy opponent? Dawkins seems to think so judging by the 22 adjective scornful character assassination of God at the start of chapter 2. If you pulled that paragraph out of this book and put it in The Satanic Bible it would be a seamless fit. Just like heavy metal album cover art, all things holy, sacred, noble, and true are profaned.Richard can explain away your personnel conversion experience by the science of your brain. It works by electrical pulses and chemical reactions. What you see is only the interpretation of what's there. Therefore your brain can't be trusted, but you can trust his. Exactly. That is why The Bible speaks of the unchanging and eternal. It's a necessary spiritual guide, something we are beggars for without. Why did I not find any Bible quotes that weren't so bent out of shape they were not recognizable? You need a plumb line reading this book to know what straight is, or it might even start to make sense.I thought this was pretty phony. The greatest scientists of yesteryear Newton, Galileo, Kepler, were all religious. Dawkins corrects history by teaching us they believed in God only because they were expected to. They had no other choice. Interesting, he can't bring himself to respect them for their work and discoveries unless he 'deludes' himself into pretending they were closet atheists. As for his scientific peers, the men who hold a belief in God now? "They are looked down upon in baffled amusement." Do you see what I see? In a crowd like that maybe it would be better not to admit to anything. Who needs the grief?He says belief in God is no different than a belief in the tooth fairy. How many people do you know pour there life energy in trying to prove the non-existence of nothing? I wonder if he's convinced himself yet, or if 8 more books are on the way?Richard teaches us belief in God stifles the growth of science, stunts the imagination of children,[Richard's parents took him to church where he got a 'splendid imagination'], anchors us in the dark ages, and should be dropped for the betterment of mankind. I wonder if we could test that theory scientifically? Set up an experiment between two groups of people. Atheist and Christians give them a mammoth scientific achievement as a goal, like walk a man on another planet and bring him back safety. And make it a race.It was called the Apollo program. In the 1960's United States and Russia went head to head in the ultimate scientific, engineering, Olympics of the mind. It was war, a cold war between two ideologies, two world views. The future of mankind no less was at stake.Russia in 1917 systematically abolished all religion, they banned the Bible and made museums of natural history out of the grander churches. Most though, were flattened, 20,000. It was against the law to own a Bible, the church went underground. They believed if they educated the ignorance out of the people the foolishness and superstition handed down from generation to generation would end. A dangerous leap into uncharted waters. They had a whole generation to tweak the system before their show down with Christian America.In the United States more than 90 percent of the population believes in a supernatural being. They have a region called the Bible belt. They are unashamedly evangelical and proud of the fact freedom of religion is the core of all freedoms. Dawkins tells us people of faith have lower IQ's are bigoted, hostile, and out of sync with reality. This should have been no contest for the atheists.Well that challenge was happening 40 years ago. When the lunar program shut down after Russia waved the white flag, the number of men who left their boot prints on the moon was evangelical Christian United States of America 12, Atheistic Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 0.As for everything else human rights, standard of living, freedom of speech, put it this way. Russia built a wall to keep people in. America couldn't keep them out. Greatest military, greatest scientific achievements by miles. Want more proof? Ask God, cannot the one who made the eyes see? cannot the one who formed the ears hear?

Answer: character

I have a new won respect for journalists after reading The God Delusion. Lee Strobel's books,[Case for a Creator; Case for the Real Jesus; Case For Faith] written from the personal professional integrity of that discipline, makes a glaring difference in the believability on this subject. Richard Dawkins is popular the same way the biting criticism, cynicism, from Simon of American Idol fame is popular. We are a tabloid loving society. Howard Stern gets paid millions of dollars to, 'not tone it down.' Dawkins goes for the shock and awe, and shock you will get. He gets affirmation from other atheists who prod him on. Like the 5 year old who wins the approval of his 7 year old brother by one day telling mom to, "Shut up. "But does God have for himself another worthy opponent? <hl> Dawkins seems to think so judging by the 22 adjective scornful character assassination of God at the start of chapter 2. <hl> If you pulled that paragraph out of this book and put it in The Satanic Bible it would be a seamless fit. Just like heavy metal album cover art, all things holy, sacred, noble, and true are profaned. Richard can explain away your personnel conversion experience by the science of your brain. It works by electrical pulses and chemical reactions. What you see is only the interpretation of what's there. Therefore your brain can't be trusted, but you can trust his. Exactly. That is why The Bible speaks of the unchanging and eternal. It's a necessary spiritual guide, something we are beggars for without. Why did I not find any Bible quotes that weren't so bent out of shape they were not recognizable? You need a plumb line reading this book to know what straight is, or it might even start to make sense. I thought this was pretty phony. The greatest scientists of yesteryear Newton, Galileo, Kepler, were all religious. Dawkins corrects history by teaching us they believed in God only because they were expected to. They had no other choice. Interesting, he can't bring himself to respect them for their work and discoveries unless he 'deludes' himself into pretending they were closet atheists. As for his scientific peers, the men who hold a belief in God now? "They are looked down upon in baffled amusement." Do you see what I see? In a crowd like that maybe it would be better not to admit to anything. Who needs the grief?He says belief in God is no different than a belief in the tooth fairy. How many people do you know pour there life energy in trying to prove the non-existence of nothing? I wonder if he's convinced himself yet, or if 8 more books are on the way?Richard teaches us belief in God stifles the growth of science, stunts the imagination of children,[Richard's parents took him to church where he got a 'splendid imagination'], anchors us in the dark ages, and should be dropped for the betterment of mankind. I wonder if we could test that theory scientifically? Set up an experiment between two groups of people. Atheist and Christians give them a mammoth scientific achievement as a goal, like walk a man on another planet and bring him back safety. And make it a race. It was called the Apollo program. In the 1960's United States and Russia went head to head in the ultimate scientific, engineering, Olympics of the mind. It was war, a cold war between two ideologies, two world views. The future of mankind no less was at stake. Russia in 1917 systematically abolished all religion, they banned the Bible and made museums of natural history out of the grander churches. Most though, were flattened, 20,000. It was against the law to own a Bible, the church went underground. They believed if they educated the ignorance out of the people the foolishness and superstition handed down from generation to generation would end. A dangerous leap into uncharted waters. They had a whole generation to tweak the system before their show down with Christian America. In the United States more than 90 percent of the population believes in a supernatural being. They have a region called the Bible belt. They are unashamedly evangelical and proud of the fact freedom of religion is the core of all freedoms. Dawkins tells us people of faith have lower IQ's are bigoted, hostile, and out of sync with reality. This should have been no contest for the atheists. Well that challenge was happening 40 years ago. When the lunar program shut down after Russia waved the white flag, the number of men who left their boot prints on the moon was evangelical Christian United States of America 12, Atheistic Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 0.As for everything else human rights, standard of living, freedom of speech, put it this way. Russia built a wall to keep people in. America couldn't keep them out. Greatest military, greatest scientific achievements by miles. Want more proof? Ask God, cannot the one who made the eyes see? cannot the one who formed the ears hear?

I have a new won respect for journalists after reading The God Delusion. Lee Strobel's books,[Case for a Creator; Case for the Real Jesus; Case For Faith] written from the personal professional integrity of that discipline, makes a glaring difference in the believability on this subject.Richard Dawkins is popular the same way the biting criticism, cynicism, from Simon of American Idol fame is popular. We are a tabloid loving society. Howard Stern gets paid millions of dollars to, 'not tone it down.' Dawkins goes for the shock and awe, and shock you will get. He gets affirmation from other atheists who prod him on. Like the 5 year old who wins the approval of his 7 year old brother by one day telling mom to, "Shut up."But does God have for himself another worthy opponent? Dawkins seems to think so judging by the 22 adjective scornful <hl> character <hl> assassination of God at the start of chapter 2. If you pulled that paragraph out of this book and put it in The Satanic Bible it would be a seamless fit. Just like heavy metal album cover art, all things holy, sacred, noble, and true are profaned.Richard can explain away your personnel conversion experience by the science of your brain. It works by electrical pulses and chemical reactions. What you see is only the interpretation of what's there. Therefore your brain can't be trusted, but you can trust his. Exactly. That is why The Bible speaks of the unchanging and eternal. It's a necessary spiritual guide, something we are beggars for without. Why did I not find any Bible quotes that weren't so bent out of shape they were not recognizable? You need a plumb line reading this book to know what straight is, or it might even start to make sense.I thought this was pretty phony. The greatest scientists of yesteryear Newton, Galileo, Kepler, were all religious. Dawkins corrects history by teaching us they believed in God only because they were expected to. They had no other choice. Interesting, he can't bring himself to respect them for their work and discoveries unless he 'deludes' himself into pretending they were closet atheists. As for his scientific peers, the men who hold a belief in God now? "They are looked down upon in baffled amusement." Do you see what I see? In a crowd like that maybe it would be better not to admit to anything. Who needs the grief?He says belief in God is no different than a belief in the tooth fairy. How many people do you know pour there life energy in trying to prove the non-existence of nothing? I wonder if he's convinced himself yet, or if 8 more books are on the way?Richard teaches us belief in God stifles the growth of science, stunts the imagination of children,[Richard's parents took him to church where he got a 'splendid imagination'], anchors us in the dark ages, and should be dropped for the betterment of mankind. I wonder if we could test that theory scientifically? Set up an experiment between two groups of people. Atheist and Christians give them a mammoth scientific achievement as a goal, like walk a man on another planet and bring him back safety. And make it a race.It was called the Apollo program. In the 1960's United States and Russia went head to head in the ultimate scientific, engineering, Olympics of the mind. It was war, a cold war between two ideologies, two world views. The future of mankind no less was at stake.Russia in 1917 systematically abolished all religion, they banned the Bible and made museums of natural history out of the grander churches. Most though, were flattened, 20,000. It was against the law to own a Bible, the church went underground. They believed if they educated the ignorance out of the people the foolishness and superstition handed down from generation to generation would end. A dangerous leap into uncharted waters. They had a whole generation to tweak the system before their show down with Christian America.In the United States more than 90 percent of the population believes in a supernatural being. They have a region called the Bible belt. They are unashamedly evangelical and proud of the fact freedom of religion is the core of all freedoms. Dawkins tells us people of faith have lower IQ's are bigoted, hostile, and out of sync with reality. This should have been no contest for the atheists.Well that challenge was happening 40 years ago. When the lunar program shut down after Russia waved the white flag, the number of men who left their boot prints on the moon was evangelical Christian United States of America 12, Atheistic Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 0.As for everything else human rights, standard of living, freedom of speech, put it this way. Russia built a wall to keep people in. America couldn't keep them out. Greatest military, greatest scientific achievements by miles. Want more proof? Ask God, cannot the one who made the eyes see? cannot the one who formed the ears hear?


Question: Was the story good?

Two reasons that I bought this book:1. I am passionate about art and thoroughly enjoy novels with art as a theme2. This book was marketed as Kindle no1 best seller, but I think marketing has more to do with its success than the actual merits of the bookThe book started off brilliantly and I became totally engaged with the characters and storyline.  Her style of writing is very descriptive and interesting going into the psychology of things,  but I don't that I would recommend this to my husband to read as this style may be more appealing to a woman's perspective..I will not repeat much of what is said in the many  other reviews, but I agree with others that the lengthy book loses momentum towards the end and I was left feeling dissatisfied by the ending.The ending seemed to have been added on as an after thought -almost felt like it had been written by someone else.It was rather a rambling anti-climax and I was left feeling disappointed int he book after having thoroughly enjoyed a large part of the rest of it.  Due to my mixed feelings this book will only receive a solid 3.

Answer: book started off brilliantly and I became totally engaged with the characters and storyline

Two reasons that I bought this book:1. I am passionate about art and thoroughly enjoy novels with art as a theme2. <hl> This book was marketed as Kindle no1 best seller, but I think marketing has more to do with its success than the actual merits of the bookThe book started off brilliantly and I became totally engaged with the characters and storyline . <hl> Her style of writing is very descriptive and interesting going into the psychology of things, but I don't that I would recommend this to my husband to read as this style may be more appealing to a woman's perspective..I will not repeat much of what is said in the many other reviews, but I agree with others that the lengthy book loses momentum towards the end and I was left feeling dissatisfied by the ending. The ending seemed to have been added on as an after thought -almost felt like it had been written by someone else. It was rather a rambling anti-climax and I was left feeling disappointed int he book after having thoroughly enjoyed a large part of the rest of it. Due to my mixed feelings this book will only receive a solid 3.

Two reasons that I bought this book:1. I am passionate about art and thoroughly enjoy novels with art as a theme2. This book was marketed as Kindle no1 best seller, but I think marketing has more to do with its success than the actual merits of the bookThe <hl> book started off brilliantly and I became totally engaged with the characters and storyline <hl>. Her style of writing is very descriptive and interesting going into the psychology of things, but I don't that I would recommend this to my husband to read as this style may be more appealing to a woman's perspective..I will not repeat much of what is said in the many other reviews, but I agree with others that the lengthy book loses momentum towards the end and I was left feeling dissatisfied by the ending.The ending seemed to have been added on as an after thought -almost felt like it had been written by someone else.It was rather a rambling anti-climax and I was left feeling disappointed int he book after having thoroughly enjoyed a large part of the rest of it. Due to my mixed feelings this book will only receive a solid 3.

This book was marketed as Kindle no1 best seller, but I think marketing has more to do with its success than the actual merits of the bookThe <hl> book started off brilliantly and I became totally engaged with the characters and storyline <hl> .


Question: Is pug have his own problem?

Have you ever come across a book that is so powerful and so touching you know from the very beginning that it is going to pull you in and keep you there until the very end?  It will keep a piece of you when you are finished with it?  You will never forget the characters, their strengths, weaknesses, faults, triumphs, and fears?  A story that is so real it makes you want to do something greater in your life?  One with characters who steal a piece of your heart because their story was so touching?  A book that consumed you from the very beginning to the very end and you know that you will never forget the words you read from page 1 until the acknowledgments?Left Drowning is by far hands down the greatest book I have read this year, maybe even ever!  Blythe, Christopher (Chris), Sabin, Estelle, Eric, Zach, and James those characters will never be forgotten in my mind.  I can clearly close my eyes and picture them and who they are inside.  Jessica Park wrote such a beautiful and consuming storyline you can't help but fall in love with all of them.  They aren't perfect characters, they all have their demons, their insecurities, their fears but that's what makes them real.  They are all so very beautiful even in their imperfections in life.  Their story may not be roses and sunshine but it's their story and to me it's beautiful because it's real.--They, and mostly Chris, are saving me.  Or teaching me to save myself.  He is my port in the storm, and that's why I feel comfortable with what I'm going to do.  Chris is going to have to be strong, but I have hope that the story I'm about to tell him will help me, free me even.  He is the one person with whom I will remember what I have forgotten. - Left DrowningBlythe and Chris are the main characters in this story.  You will learn the all the ugly that happened in Blythe's life and all the beautiful that occurred too.  For everything she went through and had to endure I was surprised at how well she survived.  She is still missing something, someone and fate will step in and give her what she needs.  But what happens when Blythe learns to truth about everything, is it something she can forgive and bounce back from?  Or will the past and the truth leave her drowning in depression and loneliness?Chris has seen his fair share of the ugly in the world, growing up without a mother and having to basically take care of his 3 younger siblings, didn't leave him with much time to enjoy his childhood.  Growing up he learned to survive the bitterness and the abuse that was placed upon him, but he is only surviving, he isn't living.  He lives to take care of Sabin, Estelle, and Eric and will do anything for them to make sure that they have the best life they could have.  A chance meeting with Blythe will forever change Chris and the connection between the two is something so strong it can't be explained.  When Blythe lets her guard down towards Chris and shows him her demons will he stick by her side and start living or will it prove too much for him to handle and send him running in the opposite direction?"Why does it still hurt so much?" he asks.  "Why can't we just move on and deal?"--There is no set pattern to grief, despite what every stupid psych text has told me.  There is no time frame that dictates when and how you'll feel and what you feel.  You get to deal with hell however, and whenever, it hits you. - Left DrowningAside from Blythe's and Chris' story and accepting and moving on from their pass you will meet the other Shepherd siblings.  Estelle is the younger sister of Chris and is a beautiful and free spirited character.  She is a believer, when everyone around her has given up any type of faith in God or fate or destiny she holds true to her faith.  For me it was almost like her security blanket.  Sometimes I felt like she didn't believe in herself so she wanted to hold onto what she did believe in whether everyone else around her thought she was crazy or not.After meeting Blythe you will meet Sabin next.  He is a character, honest to a fault, crazy country boy who loves to have fun and loves women!  Deep down is a kindhearted and deep soul.  Sabin will do whatever he can to put a smile on your face and was such an easy character to fall in love with.  Deep down though he is damaged with what he saw growing up and he never learned how to channel those feelings leaving them bottled up inside him until he snaps.  Out of all the characters he was like a teddy bear for me, someone I would run to if I had a problem - almost like a big brother!You will also meet James, Blythe's little brother, who attends a different school than Blythe and they don't see much of each other.  They have a very complicated and broken relationship due to their past.  Guilt and blame is passed between the two and they have never been able to overcome their pasts and have a better relationship.  Hopefully over time when secrets are revealed these two can find their way back to each other as brother and sister and be a family again.Eric the other shepherd is Estelle's twin and is such a sweet, shy, and quiet character.  He doesn't say much but when he does everyone listens to what he has to say.  He is strong and determined.  You will be introduced to his boyfriend Zach and the love Zach has for Eric is contagious!  They truly are a beautiful couple.The whole Shepherd clan is such a tight knit family!  They all attend the same college so they can look after one another and make sure everyone is happy.  After learning what they went through as a family growing up they showed me how strong siblings need to be and how you need to stick beside your brothers and sisters no matter what and help them through anything.  This is what they do from the very beginning of the story until the very end.  They cheer for each other, they suffer heartaches with each other, they love each other with every ounce of their beings and no matter what at the end of the day they only have each other so they don't take anything for granted."You are the great love of my life that I'm never going to have."Okay I want to get back to Chris and Blythe because I will never forget this couple.  Everything that they went through before and after they met touched my heart.  I was rooting for them from the very beginning.  I laughed and I cried.  Things went just the way I wanted them to and some things, not so much.  There were times when I wanted to hold Blythe's hand and cry with her and then there were times when I wanted to celebrate with her.  All anybody ever wants is to be loved but sometimes that type of love can be scary and in some cases it's easier for someone to push that love away instead of embracing it and having it consume them."You said something last night that was completely wrong.  I could never touch anyone the way that I touch you.  And I will never regret falling in love with you. Don't forget that."And that is how we say good-bye.Jessica Park will have you learning new things about Blythe and Chris until the very end.  Their story continues to unravel throughout the entire book.  Little by little you will hear their story and learn how one person can endure so much, you will too fall in love with these characters and want them all to get their happily every after.  Left Drowning is hands down the best novel I have read this year if not to date.  It gave me everything I was wanting in a story.  It made me feel and fall in love with the characters and their story.  It was deep and meaningful and so different than what I usually read and that was a breath of fresh air.  Left Drowning is the first book that I have ever read of Jessica Park and if this is the type of story she is capable of giving us well than I am an instant fan.  I don't want to do this book injustice and rate it by stars because for me there aren't enough stars in the sky to give this book and what it meant to me.  I read a lot of books and sadly even the ones I enjoyed overtime I tend to forget sometimes the characters names and their story but with this one I don't think I ever will forget the story of Blythe, Chris, Sabin, Estelle, Eric, James, or Zach because their story touched my heart and warmed my soul."I will always be in love with you, even though you'll never love me back.  You have been my sanctuary this year.  You saved me.  Do you know that?  You saved me.  And I wish that you would let me save you."

Answer: their strengths, weaknesses, faults, triumphs, and fears

Have you ever come across a book that is so powerful and so touching you know from the very beginning that it is going to pull you in and keep you there until the very end? It will keep a piece of you when you are finished with it? <hl> You will never forget the characters, their strengths, weaknesses, faults, triumphs, and fears ? <hl> A story that is so real it makes you want to do something greater in your life? One with characters who steal a piece of your heart because their story was so touching? A book that consumed you from the very beginning to the very end and you know that you will never forget the words you read from page 1 until the acknowledgments?Left Drowning is by far hands down the greatest book I have read this year, maybe even ever! Blythe, Christopher (Chris), Sabin, Estelle, Eric, Zach, and James those characters will never be forgotten in my mind. I can clearly close my eyes and picture them and who they are inside. Jessica Park wrote such a beautiful and consuming storyline you can't help but fall in love with all of them. They aren't perfect characters, they all have their demons, their insecurities, their fears but that's what makes them real. They are all so very beautiful even in their imperfections in life. Their story may not be roses and sunshine but it's their story and to me it's beautiful because it's real.--They, and mostly Chris, are saving me. Or teaching me to save myself. He is my port in the storm, and that's why I feel comfortable with what I'm going to do. Chris is going to have to be strong, but I have hope that the story I'm about to tell him will help me, free me even. He is the one person with whom I will remember what I have forgotten. - Left DrowningBlythe and Chris are the main characters in this story. You will learn the all the ugly that happened in Blythe's life and all the beautiful that occurred too. For everything she went through and had to endure I was surprised at how well she survived. She is still missing something, someone and fate will step in and give her what she needs. But what happens when Blythe learns to truth about everything, is it something she can forgive and bounce back from? Or will the past and the truth leave her drowning in depression and loneliness?Chris has seen his fair share of the ugly in the world, growing up without a mother and having to basically take care of his 3 younger siblings, didn't leave him with much time to enjoy his childhood. Growing up he learned to survive the bitterness and the abuse that was placed upon him, but he is only surviving, he isn't living. He lives to take care of Sabin, Estelle, and Eric and will do anything for them to make sure that they have the best life they could have. A chance meeting with Blythe will forever change Chris and the connection between the two is something so strong it can't be explained. When Blythe lets her guard down towards Chris and shows him her demons will he stick by her side and start living or will it prove too much for him to handle and send him running in the opposite direction?"Why does it still hurt so much?" he asks. "Why can't we just move on and deal?"--There is no set pattern to grief, despite what every stupid psych text has told me. There is no time frame that dictates when and how you'll feel and what you feel. You get to deal with hell however, and whenever, it hits you. - Left DrowningAside from Blythe's and Chris' story and accepting and moving on from their pass you will meet the other Shepherd siblings. Estelle is the younger sister of Chris and is a beautiful and free spirited character. She is a believer, when everyone around her has given up any type of faith in God or fate or destiny she holds true to her faith. For me it was almost like her security blanket. Sometimes I felt like she didn't believe in herself so she wanted to hold onto what she did believe in whether everyone else around her thought she was crazy or not. After meeting Blythe you will meet Sabin next. He is a character, honest to a fault, crazy country boy who loves to have fun and loves women! Deep down is a kindhearted and deep soul. Sabin will do whatever he can to put a smile on your face and was such an easy character to fall in love with. Deep down though he is damaged with what he saw growing up and he never learned how to channel those feelings leaving them bottled up inside him until he snaps. Out of all the characters he was like a teddy bear for me, someone I would run to if I had a problem - almost like a big brother!You will also meet James, Blythe's little brother, who attends a different school than Blythe and they don't see much of each other. They have a very complicated and broken relationship due to their past. Guilt and blame is passed between the two and they have never been able to overcome their pasts and have a better relationship. Hopefully over time when secrets are revealed these two can find their way back to each other as brother and sister and be a family again. Eric the other shepherd is Estelle's twin and is such a sweet, shy, and quiet character. He doesn't say much but when he does everyone listens to what he has to say. He is strong and determined. You will be introduced to his boyfriend Zach and the love Zach has for Eric is contagious! They truly are a beautiful couple. The whole Shepherd clan is such a tight knit family! They all attend the same college so they can look after one another and make sure everyone is happy. After learning what they went through as a family growing up they showed me how strong siblings need to be and how you need to stick beside your brothers and sisters no matter what and help them through anything. This is what they do from the very beginning of the story until the very end. They cheer for each other, they suffer heartaches with each other, they love each other with every ounce of their beings and no matter what at the end of the day they only have each other so they don't take anything for granted. "You are the great love of my life that I'm never going to have. "Okay I want to get back to Chris and Blythe because I will never forget this couple. Everything that they went through before and after they met touched my heart. I was rooting for them from the very beginning. I laughed and I cried. Things went just the way I wanted them to and some things, not so much. There were times when I wanted to hold Blythe's hand and cry with her and then there were times when I wanted to celebrate with her. All anybody ever wants is to be loved but sometimes that type of love can be scary and in some cases it's easier for someone to push that love away instead of embracing it and having it consume them. "You said something last night that was completely wrong. I could never touch anyone the way that I touch you. And I will never regret falling in love with you. Don't forget that. "And that is how we say good-bye. Jessica Park will have you learning new things about Blythe and Chris until the very end. Their story continues to unravel throughout the entire book. Little by little you will hear their story and learn how one person can endure so much, you will too fall in love with these characters and want them all to get their happily every after. Left Drowning is hands down the best novel I have read this year if not to date. It gave me everything I was wanting in a story. It made me feel and fall in love with the characters and their story. It was deep and meaningful and so different than what I usually read and that was a breath of fresh air. Left Drowning is the first book that I have ever read of Jessica Park and if this is the type of story she is capable of giving us well than I am an instant fan. I don't want to do this book injustice and rate it by stars because for me there aren't enough stars in the sky to give this book and what it meant to me. I read a lot of books and sadly even the ones I enjoyed overtime I tend to forget sometimes the characters names and their story but with this one I don't think I ever will forget the story of Blythe, Chris, Sabin, Estelle, Eric, James, or Zach because their story touched my heart and warmed my soul. "I will always be in love with you, even though you'll never love me back. You have been my sanctuary this year. You saved me. Do you know that? You saved me. And I wish that you would let me save you."

Have you ever come across a book that is so powerful and so touching you know from the very beginning that it is going to pull you in and keep you there until the very end? It will keep a piece of you when you are finished with it? You will never forget the characters, <hl> their strengths, weaknesses, faults, triumphs, and fears <hl>? A story that is so real it makes you want to do something greater in your life? One with characters who steal a piece of your heart because their story was so touching? A book that consumed you from the very beginning to the very end and you know that you will never forget the words you read from page 1 until the acknowledgments?Left Drowning is by far hands down the greatest book I have read this year, maybe even ever! Blythe, Christopher (Chris), Sabin, Estelle, Eric, Zach, and James those characters will never be forgotten in my mind. I can clearly close my eyes and picture them and who they are inside. Jessica Park wrote such a beautiful and consuming storyline you can't help but fall in love with all of them. They aren't perfect characters, they all have their demons, their insecurities, their fears but that's what makes them real. They are all so very beautiful even in their imperfections in life. Their story may not be roses and sunshine but it's their story and to me it's beautiful because it's real.--They, and mostly Chris, are saving me. Or teaching me to save myself. He is my port in the storm, and that's why I feel comfortable with what I'm going to do. Chris is going to have to be strong, but I have hope that the story I'm about to tell him will help me, free me even. He is the one person with whom I will remember what I have forgotten. - Left DrowningBlythe and Chris are the main characters in this story. You will learn the all the ugly that happened in Blythe's life and all the beautiful that occurred too. For everything she went through and had to endure I was surprised at how well she survived. She is still missing something, someone and fate will step in and give her what she needs. But what happens when Blythe learns to truth about everything, is it something she can forgive and bounce back from? Or will the past and the truth leave her drowning in depression and loneliness?Chris has seen his fair share of the ugly in the world, growing up without a mother and having to basically take care of his 3 younger siblings, didn't leave him with much time to enjoy his childhood. Growing up he learned to survive the bitterness and the abuse that was placed upon him, but he is only surviving, he isn't living. He lives to take care of Sabin, Estelle, and Eric and will do anything for them to make sure that they have the best life they could have. A chance meeting with Blythe will forever change Chris and the connection between the two is something so strong it can't be explained. When Blythe lets her guard down towards Chris and shows him her demons will he stick by her side and start living or will it prove too much for him to handle and send him running in the opposite direction?"Why does it still hurt so much?" he asks. "Why can't we just move on and deal?"--There is no set pattern to grief, despite what every stupid psych text has told me. There is no time frame that dictates when and how you'll feel and what you feel. You get to deal with hell however, and whenever, it hits you. - Left DrowningAside from Blythe's and Chris' story and accepting and moving on from their pass you will meet the other Shepherd siblings. Estelle is the younger sister of Chris and is a beautiful and free spirited character. She is a believer, when everyone around her has given up any type of faith in God or fate or destiny she holds true to her faith. For me it was almost like her security blanket. Sometimes I felt like she didn't believe in herself so she wanted to hold onto what she did believe in whether everyone else around her thought she was crazy or not.After meeting Blythe you will meet Sabin next. He is a character, honest to a fault, crazy country boy who loves to have fun and loves women! Deep down is a kindhearted and deep soul. Sabin will do whatever he can to put a smile on your face and was such an easy character to fall in love with. Deep down though he is damaged with what he saw growing up and he never learned how to channel those feelings leaving them bottled up inside him until he snaps. Out of all the characters he was like a teddy bear for me, someone I would run to if I had a problem - almost like a big brother!You will also meet James, Blythe's little brother, who attends a different school than Blythe and they don't see much of each other. They have a very complicated and broken relationship due to their past. Guilt and blame is passed between the two and they have never been able to overcome their pasts and have a better relationship. Hopefully over time when secrets are revealed these two can find their way back to each other as brother and sister and be a family again.Eric the other shepherd is Estelle's twin and is such a sweet, shy, and quiet character. He doesn't say much but when he does everyone listens to what he has to say. He is strong and determined. You will be introduced to his boyfriend Zach and the love Zach has for Eric is contagious! They truly are a beautiful couple.The whole Shepherd clan is such a tight knit family! They all attend the same college so they can look after one another and make sure everyone is happy. After learning what they went through as a family growing up they showed me how strong siblings need to be and how you need to stick beside your brothers and sisters no matter what and help them through anything. This is what they do from the very beginning of the story until the very end. They cheer for each other, they suffer heartaches with each other, they love each other with every ounce of their beings and no matter what at the end of the day they only have each other so they don't take anything for granted."You are the great love of my life that I'm never going to have."Okay I want to get back to Chris and Blythe because I will never forget this couple. Everything that they went through before and after they met touched my heart. I was rooting for them from the very beginning. I laughed and I cried. Things went just the way I wanted them to and some things, not so much. There were times when I wanted to hold Blythe's hand and cry with her and then there were times when I wanted to celebrate with her. All anybody ever wants is to be loved but sometimes that type of love can be scary and in some cases it's easier for someone to push that love away instead of embracing it and having it consume them."You said something last night that was completely wrong. I could never touch anyone the way that I touch you. And I will never regret falling in love with you. Don't forget that."And that is how we say good-bye.Jessica Park will have you learning new things about Blythe and Chris until the very end. Their story continues to unravel throughout the entire book. Little by little you will hear their story and learn how one person can endure so much, you will too fall in love with these characters and want them all to get their happily every after. Left Drowning is hands down the best novel I have read this year if not to date. It gave me everything I was wanting in a story. It made me feel and fall in love with the characters and their story. It was deep and meaningful and so different than what I usually read and that was a breath of fresh air. Left Drowning is the first book that I have ever read of Jessica Park and if this is the type of story she is capable of giving us well than I am an instant fan. I don't want to do this book injustice and rate it by stars because for me there aren't enough stars in the sky to give this book and what it meant to me. I read a lot of books and sadly even the ones I enjoyed overtime I tend to forget sometimes the characters names and their story but with this one I don't think I ever will forget the story of Blythe, Chris, Sabin, Estelle, Eric, James, or Zach because their story touched my heart and warmed my soul."I will always be in love with you, even though you'll never love me back. You have been my sanctuary this year. You saved me. Do you know that? You saved me. And I wish that you would let me save you."

You will never forget the characters, <hl> their strengths, weaknesses, faults, triumphs, and fears <hl> ?


Question: Does this story have depressing stuff in it?

For good reason, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand landed on many Best of the Year lists in 2010, including on Mark's. I'm not sure I would have picked this up otherwise; I like World War II books as much as the next guy (if the next guy in question also likes World War II books), but this is focused on one man. And it's 500 pages. I wasn't sure that I was ready to commit.I'm so glad that I did. After a few pages, I knew that I would love this book. Unbroken is the story of Louie Zamperini, a hooligan-turned-Olympic runner-turned-pilot-turned-prisoner of war-turned- unbroken and hopeful man. That's a pretty good one-sentence summary of the book, just in case the publisher is looking for a subtitle for the forthcoming paperback version. I liked Louie instantly; he was a troublemaker tough-guy, but found his escape from his California town by running. Introduced to the sport by his brother, Louie runs in high school, college, and then in the 1936 Berlin Olympics where he met Adolph Hitler.His life changed soon after as the story follows Louie into his new career as an AAC bombardier, until he crashes in the Pacific. Louie and two others survive at sea for over forty days without provisions (with a troubling scene about a lice infestation in his newly grown beard). If the story ended here, it would be a powerful journey. However, it does not. Much of the book is his horrid treatment in several prisoner of war camps in Japan. Just when I thought all the evil happened to Louie, there is a new chapter of horror.The title is perfect to describe Zamperini. This man personifies courage, resilience, and hope in ways I have never seen. There were times I gasped aloud to read his ordeals. The squalor and suffering only provide a backdrop to allow Louie's courage and character to shine brightly.I hesitate to say to much to avoid taking away the suspense as you read it, but allow me to say that Louie continues to sink lower into despondency and hopeless until God intervenes. In literature, it's called deux ex machina; in life, it is called redemption.This book also has much to say about the many Japanese atrocities in World War II, whether it is in prison camps, Pearl Harbor, or Nanking:"The Japanese military surrounded the city of Nanking, stranding more than half a million civilians and 90,000 Chinese soldiers. The soldiers surrendered and, assured of their safety, submitted to being bound. Japanese officers then issued a written order: ALL PRISONERS OF WAR ARE TO BE EXECUTED. What followed was a six-week frenzy of killing that defies articulation. Masses of POWs were beheaded, machine-gunned, bayoneted, and burned alive. The Japanese turned on civilians, engaging in killing contests, raping tens of thousands of people, mutilating and crucifying them, and provoking dogs to maul them. Japanese soldiers took pictures of themselves posing alongside hacked-up bodies, severed heads, and women strapped down for rape. The Japanese press ran tallies of the killing contests as if they were baseball scores, praising the heroism of the contestants. Historians estimate that the Japanese military murdered between 200,000 and 430,000 Chinese, including the 90,000 POWs, in what became known as the Rape of Nanking."This gives a more complete picture of the behavior and the attitudes of Japan, and why Hiroshima and Nagasaki were last resorts. Japan was on par of the atrocities committed by Hitler and Germany, and the two countries had more in common during treatment of people during the war than they differed. This concept certainly is not in our modern psyche. It is accepted (and often applauded) to denigrate Germany, but it is labeled as racist if we criticize Japan.In addition to the highlighting of a great man and as a history lesson, Unbroken is simply excellent prose. Hillenbrand has a poetic style of writing even the cruelest events.Examples:He felt as if he would faint, but it wasn't from the exertion. It was from the realization of what he was.One engine, for reasons known only to the plane, was thirstier than the others, so the gauges had to be watched constantlyThere was one perk to life in the barracks. The bathroom was plastered in girlie pinups, a Sistine Chapel of pornography.But it was good to feel oriented, to know that they were drifting toward land somewhere out there, on the far side of the earth's tilt.Dignity is as essential to human life as water, food, and oxygen. The stubborn retention of it, even in the face of extreme physical hardship, can hold a man's soul in his body long past the point at which the body should have surrendered it. The loss of it can carry a man off as surely as thirst, hunger, exposure, and asphyxiation, and with greater cruelty. In places like Kwajalein, degradation could be as lethal as a bullet.The paradox of vengefulness is that it makes men dependent upon those who have harmed them, believing that their release from pain will come only when they make their tormentors suffer.Whether or not you are a fan of war accounts, go read this book. Like me, you will be mesmerized with Louie Zamperini for good reason. He is a man who stands above other men, and his story demands to be told. The more like Zamperini we are, the better the world would be.

Answer: good reason, Unbroken by Laura

<hl> For good reason, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand landed on many Best of the Year lists in 2010, including on Mark's. <hl> I'm not sure I would have picked this up otherwise; I like World War II books as much as the next guy (if the next guy in question also likes World War II books), but this is focused on one man. And it's 500 pages. I wasn't sure that I was ready to commit. I'm so glad that I did. After a few pages, I knew that I would love this book. Unbroken is the story of Louie Zamperini, a hooligan-turned-Olympic runner-turned-pilot-turned-prisoner of war-turned- unbroken and hopeful man. That's a pretty good one-sentence summary of the book, just in case the publisher is looking for a subtitle for the forthcoming paperback version. I liked Louie instantly; he was a troublemaker tough-guy, but found his escape from his California town by running. Introduced to the sport by his brother, Louie runs in high school, college, and then in the 1936 Berlin Olympics where he met Adolph Hitler. His life changed soon after as the story follows Louie into his new career as an AAC bombardier, until he crashes in the Pacific. Louie and two others survive at sea for over forty days without provisions (with a troubling scene about a lice infestation in his newly grown beard). If the story ended here, it would be a powerful journey. However, it does not. Much of the book is his horrid treatment in several prisoner of war camps in Japan. Just when I thought all the evil happened to Louie, there is a new chapter of horror. The title is perfect to describe Zamperini. This man personifies courage, resilience, and hope in ways I have never seen. There were times I gasped aloud to read his ordeals. The squalor and suffering only provide a backdrop to allow Louie's courage and character to shine brightly. I hesitate to say to much to avoid taking away the suspense as you read it, but allow me to say that Louie continues to sink lower into despondency and hopeless until God intervenes. In literature, it's called deux ex machina; in life, it is called redemption. This book also has much to say about the many Japanese atrocities in World War II, whether it is in prison camps, Pearl Harbor, or Nanking:"The Japanese military surrounded the city of Nanking, stranding more than half a million civilians and 90,000 Chinese soldiers. The soldiers surrendered and, assured of their safety, submitted to being bound. Japanese officers then issued a written order: ALL PRISONERS OF WAR ARE TO BE EXECUTED. What followed was a six-week frenzy of killing that defies articulation. Masses of POWs were beheaded, machine-gunned, bayoneted, and burned alive. The Japanese turned on civilians, engaging in killing contests, raping tens of thousands of people, mutilating and crucifying them, and provoking dogs to maul them. Japanese soldiers took pictures of themselves posing alongside hacked-up bodies, severed heads, and women strapped down for rape. The Japanese press ran tallies of the killing contests as if they were baseball scores, praising the heroism of the contestants. Historians estimate that the Japanese military murdered between 200,000 and 430,000 Chinese, including the 90,000 POWs, in what became known as the Rape of Nanking. "This gives a more complete picture of the behavior and the attitudes of Japan, and why Hiroshima and Nagasaki were last resorts. Japan was on par of the atrocities committed by Hitler and Germany, and the two countries had more in common during treatment of people during the war than they differed. This concept certainly is not in our modern psyche. It is accepted (and often applauded) to denigrate Germany, but it is labeled as racist if we criticize Japan. In addition to the highlighting of a great man and as a history lesson, Unbroken is simply excellent prose. Hillenbrand has a poetic style of writing even the cruelest events. Examples:He felt as if he would faint, but it wasn't from the exertion. It was from the realization of what he was. One engine, for reasons known only to the plane, was thirstier than the others, so the gauges had to be watched constantlyThere was one perk to life in the barracks. The bathroom was plastered in girlie pinups, a Sistine Chapel of pornography. But it was good to feel oriented, to know that they were drifting toward land somewhere out there, on the far side of the earth's tilt. Dignity is as essential to human life as water, food, and oxygen. The stubborn retention of it, even in the face of extreme physical hardship, can hold a man's soul in his body long past the point at which the body should have surrendered it. The loss of it can carry a man off as surely as thirst, hunger, exposure, and asphyxiation, and with greater cruelty. In places like Kwajalein, degradation could be as lethal as a bullet. The paradox of vengefulness is that it makes men dependent upon those who have harmed them, believing that their release from pain will come only when they make their tormentors suffer. Whether or not you are a fan of war accounts, go read this book. Like me, you will be mesmerized with Louie Zamperini for good reason. He is a man who stands above other men, and his story demands to be told. The more like Zamperini we are, the better the world would be.

For <hl> good reason, Unbroken by Laura <hl> Hillenbrand landed on many Best of the Year lists in 2010, including on Mark's. I'm not sure I would have picked this up otherwise; I like World War II books as much as the next guy (if the next guy in question also likes World War II books), but this is focused on one man. And it's 500 pages. I wasn't sure that I was ready to commit.I'm so glad that I did. After a few pages, I knew that I would love this book. Unbroken is the story of Louie Zamperini, a hooligan-turned-Olympic runner-turned-pilot-turned-prisoner of war-turned- unbroken and hopeful man. That's a pretty good one-sentence summary of the book, just in case the publisher is looking for a subtitle for the forthcoming paperback version. I liked Louie instantly; he was a troublemaker tough-guy, but found his escape from his California town by running. Introduced to the sport by his brother, Louie runs in high school, college, and then in the 1936 Berlin Olympics where he met Adolph Hitler.His life changed soon after as the story follows Louie into his new career as an AAC bombardier, until he crashes in the Pacific. Louie and two others survive at sea for over forty days without provisions (with a troubling scene about a lice infestation in his newly grown beard). If the story ended here, it would be a powerful journey. However, it does not. Much of the book is his horrid treatment in several prisoner of war camps in Japan. Just when I thought all the evil happened to Louie, there is a new chapter of horror.The title is perfect to describe Zamperini. This man personifies courage, resilience, and hope in ways I have never seen. There were times I gasped aloud to read his ordeals. The squalor and suffering only provide a backdrop to allow Louie's courage and character to shine brightly.I hesitate to say to much to avoid taking away the suspense as you read it, but allow me to say that Louie continues to sink lower into despondency and hopeless until God intervenes. In literature, it's called deux ex machina; in life, it is called redemption.This book also has much to say about the many Japanese atrocities in World War II, whether it is in prison camps, Pearl Harbor, or Nanking:"The Japanese military surrounded the city of Nanking, stranding more than half a million civilians and 90,000 Chinese soldiers. The soldiers surrendered and, assured of their safety, submitted to being bound. Japanese officers then issued a written order: ALL PRISONERS OF WAR ARE TO BE EXECUTED. What followed was a six-week frenzy of killing that defies articulation. Masses of POWs were beheaded, machine-gunned, bayoneted, and burned alive. The Japanese turned on civilians, engaging in killing contests, raping tens of thousands of people, mutilating and crucifying them, and provoking dogs to maul them. Japanese soldiers took pictures of themselves posing alongside hacked-up bodies, severed heads, and women strapped down for rape. The Japanese press ran tallies of the killing contests as if they were baseball scores, praising the heroism of the contestants. Historians estimate that the Japanese military murdered between 200,000 and 430,000 Chinese, including the 90,000 POWs, in what became known as the Rape of Nanking."This gives a more complete picture of the behavior and the attitudes of Japan, and why Hiroshima and Nagasaki were last resorts. Japan was on par of the atrocities committed by Hitler and Germany, and the two countries had more in common during treatment of people during the war than they differed. This concept certainly is not in our modern psyche. It is accepted (and often applauded) to denigrate Germany, but it is labeled as racist if we criticize Japan.In addition to the highlighting of a great man and as a history lesson, Unbroken is simply excellent prose. Hillenbrand has a poetic style of writing even the cruelest events.Examples:He felt as if he would faint, but it wasn't from the exertion. It was from the realization of what he was.One engine, for reasons known only to the plane, was thirstier than the others, so the gauges had to be watched constantlyThere was one perk to life in the barracks. The bathroom was plastered in girlie pinups, a Sistine Chapel of pornography.But it was good to feel oriented, to know that they were drifting toward land somewhere out there, on the far side of the earth's tilt.Dignity is as essential to human life as water, food, and oxygen. The stubborn retention of it, even in the face of extreme physical hardship, can hold a man's soul in his body long past the point at which the body should have surrendered it. The loss of it can carry a man off as surely as thirst, hunger, exposure, and asphyxiation, and with greater cruelty. In places like Kwajalein, degradation could be as lethal as a bullet.The paradox of vengefulness is that it makes men dependent upon those who have harmed them, believing that their release from pain will come only when they make their tormentors suffer.Whether or not you are a fan of war accounts, go read this book. Like me, you will be mesmerized with Louie Zamperini for good reason. He is a man who stands above other men, and his story demands to be told. The more like Zamperini we are, the better the world would be.


Question: Which story is relatable?

I could not p put this book down! The story was simply riveting and Katniss was the perfect unwilling heroine.  I could relate to her awkwardness, fear, disgust, hatred and sorrow.  Her confusion over Peeta is understandable too, but my heart breaks for him because his love is real. I can't wait to start the next book!

Answer: The story was simply riveting and Katniss was the perfect unwilling heroine

<hl> I could not p put this book down! The story was simply riveting and Katniss was the perfect unwilling heroine . <hl> I could relate to her awkwardness, fear, disgust, hatred and sorrow. Her confusion over Peeta is understandable too, but my heart breaks for him because his love is real. I can't wait to start the next book!

I could not p put this book down! <hl> The story was simply riveting and Katniss was the perfect unwilling heroine <hl>. I could relate to her awkwardness, fear, disgust, hatred and sorrow. Her confusion over Peeta is understandable too, but my heart breaks for him because his love is real. I can't wait to start the next book!

I could not p put this book down! <hl> The story was simply riveting and Katniss was the perfect unwilling heroine <hl> .


Question: Where is  book?

First of all,  don't get me wrong,  I loved this book. But there is a reason I gave it only 3 stars. While I adored Katniss' admiration I couldn't help myself from wanting to slap her sometimes as well. She is so ignorant until about 98 percent of the book about Peeta actually being in love with her. Like come on,  really? It was kind of cute at first,  but as the book went on it got a tad annoying. I kind of figured Collins does it on purpose and maybe I'll think differently after reading Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Thank god I didn't read this right when it came out and have to wait to start Catching Fire because I was more than dissapointed with the ending. Peeta's justifiably upset and Katniss wishes things were different. While some reviewers found Katniss unrelatable I found her more relatable than ever in this moment. Being so utterly confused and wishing things were different,  being in a love triangle. I just really wish it didn't end like that,  to me it was a weak ending. Also I could not get over how much this novel reminded me of Lord of the Flies. The thought came into my mind several times throughout this book. Hopefully Catching Fire and Mockingjay blow all my doubts out of the water because I truly did enjoy this fast paced,  riveting book.

Answer: I loved this book

<hl> First of all, don't get me wrong, I loved this book . <hl> But there is a reason I gave it only 3 stars. While I adored Katniss' admiration I couldn't help myself from wanting to slap her sometimes as well. She is so ignorant until about 98 percent of the book about Peeta actually being in love with her. Like come on, really? It was kind of cute at first, but as the book went on it got a tad annoying. I kind of figured Collins does it on purpose and maybe I'll think differently after reading Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Thank god I didn't read this right when it came out and have to wait to start Catching Fire because I was more than dissapointed with the ending. Peeta's justifiably upset and Katniss wishes things were different. While some reviewers found Katniss unrelatable I found her more relatable than ever in this moment. Being so utterly confused and wishing things were different, being in a love triangle. I just really wish it didn't end like that, to me it was a weak ending. Also I could not get over how much this novel reminded me of Lord of the Flies. The thought came into my mind several times throughout this book. Hopefully Catching Fire and Mockingjay blow all my doubts out of the water because I truly did enjoy this fast paced, riveting book.

First of all, don't get me wrong, <hl> I loved this book <hl>. But there is a reason I gave it only 3 stars. While I adored Katniss' admiration I couldn't help myself from wanting to slap her sometimes as well. She is so ignorant until about 98 percent of the book about Peeta actually being in love with her. Like come on, really? It was kind of cute at first, but as the book went on it got a tad annoying. I kind of figured Collins does it on purpose and maybe I'll think differently after reading Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Thank god I didn't read this right when it came out and have to wait to start Catching Fire because I was more than dissapointed with the ending. Peeta's justifiably upset and Katniss wishes things were different. While some reviewers found Katniss unrelatable I found her more relatable than ever in this moment. Being so utterly confused and wishing things were different, being in a love triangle. I just really wish it didn't end like that, to me it was a weak ending. Also I could not get over how much this novel reminded me of Lord of the Flies. The thought came into my mind several times throughout this book. Hopefully Catching Fire and Mockingjay blow all my doubts out of the water because I truly did enjoy this fast paced, riveting book.

First of all, don't get me wrong, <hl> I loved this book <hl> .


Question: How were the words heard?

Subject matter is difficult, of course, but through the eyes, heart, and mind of a an adolescent girl, this book is beautifully and hauntingly written. It is crucial that we truly know this truth of our humanity and history.

Answer: Subject matter is difficult

<hl> Subject matter is difficult , of course, but through the eyes, heart, and mind of a an adolescent girl, this book is beautifully and hauntingly written. <hl> It is crucial that we truly know this truth of our humanity and history.

<hl> Subject matter is difficult <hl>, of course, but through the eyes, heart, and mind of a an adolescent girl, this book is beautifully and hauntingly written. It is crucial that we truly know this truth of our humanity and history.

<hl> Subject matter is difficult <hl> , of course, but through the eyes, heart, and mind of a an adolescent girl, this book is beautifully and hauntingly written.