Question: What is novel?

This is one novel that deserves the popularity it enjoys. Wow, is this book good!The main thing that makes this such a favorite is the suspense that Collins has woven in. I could not stop listening to this book! I kept trying to find more things to clean around the house to justify listening to it for "just another hour." Of course, that hour turned into two hours, which turned into three hours -- needless to say, I finished this one very quickly and my house was sparkling for a couple of days. There is never any part where the reader's emotions are allowed to rest. Like Katniss, I was always on edge, waiting for her next challenge, waiting for the next bad thing to happen. This makes it a fast read. Also, since it's told through Katniss's eyes and the storytelling is excellent, I was completely involved in the story from start to finish.Haymitch is by far my favorite character, with Katniss being a close second. I thought all the characters were wonderfully done. I got a sense of each of them without being told exactly who they were, what they did, and what I should think of them. Collins lets us draw our own conclusions by giving their personalities through Katniss's eyes and letting the characters' actions speak for themselves. I think this envelops all of the book, actually. She doesn't dumb down the writing just because it's young adult. It's complex, teaches lessons without being didactic, and (better yet) doesn't talk down to the reader.Another thing I appreciate is the realism Collins brings to The Hunger Games. Problems don't magically disappear and there isn't any forced happily-ever-afters. It's violent, brutal, and dark. Those who are squeamish will have a hard time with this story, but I think it's worth it. For one thing, the violence isn't there for shock value, as is the case for some novels, unfortunately. Rather, it's a statement about the government of Panem and what these people are forced to live with. I like that the characters are forced to work through their problems and actually deal with issues. It makes for an interesting story, the characters are allowed to grow and change, and it reflects the real world. Problems don't just disappear.The narration of the audiobook is also excellent. McCormick is so talented at infusing her words with emotions and getting the pacing exactly right. The voices for each of her characters are easy to distinguish, even if you're listening to it in the background. Her rendition is so well done, in fact, that I found myself pausing in my chores to just listen to her tell the story.I highly recommend this to everyone. Yes, there is violence, yes it is dark, but these are parts of the message The Hunger Games holds. This is one book worth reading.

Answer: Hunger Games

The Hunger Games .

This is one novel that deserves the popularity it enjoys. Wow, is this book good!The main thing that makes this such a favorite is the suspense that Collins has woven in. I could not stop listening to this book! I kept trying to find more things to clean around the house to justify listening to it for "just another hour." Of course, that hour turned into two hours, which turned into three hours -- needless to say, I finished this one very quickly and my house was sparkling for a couple of days. There is never any part where the reader's emotions are allowed to rest. Like Katniss, I was always on edge, waiting for her next challenge, waiting for the next bad thing to happen. This makes it a fast read. Also, since it's told through Katniss's eyes and the storytelling is excellent, I was completely involved in the story from start to finish. Haymitch is by far my favorite character, with Katniss being a close second. I thought all the characters were wonderfully done. I got a sense of each of them without being told exactly who they were, what they did, and what I should think of them. Collins lets us draw our own conclusions by giving their personalities through Katniss's eyes and letting the characters' actions speak for themselves. I think this envelops all of the book, actually. She doesn't dumb down the writing just because it's young adult. It's complex, teaches lessons without being didactic, and (better yet) doesn't talk down to the reader. Another thing I appreciate is the realism Collins brings to <hl> The Hunger Games . <hl> Problems don't magically disappear and there isn't any forced happily-ever-afters. It's violent, brutal, and dark. Those who are squeamish will have a hard time with this story, but I think it's worth it. For one thing, the violence isn't there for shock value, as is the case for some novels, unfortunately. Rather, it's a statement about the government of Panem and what these people are forced to live with. I like that the characters are forced to work through their problems and actually deal with issues. It makes for an interesting story, the characters are allowed to grow and change, and it reflects the real world. Problems don't just disappear. The narration of the audiobook is also excellent. McCormick is so talented at infusing her words with emotions and getting the pacing exactly right. The voices for each of her characters are easy to distinguish, even if you're listening to it in the background. Her rendition is so well done, in fact, that I found myself pausing in my chores to just listen to her tell the story. I highly recommend this to everyone. Yes, there is violence, yes it is dark, but these are parts of the message The Hunger Games holds. This is one book worth reading.

This is one novel that deserves the popularity it enjoys. Wow, is this book good!The main thing that makes this such a favorite is the suspense that Collins has woven in. I could not stop listening to this book! I kept trying to find more things to clean around the house to justify listening to it for "just another hour." Of course, that hour turned into two hours, which turned into three hours -- needless to say, I finished this one very quickly and my house was sparkling for a couple of days. There is never any part where the reader's emotions are allowed to rest. Like Katniss, I was always on edge, waiting for her next challenge, waiting for the next bad thing to happen. This makes it a fast read. Also, since it's told through Katniss's eyes and the storytelling is excellent, I was completely involved in the story from start to finish.Haymitch is by far my favorite character, with Katniss being a close second. I thought all the characters were wonderfully done. I got a sense of each of them without being told exactly who they were, what they did, and what I should think of them. Collins lets us draw our own conclusions by giving their personalities through Katniss's eyes and letting the characters' actions speak for themselves. I think this envelops all of the book, actually. She doesn't dumb down the writing just because it's young adult. It's complex, teaches lessons without being didactic, and (better yet) doesn't talk down to the reader.Another thing I appreciate is the realism Collins brings to The <hl> Hunger Games <hl>. Problems don't magically disappear and there isn't any forced happily-ever-afters. It's violent, brutal, and dark. Those who are squeamish will have a hard time with this story, but I think it's worth it. For one thing, the violence isn't there for shock value, as is the case for some novels, unfortunately. Rather, it's a statement about the government of Panem and what these people are forced to live with. I like that the characters are forced to work through their problems and actually deal with issues. It makes for an interesting story, the characters are allowed to grow and change, and it reflects the real world. Problems don't just disappear.The narration of the audiobook is also excellent. McCormick is so talented at infusing her words with emotions and getting the pacing exactly right. The voices for each of her characters are easy to distinguish, even if you're listening to it in the background. Her rendition is so well done, in fact, that I found myself pausing in my chores to just listen to her tell the story.I highly recommend this to everyone. Yes, there is violence, yes it is dark, but these are parts of the message The Hunger Games holds. This is one book worth reading.


Question: Is it a good book?

I found the booking disappointment, maybe because there is so much hype about it and my expectations were too high.Fist of all 21 years old virgin? hard to believeand from her first time having sex she is having mind blowing orgasimsI found the book filled in with fluff, like pages and pages of e mails between them that don't say anything but fill the pages. Each of them on his cover letter with at least six lines filled with name, subject, date etc and one or two words or one line of the actual e mail and very childishMaybe it is meant for younger audience but I am 44 and found it lacking and have hard time finishing it. Keep reading hoping it will get better but it does not.To me it was waste of money!

Answer: I found the booking disappointment

<hl> I found the booking disappointment , maybe because there is so much hype about it and my expectations were too high. <hl> Fist of all 21 years old virgin? hard to believeand from her first time having sex she is having mind blowing orgasimsI found the book filled in with fluff, like pages and pages of e mails between them that don't say anything but fill the pages. Each of them on his cover letter with at least six lines filled with name, subject, date etc and one or two words or one line of the actual e mail and very childishMaybe it is meant for younger audience but I am 44 and found it lacking and have hard time finishing it. Keep reading hoping it will get better but it does not. To me it was waste of money!

<hl> I found the booking disappointment <hl>, maybe because there is so much hype about it and my expectations were too high.Fist of all 21 years old virgin? hard to believeand from her first time having sex she is having mind blowing orgasimsI found the book filled in with fluff, like pages and pages of e mails between them that don't say anything but fill the pages. Each of them on his cover letter with at least six lines filled with name, subject, date etc and one or two words or one line of the actual e mail and very childishMaybe it is meant for younger audience but I am 44 and found it lacking and have hard time finishing it. Keep reading hoping it will get better but it does not.To me it was waste of money!

<hl> I found the booking disappointment <hl> , maybe because there is so much hype about it and my expectations were too high.


Question: Why do you have raw parts in the book?

This is a really hard book to read, with extremely violent and twisted situations. It's not for the faint of heart and it's not a warm and fuzzy story. Raw is a very apt title because the emotions evoked are raw. And disturbing. But in it's own strange way, beautiful because as Twitch says, "what is normal?"  By the end of this book, I was sobbing like a baby, feeling every ounce of hurt and sadness that the characters feel. This story is so different from anything else I've read and I'm glad. Do not read if you're easily turned off but difficult subject matters.

Answer: Raw is a very apt title because the emotions evoked are raw

This is a really hard book to read, with extremely violent and twisted situations. It's not for the faint of heart and it's not a warm and fuzzy story. <hl> Raw is a very apt title because the emotions evoked are raw . <hl> And disturbing. But in it's own strange way, beautiful because as Twitch says, "what is normal?" By the end of this book, I was sobbing like a baby, feeling every ounce of hurt and sadness that the characters feel. This story is so different from anything else I've read and I'm glad. Do not read if you're easily turned off but difficult subject matters.

This is a really hard book to read, with extremely violent and twisted situations. It's not for the faint of heart and it's not a warm and fuzzy story. <hl> Raw is a very apt title because the emotions evoked are raw <hl>. And disturbing. But in it's own strange way, beautiful because as Twitch says, "what is normal?" By the end of this book, I was sobbing like a baby, feeling every ounce of hurt and sadness that the characters feel. This story is so different from anything else I've read and I'm glad. Do not read if you're easily turned off but difficult subject matters.

<hl> Raw is a very apt title because the emotions evoked are raw <hl> .


Question: Are evil people on story line of this book?

I tend to avoid the blockbuster bestsellers. But my mother's friend gave her The Help, and she passed it on to me. I wasn't very interested, although the movie trailers looked better than I'd expected. But I was in desperate need of something distracting one night, something other than what I'd been reading or, it seemed, anything else within reach, and The Help next thing I knew it was 2:30 AM and it was only through sheer willpower that I put this down and tried to go to sleep. Tried. It wasn't easy. I read this book in three sittings, and it would have been one if I'd had any say in the matter. That hasn't happened in a while.An indication of how thoroughly distracted I was: I loathe, despise, and abominate the present tense in fiction. It's silly to admit it, but I was halfway through the book before it really registered that all three points of view in The Help are present tense. I grew used to it in Aibileen's section - it was just a part of the dialect, of Aibileen's voice; the same was true of Minny's, and by the time I started Skeeter's first chapter I was well beyond simply engrossed. I literally did a double-take when for some reason one present-tense usage registered It was simply that I was paying far more attention to what was happening than to how it was written - and it's been a very long time since that happened, that thoroughly.It should not have been so very compulsively readable. Present tense; dialect to one degree or another throughout; but the three women whose voices tell the story are so vibrant and alive that Kathryn Stockett might have been able to get away with future tense Pig Latin and still produced gold. (I wouldn't recommend it, however.) Aibileen and Minny and Skeeter are each in her way wounded, and are not about to be sharing everything right off with someone they know as little as the reader. It takes time to gain their friendship and their confidence, and in the meantime the secrets they keep are only hinted at, to torment and tease. When the secrets are finally revealed, in their own time, they are equal to their buildup. Again, not something easily pulled off.Each section is written just as if the narrator were talking to the reader, truly in her voice. Each woman's voice belongs to her and her alone. Aibileen's dialect is heavy, warm but mildly ironic, bitterness and sorrow always just below the surface - or higher. I adore Aibileen. Minny's mother was a schoolteacher and had no patience for slang, and Minny has never quite lapsed from her high standards; neither of these women is stupid, not by a long mark, but Minny's voice has a closer relationship to formal grammar - along with a bigger helping of sarcasm and bitterness. Skeeter is a college girl, and her voice, always worried, is closest to standard - but she is still a Mississippi girl and still calls the Harper & Row editor Missus Stein. One test of good fiction writing is whether a character's dialogue can be matched to that character based on style and syntax alone. Any single paragraph in this book can pass that test.I feel a little stupid that some of the dangers of the time and place never occurred to me. The 60's aren't my milieu. I happily missed nearly all the decade, and the only thing I've regretted was the moon launch (and maybe the Beatles). Plus I'm a Northern girl; even at the worst of it, before I was born, it wasn't quite as bad here. (Partly because, I find, segregation was more due to strictly separated neighborhoods (or rather neighborhoods and ghettos) than law.) I knew some of it, of course. I knew the basics of the story of Emmet Till (though I didn't realize he was only 14; or maybe it was another case I had heard of. There were no doubt many). But I simply was clueless about how prevalent and constant the danger was. Every day, every action, every word and look and conversation and quirk of an eyebrow might be scrutinized, and might lead to ... anything. Being fired; being beaten; being killed. Crosses burned, houses burned, bodies burned. And even beyond the danger, almost as hard to live with had to be the constant, continuous barrage of words. Even someone otherwise not unfriendly thought nothing of what is now (happily almost universally) considered outrageous remarks. Complete strangers were free to say appalling things.I know - I've been sheltered, that this was such a revelation to me. Don't think I'm not, in a large way, grateful.If I had been forced to say what I expected from The Help it would probably have been social commentary. Heart-warming. Heartstring-tugging. Some facile tale of some white girl's exposé on racial inequality. I was shocked, actually shocked, at the level of anxiety in this novel - it was more intense than a great many books intended as suspense novels. There was the not-quite comic suspense of what exactly the deal was with the pie. But, more, much more, there was the concern, the need to know if these women were going to be all right. There was no guarantee of that, none. Someone's review of another book nailed it:"Yes, somehow Mason made even those aspects of the novel incredibly interesting though it's a subject in which I have very little interest. I sympathised very much with Eloise's terrors and her courage at facing them - in fact I found I couldn't stop worrying about her even when I wasn't reading the book."I cared about these people. (Not characters: people.) I worried about them - yes, even when I wasn't reading the book. I learned from this, factually and emotionally. I was deeply impressed - this was a beautiful, beautiful book.

Answer: avoid

<hl> I tend to avoid the blockbuster bestsellers. <hl> But my mother's friend gave her The Help, and she passed it on to me. I wasn't very interested, although the movie trailers looked better than I'd expected. But I was in desperate need of something distracting one night, something other than what I'd been reading or, it seemed, anything else within reach, and The Help next thing I knew it was 2:30 AM and it was only through sheer willpower that I put this down and tried to go to sleep. Tried. It wasn't easy. I read this book in three sittings, and it would have been one if I'd had any say in the matter. That hasn't happened in a while. An indication of how thoroughly distracted I was: I loathe, despise, and abominate the present tense in fiction. It's silly to admit it, but I was halfway through the book before it really registered that all three points of view in The Help are present tense. I grew used to it in Aibileen's section - it was just a part of the dialect, of Aibileen's voice; the same was true of Minny's, and by the time I started Skeeter's first chapter I was well beyond simply engrossed. I literally did a double-take when for some reason one present-tense usage registered It was simply that I was paying far more attention to what was happening than to how it was written - and it's been a very long time since that happened, that thoroughly. It should not have been so very compulsively readable. Present tense; dialect to one degree or another throughout; but the three women whose voices tell the story are so vibrant and alive that Kathryn Stockett might have been able to get away with future tense Pig Latin and still produced gold. (I wouldn't recommend it, however.) Aibileen and Minny and Skeeter are each in her way wounded, and are not about to be sharing everything right off with someone they know as little as the reader. It takes time to gain their friendship and their confidence, and in the meantime the secrets they keep are only hinted at, to torment and tease. When the secrets are finally revealed, in their own time, they are equal to their buildup. Again, not something easily pulled off. Each section is written just as if the narrator were talking to the reader, truly in her voice. Each woman's voice belongs to her and her alone. Aibileen's dialect is heavy, warm but mildly ironic, bitterness and sorrow always just below the surface - or higher. I adore Aibileen. Minny's mother was a schoolteacher and had no patience for slang, and Minny has never quite lapsed from her high standards; neither of these women is stupid, not by a long mark, but Minny's voice has a closer relationship to formal grammar - along with a bigger helping of sarcasm and bitterness. Skeeter is a college girl, and her voice, always worried, is closest to standard - but she is still a Mississippi girl and still calls the Harper & Row editor Missus Stein. One test of good fiction writing is whether a character's dialogue can be matched to that character based on style and syntax alone. Any single paragraph in this book can pass that test. I feel a little stupid that some of the dangers of the time and place never occurred to me. The 60's aren't my milieu. I happily missed nearly all the decade, and the only thing I've regretted was the moon launch (and maybe the Beatles). Plus I'm a Northern girl; even at the worst of it, before I was born, it wasn't quite as bad here. (Partly because, I find, segregation was more due to strictly separated neighborhoods (or rather neighborhoods and ghettos) than law.) I knew some of it, of course. I knew the basics of the story of Emmet Till (though I didn't realize he was only 14; or maybe it was another case I had heard of. There were no doubt many). But I simply was clueless about how prevalent and constant the danger was. Every day, every action, every word and look and conversation and quirk of an eyebrow might be scrutinized, and might lead to ... anything. Being fired; being beaten; being killed. Crosses burned, houses burned, bodies burned. And even beyond the danger, almost as hard to live with had to be the constant, continuous barrage of words. Even someone otherwise not unfriendly thought nothing of what is now (happily almost universally) considered outrageous remarks. Complete strangers were free to say appalling things. I know - I've been sheltered, that this was such a revelation to me. Don't think I'm not, in a large way, grateful. If I had been forced to say what I expected from The Help it would probably have been social commentary. Heart-warming. Heartstring-tugging. Some facile tale of some white girl's exposé on racial inequality. I was shocked, actually shocked, at the level of anxiety in this novel - it was more intense than a great many books intended as suspense novels. There was the not-quite comic suspense of what exactly the deal was with the pie. But, more, much more, there was the concern, the need to know if these women were going to be all right. There was no guarantee of that, none. Someone's review of another book nailed it:"Yes, somehow Mason made even those aspects of the novel incredibly interesting though it's a subject in which I have very little interest. I sympathised very much with Eloise's terrors and her courage at facing them - in fact I found I couldn't stop worrying about her even when I wasn't reading the book. "I cared about these people. (Not characters: people.) I worried about them - yes, even when I wasn't reading the book. I learned from this, factually and emotionally. I was deeply impressed - this was a beautiful, beautiful book.

I tend to <hl> avoid <hl> the blockbuster bestsellers. But my mother's friend gave her The Help, and she passed it on to me. I wasn't very interested, although the movie trailers looked better than I'd expected. But I was in desperate need of something distracting one night, something other than what I'd been reading or, it seemed, anything else within reach, and The Help next thing I knew it was 2:30 AM and it was only through sheer willpower that I put this down and tried to go to sleep. Tried. It wasn't easy. I read this book in three sittings, and it would have been one if I'd had any say in the matter. That hasn't happened in a while.An indication of how thoroughly distracted I was: I loathe, despise, and abominate the present tense in fiction. It's silly to admit it, but I was halfway through the book before it really registered that all three points of view in The Help are present tense. I grew used to it in Aibileen's section - it was just a part of the dialect, of Aibileen's voice; the same was true of Minny's, and by the time I started Skeeter's first chapter I was well beyond simply engrossed. I literally did a double-take when for some reason one present-tense usage registered It was simply that I was paying far more attention to what was happening than to how it was written - and it's been a very long time since that happened, that thoroughly.It should not have been so very compulsively readable. Present tense; dialect to one degree or another throughout; but the three women whose voices tell the story are so vibrant and alive that Kathryn Stockett might have been able to get away with future tense Pig Latin and still produced gold. (I wouldn't recommend it, however.) Aibileen and Minny and Skeeter are each in her way wounded, and are not about to be sharing everything right off with someone they know as little as the reader. It takes time to gain their friendship and their confidence, and in the meantime the secrets they keep are only hinted at, to torment and tease. When the secrets are finally revealed, in their own time, they are equal to their buildup. Again, not something easily pulled off.Each section is written just as if the narrator were talking to the reader, truly in her voice. Each woman's voice belongs to her and her alone. Aibileen's dialect is heavy, warm but mildly ironic, bitterness and sorrow always just below the surface - or higher. I adore Aibileen. Minny's mother was a schoolteacher and had no patience for slang, and Minny has never quite lapsed from her high standards; neither of these women is stupid, not by a long mark, but Minny's voice has a closer relationship to formal grammar - along with a bigger helping of sarcasm and bitterness. Skeeter is a college girl, and her voice, always worried, is closest to standard - but she is still a Mississippi girl and still calls the Harper & Row editor Missus Stein. One test of good fiction writing is whether a character's dialogue can be matched to that character based on style and syntax alone. Any single paragraph in this book can pass that test.I feel a little stupid that some of the dangers of the time and place never occurred to me. The 60's aren't my milieu. I happily missed nearly all the decade, and the only thing I've regretted was the moon launch (and maybe the Beatles). Plus I'm a Northern girl; even at the worst of it, before I was born, it wasn't quite as bad here. (Partly because, I find, segregation was more due to strictly separated neighborhoods (or rather neighborhoods and ghettos) than law.) I knew some of it, of course. I knew the basics of the story of Emmet Till (though I didn't realize he was only 14; or maybe it was another case I had heard of. There were no doubt many). But I simply was clueless about how prevalent and constant the danger was. Every day, every action, every word and look and conversation and quirk of an eyebrow might be scrutinized, and might lead to ... anything. Being fired; being beaten; being killed. Crosses burned, houses burned, bodies burned. And even beyond the danger, almost as hard to live with had to be the constant, continuous barrage of words. Even someone otherwise not unfriendly thought nothing of what is now (happily almost universally) considered outrageous remarks. Complete strangers were free to say appalling things.I know - I've been sheltered, that this was such a revelation to me. Don't think I'm not, in a large way, grateful.If I had been forced to say what I expected from The Help it would probably have been social commentary. Heart-warming. Heartstring-tugging. Some facile tale of some white girl's exposé on racial inequality. I was shocked, actually shocked, at the level of anxiety in this novel - it was more intense than a great many books intended as suspense novels. There was the not-quite comic suspense of what exactly the deal was with the pie. But, more, much more, there was the concern, the need to know if these women were going to be all right. There was no guarantee of that, none. Someone's review of another book nailed it:"Yes, somehow Mason made even those aspects of the novel incredibly interesting though it's a subject in which I have very little interest. I sympathised very much with Eloise's terrors and her courage at facing them - in fact I found I couldn't stop worrying about her even when I wasn't reading the book."I cared about these people. (Not characters: people.) I worried about them - yes, even when I wasn't reading the book. I learned from this, factually and emotionally. I was deeply impressed - this was a beautiful, beautiful book.


Question: How do you rate the write?

This book is by far one of the best books I have ever read. I briefly had a problem adjusting to writing style but once lost in the story I was hooked. This author is exceptionally talented. Many other authors might fill several pages with description while this author paints extremely vivid pictures with only a few brush strokes. I also enjoyed the conversational tone of the narrative. As if, Katniss was telling her tale directly to me in my own home and if you know Katniss, she doesn't just trust anyone. So the illusion that I might just be a personal friend and confident to Katniss was truly impressive. And oh, did I feel her pain, her rage, her despair! Not very often there comes a story that is truly magic! I mean, Harry Potter, was a story about magic and has the place of highest honor on my bookshelves next to the Lord of the Rings books, but this one is entirely different. This book made me apart of the action. It made me feel like I know the characters on a personal level and once I was back in my own world I was left with a feeling like I'd just had a visit from an dear friend. I can't remember if I've ever read a book like it.

Answer: problem adjusting to writing

This book is by far one of the best books I have ever read. <hl> I briefly had a problem adjusting to writing style but once lost in the story I was hooked. <hl> This author is exceptionally talented. Many other authors might fill several pages with description while this author paints extremely vivid pictures with only a few brush strokes. I also enjoyed the conversational tone of the narrative. As if, Katniss was telling her tale directly to me in my own home and if you know Katniss, she doesn't just trust anyone. So the illusion that I might just be a personal friend and confident to Katniss was truly impressive. And oh, did I feel her pain, her rage, her despair! Not very often there comes a story that is truly magic! I mean, Harry Potter, was a story about magic and has the place of highest honor on my bookshelves next to the Lord of the Rings books, but this one is entirely different. This book made me apart of the action. It made me feel like I know the characters on a personal level and once I was back in my own world I was left with a feeling like I'd just had a visit from an dear friend. I can't remember if I've ever read a book like it.

This book is by far one of the best books I have ever read. I briefly had a <hl> problem adjusting to writing <hl> style but once lost in the story I was hooked. This author is exceptionally talented. Many other authors might fill several pages with description while this author paints extremely vivid pictures with only a few brush strokes. I also enjoyed the conversational tone of the narrative. As if, Katniss was telling her tale directly to me in my own home and if you know Katniss, she doesn't just trust anyone. So the illusion that I might just be a personal friend and confident to Katniss was truly impressive. And oh, did I feel her pain, her rage, her despair! Not very often there comes a story that is truly magic! I mean, Harry Potter, was a story about magic and has the place of highest honor on my bookshelves next to the Lord of the Rings books, but this one is entirely different. This book made me apart of the action. It made me feel like I know the characters on a personal level and once I was back in my own world I was left with a feeling like I'd just had a visit from an dear friend. I can't remember if I've ever read a book like it.


Question: How did you think of the dog's eye?

I could not put this book down! Rare is the occassion when I choose fiction over non-fiction. I prefer reading memoirs because the stories really happened. Fiction writers often add details in the stories that don't sound believable. I know it's fiction, but I'm quickly turned off when a novel sites events that don't sound plausible. "The Help" is the rare novel that offers everything a reader could want in a good book. It's a true page-turner. One would never guess that this is Kathryn Stockett's debut novel. Her writing style is captivating. I generally don't enjoy books that have multiple narrators, but Stockett created such dynamic characters, she was able to pull it off beautifully. I would (and have) recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a Southern tale. I'm looking forward to reading more from Stockett in the future.

Answer: I prefer reading memoirs because the stories really happened. Fiction writers often add details in the stories that don't sound believable. I know it's fiction, but I'm quickly turned off when a novel sites events that don't sound plausible. "The Help" is the rare novel that offers everything a reader could want in a good book. It's a true page-turner. One would never guess that this is Kathryn Stockett's debut novel. Her writing style is captivating. I generally don't enjoy books that have multiple narrators, but Stockett created such dynamic characters, she was able to pull it off beautifully. I would (and have) recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a Southern tale. I'm looking forward to reading more from Stockett in the future.

I could not put this book down! Rare is the occassion when I choose fiction over non-fiction. <hl> I prefer reading memoirs because the stories really happened. Fiction writers often add details in the stories that don't sound believable. I know it's fiction, but I'm quickly turned off when a novel sites events that don't sound plausible. "The Help" is the rare novel that offers everything a reader could want in a good book. It's a true page-turner. One would never guess that this is Kathryn Stockett's debut novel. Her writing style is captivating. I generally don't enjoy books that have multiple narrators, but Stockett created such dynamic characters, she was able to pull it off beautifully. I would (and have) recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a Southern tale. I'm looking forward to reading more from Stockett in the future. <hl>


Question: Why none is likeable?

It's the classic "disconnected from parents, rebel against parents, become your parents, midlife crisis" book. The characters were not likable, and it often felt forced and a little pretentious. I failed to see much that was creative or frankly even interesting.

Answer: The characters were not likable, and it often felt forced and a little pretentious

It's the classic "disconnected from parents, rebel against parents, become your parents, midlife crisis" book. <hl> The characters were not likable, and it often felt forced and a little pretentious . <hl> I failed to see much that was creative or frankly even interesting.

It's the classic "disconnected from parents, rebel against parents, become your parents, midlife crisis" book. <hl> The characters were not likable, and it often felt forced and a little pretentious <hl>. I failed to see much that was creative or frankly even interesting.

<hl> The characters were not likable, and it often felt forced and a little pretentious <hl> .


Question: How is the hero?

I really enjoyed this story! I thought the heroine was great and the hero was wonderful! I loved the way it ended. I will definitely be purchasing more books from this author!

Answer: the hero was wonderful

I really enjoyed this story! <hl> I thought the heroine was great and the hero was wonderful ! <hl> I loved the way it ended. I will definitely be purchasing more books from this author!

I really enjoyed this story! I thought the heroine was great and <hl> the hero was wonderful <hl>! I loved the way it ended. I will definitely be purchasing more books from this author!

I thought the heroine was great and <hl> the hero was wonderful <hl> !


Question: How is the write?

The book is compelling and the plot is clever, but it certainly falls apart at the end.  The final product is good, but it could have been great.

Answer: The book is compelling and the plot is clever

<hl> The book is compelling and the plot is clever , but it certainly falls apart at the end. <hl> The final product is good, but it could have been great.

<hl> The book is compelling and the plot is clever <hl>, but it certainly falls apart at the end. The final product is good, but it could have been great.

<hl> The book is compelling and the plot is clever <hl> , but it certainly falls apart at the end.


Question: How is story?

Let's face it--I'm a huge Lisa Scottoline fan and this book kept me guessing.  The main character was a little hard to warm up to because of the way she handled her problems in the beginning.  She didn't show much strength when faced with accusations.  Saving her child should have been a no-brainer, but she allowed other parents to cause self doubt.  Excellent writing style but not one of my all-time fav Scottoline books.  I miss the law office.

Answer: Excellent writing style but not one of my all

Let's face it--I'm a huge Lisa Scottoline fan and this book kept me guessing. The main character was a little hard to warm up to because of the way she handled her problems in the beginning. She didn't show much strength when faced with accusations. Saving her child should have been a no-brainer, but she allowed other parents to cause self doubt. <hl> Excellent writing style but not one of my all -time fav Scottoline books. <hl> I miss the law office.

Let's face it--I'm a huge Lisa Scottoline fan and this book kept me guessing. The main character was a little hard to warm up to because of the way she handled her problems in the beginning. She didn't show much strength when faced with accusations. Saving her child should have been a no-brainer, but she allowed other parents to cause self doubt. <hl> Excellent writing style but not one of my all <hl>-time fav Scottoline books. I miss the law office.

<hl> Excellent writing style but not one of my all <hl> -time fav Scottoline books.


Question: How is the book?

Before I read the book Real, this was my #1 all time favorite book.  I absolutely LOVE this story, I find myself trying to find similar stories and outside of Real none holds a candle to how awesome this book truly is.  Definitely a must read!

Answer: this was my #1 all time favorite book

<hl> Before I read the book Real, this was my #1 all time favorite book . <hl> I absolutely LOVE this story, I find myself trying to find similar stories and outside of Real none holds a candle to how awesome this book truly is. Definitely a must read!

Before I read the book Real, <hl> this was my #1 all time favorite book <hl>. I absolutely LOVE this story, I find myself trying to find similar stories and outside of Real none holds a candle to how awesome this book truly is. Definitely a must read!

Before I read the book Real, <hl> this was my #1 all time favorite book <hl> .


Question: How it is the story?

I am a romance book addict.  But sometimes books can get SO CHEESY! This book can be so funny and romantic at the same time! I recommend this book to the all hopeless romantic (including myself) that believes in love!

Answer: funny and romantic

I am a romance book addict. But sometimes books can get SO CHEESY! <hl> This book can be so funny and romantic at the same time! <hl> I recommend this book to the all hopeless romantic (including myself) that believes in love!

I am a romance book addict. But sometimes books can get SO CHEESY! This book can be so <hl> funny and romantic <hl> at the same time! I recommend this book to the all hopeless romantic (including myself) that believes in love!


Question: How good is that book?

Liane Moriarty's The Husband's Secret is one of those books you can't put down but are greatly disappointed when you turn that last page. The book follows three women and how their seemingly unrelated stories intertwine to reveal a life changing twist.Summary:Story #1: Cecelia accidentally finds a dusty letter in the attic, written by her husband John-Paul, only to be opened after his death. While sharing this strange discovery with him, she senses that he is hiding a secret.Story #2: Tess, a working mother, learns that her husband Will has fallen in love with her best friend Felicity. Angry and shocked, she flies to Sydney with her son Liam to escape her wrecking marriage.Story #3: The death of her daughter Janie years ago always reminds Rachel that the murder is still out there, and her world is about to get crazy as she gets closer on finding out the truth.My Thoughts:The book's setting is very intriguing, and the story has so much potential. The author writes in such a smooth, natural way that allowed me to truly relate to these women. Character development is fantastic; the plot and the twists are really thought provoking. I did, however, find the first few chapters confusing when so many characters were introduced all at once, and it became difficult to differentiate all the names. The storyline was also tedious and boring towards the middle, but I definitely appreciated some of the deeper issues that the author takes on. The ending (epilogue) seemed somewhat abrupt but is very clever and ties everything together.As much as I wanted to love this book, it just felt a little short. Some parts were dragged out too much and the twist was also very predictable. Plus, I never fully understood the repetitive Berlin Wall reference.Overall, this is a nice read but not great literature material. I think for the right reader, this can be an amazing book, but unfortunately it's just not for me. The book itself is very well written, but the storytelling is definitely not for everyone.

Answer: one of those books you can't put down but are greatly disappointed

<hl> Liane Moriarty's The Husband's Secret is one of those books you can't put down but are greatly disappointed when you turn that last page. <hl> The book follows three women and how their seemingly unrelated stories intertwine to reveal a life changing twist. Summary:Story #1: Cecelia accidentally finds a dusty letter in the attic, written by her husband John-Paul, only to be opened after his death. While sharing this strange discovery with him, she senses that he is hiding a secret. Story #2: Tess, a working mother, learns that her husband Will has fallen in love with her best friend Felicity. Angry and shocked, she flies to Sydney with her son Liam to escape her wrecking marriage. Story #3: The death of her daughter Janie years ago always reminds Rachel that the murder is still out there, and her world is about to get crazy as she gets closer on finding out the truth. My Thoughts:The book's setting is very intriguing, and the story has so much potential. The author writes in such a smooth, natural way that allowed me to truly relate to these women. Character development is fantastic; the plot and the twists are really thought provoking. I did, however, find the first few chapters confusing when so many characters were introduced all at once, and it became difficult to differentiate all the names. The storyline was also tedious and boring towards the middle, but I definitely appreciated some of the deeper issues that the author takes on. The ending (epilogue) seemed somewhat abrupt but is very clever and ties everything together. As much as I wanted to love this book, it just felt a little short. Some parts were dragged out too much and the twist was also very predictable. Plus, I never fully understood the repetitive Berlin Wall reference. Overall, this is a nice read but not great literature material. I think for the right reader, this can be an amazing book, but unfortunately it's just not for me. The book itself is very well written, but the storytelling is definitely not for everyone.

Liane Moriarty's The Husband's Secret is <hl> one of those books you can't put down but are greatly disappointed <hl> when you turn that last page. The book follows three women and how their seemingly unrelated stories intertwine to reveal a life changing twist.Summary:Story #1: Cecelia accidentally finds a dusty letter in the attic, written by her husband John-Paul, only to be opened after his death. While sharing this strange discovery with him, she senses that he is hiding a secret.Story #2: Tess, a working mother, learns that her husband Will has fallen in love with her best friend Felicity. Angry and shocked, she flies to Sydney with her son Liam to escape her wrecking marriage.Story #3: The death of her daughter Janie years ago always reminds Rachel that the murder is still out there, and her world is about to get crazy as she gets closer on finding out the truth.My Thoughts:The book's setting is very intriguing, and the story has so much potential. The author writes in such a smooth, natural way that allowed me to truly relate to these women. Character development is fantastic; the plot and the twists are really thought provoking. I did, however, find the first few chapters confusing when so many characters were introduced all at once, and it became difficult to differentiate all the names. The storyline was also tedious and boring towards the middle, but I definitely appreciated some of the deeper issues that the author takes on. The ending (epilogue) seemed somewhat abrupt but is very clever and ties everything together.As much as I wanted to love this book, it just felt a little short. Some parts were dragged out too much and the twist was also very predictable. Plus, I never fully understood the repetitive Berlin Wall reference.Overall, this is a nice read but not great literature material. I think for the right reader, this can be an amazing book, but unfortunately it's just not for me. The book itself is very well written, but the storytelling is definitely not for everyone.


Question: How is the series?

What a great end to a great series. Such a thought provoking book, and I loved hearing more from Four in this one. The entire Divergent series is well worth your reading time.

Answer: What a great end to a great series

What a great end to a great series .

<hl> What a great end to a great series . <hl> Such a thought provoking book, and I loved hearing more from Four in this one. The entire Divergent series is well worth your reading time.

<hl> What a great end to a great series <hl>. Such a thought provoking book, and I loved hearing more from Four in this one. The entire Divergent series is well worth your reading time.

<hl> What a great end to a great series <hl> .


Question: What story do I tell you?

After Insurgent, the story picks up with Tris in trouble and Evelyn in control of the city.  Soon, Tris, Four and some others choose to leave Chicago and pursue the meaning of the Edith Prior video.  Most of the remaining story takes place inside a special facility a short drive from Chicago, where we find out what the story is about Chicago and the factions, as well as what it really means to be divergent.  Three-quarters of the way into this story, I was very disappointed.  It felt like the author was just going through the motions, and frankly, the story was boring and dull--lots of talking and philosophical introspection, but not much plot movement.  The last quarter of the book salvaged things for me and raised the story from one star to 3.5.  No, like a thousand others, I didn't like the ending, and I didn't think the ending was necessitated in any way by the story arc.  It seemed almost as if the author realized the story about to crash and burn, so she tossed in this ending to slap us in the face.  HOWEVER, the ending was well done and beautifully written, and it was quite evocative.  I thought the writing went from passable and average to excellent and gripping.  BUT, I'm only at 3.5 stars because the ending doesn't really fit the overall trilogy IMO.  So, for those that want a 'they all lived happily ever after' ending, don't read this book.  Stop with Insurgent and think up your own ending.  For those of you, who--like Tris--aren't afraid to jump off the roof into the net below, you should read it and experience the pain.  I just wish the first part of the book was written nearly as well as the ending.  Yo, Tris, you...well, you know what i mean.

Answer: the story picks up with Tris in trouble and Evelyn in control of the city

<hl> After Insurgent, the story picks up with Tris in trouble and Evelyn in control of the city . <hl> Soon, Tris, Four and some others choose to leave Chicago and pursue the meaning of the Edith Prior video. Most of the remaining story takes place inside a special facility a short drive from Chicago, where we find out what the story is about Chicago and the factions, as well as what it really means to be divergent. Three-quarters of the way into this story, I was very disappointed. It felt like the author was just going through the motions, and frankly, the story was boring and dull--lots of talking and philosophical introspection, but not much plot movement. The last quarter of the book salvaged things for me and raised the story from one star to 3.5. No, like a thousand others, I didn't like the ending, and I didn't think the ending was necessitated in any way by the story arc. It seemed almost as if the author realized the story about to crash and burn, so she tossed in this ending to slap us in the face. HOWEVER, the ending was well done and beautifully written, and it was quite evocative. I thought the writing went from passable and average to excellent and gripping. BUT, I'm only at 3.5 stars because the ending doesn't really fit the overall trilogy IMO. So, for those that want a 'they all lived happily ever after' ending, don't read this book. Stop with Insurgent and think up your own ending. For those of you, who--like Tris--aren't afraid to jump off the roof into the net below, you should read it and experience the pain. I just wish the first part of the book was written nearly as well as the ending. Yo, Tris, you...well, you know what i mean.

After Insurgent, <hl> the story picks up with Tris in trouble and Evelyn in control of the city <hl>. Soon, Tris, Four and some others choose to leave Chicago and pursue the meaning of the Edith Prior video. Most of the remaining story takes place inside a special facility a short drive from Chicago, where we find out what the story is about Chicago and the factions, as well as what it really means to be divergent. Three-quarters of the way into this story, I was very disappointed. It felt like the author was just going through the motions, and frankly, the story was boring and dull--lots of talking and philosophical introspection, but not much plot movement. The last quarter of the book salvaged things for me and raised the story from one star to 3.5. No, like a thousand others, I didn't like the ending, and I didn't think the ending was necessitated in any way by the story arc. It seemed almost as if the author realized the story about to crash and burn, so she tossed in this ending to slap us in the face. HOWEVER, the ending was well done and beautifully written, and it was quite evocative. I thought the writing went from passable and average to excellent and gripping. BUT, I'm only at 3.5 stars because the ending doesn't really fit the overall trilogy IMO. So, for those that want a 'they all lived happily ever after' ending, don't read this book. Stop with Insurgent and think up your own ending. For those of you, who--like Tris--aren't afraid to jump off the roof into the net below, you should read it and experience the pain. I just wish the first part of the book was written nearly as well as the ending. Yo, Tris, you...well, you know what i mean.

After Insurgent, <hl> the story picks up with Tris in trouble and Evelyn in control of the city <hl> .


Question: What is you favorite world?

Wow!  This is definitely a WOW book for me.  I never would have thought to read it if it wasn't for all the early reviews raving about how awesome it is.  So when I had the opportunity to review it myself I totally jumped at the chance and I do not regret it!  This book was so full of awesome that the second I finished I immediately convinced about six others that they MUST read it!  And they are!I am not really into sci-fi unless it's more of the fantasy variety.  This one is futuristic with androids and cyborgs and aliens.  Totally not my thing usually.  But Cinder is basically a normal girl.  She hides that she's a cyborg as much as she can because it seems they are kind of looked down on, like they aren't fully human.  But she is.  I mean she has a human brain and still thinks like a normal girl.  And she was completely real and like-able to me.  I connected with her right off the bat and 'got' her.  She was funny and compassionate but she was dealt such a rough hand that she was a bit cynical, or she forced herself to be anyway, trying to convince herself that she was 'less'.  No one would like her if they knew she was cyborg, etc.The other characters were great as well.  The prince was totally not prince-like.  I mean, he wasn't full of himself.  He was funny and he was also compassionate and like Cinder he was dealt a rough hand.  Though it's completely different because yes, he's a prince, but he's suddenly thrown into this tough position and his decisions mean the fate of his country.  But he had a clear head and struggled to do his best in deciding what to do.  But one thing that wasn't a struggle for him was Cinder.  At least as far as we see.  They are continuously running into one another and he doesn't even hesitate to be kind and gently flirtatious with her.  And though he doesn't know she's cyborg he does know she's not royalty and he still pays her attention.  I totally loved him for that.  And don't worry, yes- he's completely swoon-worthy!  He's not a bad boy, but he's still swoony!The stepmother was definitely evil and had me so angry!  I totally wanted to reach in and strangle her.  Same with the one stepsister.  The other one was kind and has her own story but I don't want to spoil it for you.  The Cinderella part of the story was perfect.  It was definitely it's own retelling but still followed along enough that it was pretty obvious that it was a retelling of Cinderella.The sci fi elements were important but somehow the book was never heavy.  There wasn't lots of long descriptions or a ton of backstory.  For me it was perfect.  I got enough that I wasn't confused but not so much I felt overwhelmed.  I thought the world building was good but some may feel it's lacking because we don't really learn a whole lot about things from before.  But really, I thought it was perfect and in future books I'm sure we'll learn much more.This was a clean read that had me on the edge of my seat.  While it's fairly long I read it in only a day because it was so good and was fast paced.  I very highly recommend this book!Disclosure: I received this book free of charge through the amazon vine program for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Answer: This one is futuristic with androids and cyborgs and aliens

Wow! This is definitely a WOW book for me. I never would have thought to read it if it wasn't for all the early reviews raving about how awesome it is. So when I had the opportunity to review it myself I totally jumped at the chance and I do not regret it! This book was so full of awesome that the second I finished I immediately convinced about six others that they MUST read it! And they are!I am not really into sci-fi unless it's more of the fantasy variety. <hl> This one is futuristic with androids and cyborgs and aliens . <hl> Totally not my thing usually. But Cinder is basically a normal girl. She hides that she's a cyborg as much as she can because it seems they are kind of looked down on, like they aren't fully human. But she is. I mean she has a human brain and still thinks like a normal girl. And she was completely real and like-able to me. I connected with her right off the bat and 'got' her. She was funny and compassionate but she was dealt such a rough hand that she was a bit cynical, or she forced herself to be anyway, trying to convince herself that she was 'less'. No one would like her if they knew she was cyborg, etc. The other characters were great as well. The prince was totally not prince-like. I mean, he wasn't full of himself. He was funny and he was also compassionate and like Cinder he was dealt a rough hand. Though it's completely different because yes, he's a prince, but he's suddenly thrown into this tough position and his decisions mean the fate of his country. But he had a clear head and struggled to do his best in deciding what to do. But one thing that wasn't a struggle for him was Cinder. At least as far as we see. They are continuously running into one another and he doesn't even hesitate to be kind and gently flirtatious with her. And though he doesn't know she's cyborg he does know she's not royalty and he still pays her attention. I totally loved him for that. And don't worry, yes- he's completely swoon-worthy! He's not a bad boy, but he's still swoony!The stepmother was definitely evil and had me so angry! I totally wanted to reach in and strangle her. Same with the one stepsister. The other one was kind and has her own story but I don't want to spoil it for you. The Cinderella part of the story was perfect. It was definitely it's own retelling but still followed along enough that it was pretty obvious that it was a retelling of Cinderella. The sci fi elements were important but somehow the book was never heavy. There wasn't lots of long descriptions or a ton of backstory. For me it was perfect. I got enough that I wasn't confused but not so much I felt overwhelmed. I thought the world building was good but some may feel it's lacking because we don't really learn a whole lot about things from before. But really, I thought it was perfect and in future books I'm sure we'll learn much more. This was a clean read that had me on the edge of my seat. While it's fairly long I read it in only a day because it was so good and was fast paced. I very highly recommend this book!Disclosure: I received this book free of charge through the amazon vine program for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Wow! This is definitely a WOW book for me. I never would have thought to read it if it wasn't for all the early reviews raving about how awesome it is. So when I had the opportunity to review it myself I totally jumped at the chance and I do not regret it! This book was so full of awesome that the second I finished I immediately convinced about six others that they MUST read it! And they are!I am not really into sci-fi unless it's more of the fantasy variety. <hl> This one is futuristic with androids and cyborgs and aliens <hl>. Totally not my thing usually. But Cinder is basically a normal girl. She hides that she's a cyborg as much as she can because it seems they are kind of looked down on, like they aren't fully human. But she is. I mean she has a human brain and still thinks like a normal girl. And she was completely real and like-able to me. I connected with her right off the bat and 'got' her. She was funny and compassionate but she was dealt such a rough hand that she was a bit cynical, or she forced herself to be anyway, trying to convince herself that she was 'less'. No one would like her if they knew she was cyborg, etc.The other characters were great as well. The prince was totally not prince-like. I mean, he wasn't full of himself. He was funny and he was also compassionate and like Cinder he was dealt a rough hand. Though it's completely different because yes, he's a prince, but he's suddenly thrown into this tough position and his decisions mean the fate of his country. But he had a clear head and struggled to do his best in deciding what to do. But one thing that wasn't a struggle for him was Cinder. At least as far as we see. They are continuously running into one another and he doesn't even hesitate to be kind and gently flirtatious with her. And though he doesn't know she's cyborg he does know she's not royalty and he still pays her attention. I totally loved him for that. And don't worry, yes- he's completely swoon-worthy! He's not a bad boy, but he's still swoony!The stepmother was definitely evil and had me so angry! I totally wanted to reach in and strangle her. Same with the one stepsister. The other one was kind and has her own story but I don't want to spoil it for you. The Cinderella part of the story was perfect. It was definitely it's own retelling but still followed along enough that it was pretty obvious that it was a retelling of Cinderella.The sci fi elements were important but somehow the book was never heavy. There wasn't lots of long descriptions or a ton of backstory. For me it was perfect. I got enough that I wasn't confused but not so much I felt overwhelmed. I thought the world building was good but some may feel it's lacking because we don't really learn a whole lot about things from before. But really, I thought it was perfect and in future books I'm sure we'll learn much more.This was a clean read that had me on the edge of my seat. While it's fairly long I read it in only a day because it was so good and was fast paced. I very highly recommend this book!Disclosure: I received this book free of charge through the amazon vine program for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

<hl> This one is futuristic with androids and cyborgs and aliens <hl> .


Question: How is the sex?

I'll start with a few confessions: All the hype surrounding E L James' erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey finally prompted a download to my Kindle. However, a stockpile of Bing Rewards meant I didn't actually have to pay for what may be the most horribly edited book ever to become a bestseller.Simply put, curiosity finally got the better of me after having a few good laughs with my husband over all the delightfully negative reviews already on Amazon. Plus, I wanted a lite read for a long Memorial Day weekend drive. Not to mention, various snippets have shown ladies from the View, Good Morning America, and countless other shows referring to how hot the book got them. What's titillating about this book? Nothing. For supposedly being an S & M novel, the sex is surprisingly bland. And repetitive.What bothered me the most as a reader is how the story is narrated in first-person point of view, and yet the author still uses italics to represent Anastasia's banter with her sub-conscious. Ana's repeated reference to her vagina as being down there creates unintended comical effects. Yes, Ana's head is apparently in her vagina. She is a horribly conceived character devoid of personality, except for the moments when she refers to others by their defining traits, such as Blonde One and Blonde Two.Although unlikely, it's believable that a young woman would remain a virgin throughout four years of college. What is less believable is Ana's never having experienced an orgasm. Specifically, the reader soon sees that almost anything can make Ana climax. Then one must consider she does not have her own lap-top or even an email address! Reasons are never given why she is best friends with a wealthy roommate. Plus she's a decidedly British girl who likes her tea bag out. Yeah, all college students living in the land of Starbucks eschew coffee for tea. The scene where Ana vomits after downing five margaritas was almost good. Throughout the rest of the book she's drinking wine all the time, so as with everything else, she seems to lose her innocent qualms quickly.Then there's Christian Grey. E L James does manage to create a few intriguing motivational points to establish his character, but they fail to coalesce into believable actions. For being such a supposed dominant, he's always giving in to Ana. This young billionaire is on the phone a lot, but it's never clear how he made his fortune. Given his age, the author should have fashioned him after Mark Zuckerburg. The way E L James incorporates the clauses of their contract and emails between Christian and Ana read as filler and the sure mark of an amateur writer. But it's shame on the editors and publishers, not the author.Even if Fifty Shades of Grey did get started as Twilight Fanfiction, there is no excuse for how shoddily it reads. E L James obviously knows little about the geography of North America, and much of the gallivanting about did little to advance the story, particularly the narrator's trip to her mother's in Savannah, GA (My guess is that it might be the one place in America the author has some familiarity with since she was specific put the mother's house near Tybee Beach.) Alas, a re-write could have set the novel in and around the author's London home rather than the far-flung Seattle location. Perhaps then the setting details would have added, rather than, detracted from the story.All novels show promise. It's just extremely disheartening that Fifty Shades of Grey was published with such rough edges. Anyone who gives this book a passing score really needs to re-think their criteria for good books. Or maybe this book precisely appeals to its niche. Just like Edward and Bella make for trite and boring lovers, so too do Christian and Anastasia make for dull and uninspired sex fiends.[...]

Answer: the sex is surprisingly bland

I'll start with a few confessions: All the hype surrounding E L James' erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey finally prompted a download to my Kindle. However, a stockpile of Bing Rewards meant I didn't actually have to pay for what may be the most horribly edited book ever to become a bestseller. Simply put, curiosity finally got the better of me after having a few good laughs with my husband over all the delightfully negative reviews already on Amazon. Plus, I wanted a lite read for a long Memorial Day weekend drive. Not to mention, various snippets have shown ladies from the View, Good Morning America, and countless other shows referring to how hot the book got them. What's titillating about this book? Nothing. <hl> For supposedly being an S & M novel, the sex is surprisingly bland . <hl> And repetitive. What bothered me the most as a reader is how the story is narrated in first-person point of view, and yet the author still uses italics to represent Anastasia's banter with her sub-conscious. Ana's repeated reference to her vagina as being down there creates unintended comical effects. Yes, Ana's head is apparently in her vagina. She is a horribly conceived character devoid of personality, except for the moments when she refers to others by their defining traits, such as Blonde One and Blonde Two. Although unlikely, it's believable that a young woman would remain a virgin throughout four years of college. What is less believable is Ana's never having experienced an orgasm. Specifically, the reader soon sees that almost anything can make Ana climax. Then one must consider she does not have her own lap-top or even an email address! Reasons are never given why she is best friends with a wealthy roommate. Plus she's a decidedly British girl who likes her tea bag out. Yeah, all college students living in the land of Starbucks eschew coffee for tea. The scene where Ana vomits after downing five margaritas was almost good. Throughout the rest of the book she's drinking wine all the time, so as with everything else, she seems to lose her innocent qualms quickly. Then there's Christian Grey. E L James does manage to create a few intriguing motivational points to establish his character, but they fail to coalesce into believable actions. For being such a supposed dominant, he's always giving in to Ana. This young billionaire is on the phone a lot, but it's never clear how he made his fortune. Given his age, the author should have fashioned him after Mark Zuckerburg. The way E L James incorporates the clauses of their contract and emails between Christian and Ana read as filler and the sure mark of an amateur writer. But it's shame on the editors and publishers, not the author. Even if Fifty Shades of Grey did get started as Twilight Fanfiction, there is no excuse for how shoddily it reads. E L James obviously knows little about the geography of North America, and much of the gallivanting about did little to advance the story, particularly the narrator's trip to her mother's in Savannah, GA (My guess is that it might be the one place in America the author has some familiarity with since she was specific put the mother's house near Tybee Beach.) Alas, a re-write could have set the novel in and around the author's London home rather than the far-flung Seattle location. Perhaps then the setting details would have added, rather than, detracted from the story. All novels show promise. It's just extremely disheartening that Fifty Shades of Grey was published with such rough edges. Anyone who gives this book a passing score really needs to re-think their criteria for good books. Or maybe this book precisely appeals to its niche. Just like Edward and Bella make for trite and boring lovers, so too do Christian and Anastasia make for dull and uninspired sex fiends. [...]

I'll start with a few confessions: All the hype surrounding E L James' erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey finally prompted a download to my Kindle. However, a stockpile of Bing Rewards meant I didn't actually have to pay for what may be the most horribly edited book ever to become a bestseller.Simply put, curiosity finally got the better of me after having a few good laughs with my husband over all the delightfully negative reviews already on Amazon. Plus, I wanted a lite read for a long Memorial Day weekend drive. Not to mention, various snippets have shown ladies from the View, Good Morning America, and countless other shows referring to how hot the book got them. What's titillating about this book? Nothing. For supposedly being an S & M novel, <hl> the sex is surprisingly bland <hl>. And repetitive.What bothered me the most as a reader is how the story is narrated in first-person point of view, and yet the author still uses italics to represent Anastasia's banter with her sub-conscious. Ana's repeated reference to her vagina as being down there creates unintended comical effects. Yes, Ana's head is apparently in her vagina. She is a horribly conceived character devoid of personality, except for the moments when she refers to others by their defining traits, such as Blonde One and Blonde Two.Although unlikely, it's believable that a young woman would remain a virgin throughout four years of college. What is less believable is Ana's never having experienced an orgasm. Specifically, the reader soon sees that almost anything can make Ana climax. Then one must consider she does not have her own lap-top or even an email address! Reasons are never given why she is best friends with a wealthy roommate. Plus she's a decidedly British girl who likes her tea bag out. Yeah, all college students living in the land of Starbucks eschew coffee for tea. The scene where Ana vomits after downing five margaritas was almost good. Throughout the rest of the book she's drinking wine all the time, so as with everything else, she seems to lose her innocent qualms quickly.Then there's Christian Grey. E L James does manage to create a few intriguing motivational points to establish his character, but they fail to coalesce into believable actions. For being such a supposed dominant, he's always giving in to Ana. This young billionaire is on the phone a lot, but it's never clear how he made his fortune. Given his age, the author should have fashioned him after Mark Zuckerburg. The way E L James incorporates the clauses of their contract and emails between Christian and Ana read as filler and the sure mark of an amateur writer. But it's shame on the editors and publishers, not the author.Even if Fifty Shades of Grey did get started as Twilight Fanfiction, there is no excuse for how shoddily it reads. E L James obviously knows little about the geography of North America, and much of the gallivanting about did little to advance the story, particularly the narrator's trip to her mother's in Savannah, GA (My guess is that it might be the one place in America the author has some familiarity with since she was specific put the mother's house near Tybee Beach.) Alas, a re-write could have set the novel in and around the author's London home rather than the far-flung Seattle location. Perhaps then the setting details would have added, rather than, detracted from the story.All novels show promise. It's just extremely disheartening that Fifty Shades of Grey was published with such rough edges. Anyone who gives this book a passing score really needs to re-think their criteria for good books. Or maybe this book precisely appeals to its niche. Just like Edward and Bella make for trite and boring lovers, so too do Christian and Anastasia make for dull and uninspired sex fiends.[...]

For supposedly being an S & M novel, <hl> the sex is surprisingly bland <hl> .


Question: What kind of storyline does the book contain?

Sequels to stand out debuts often struggle to advance the series plot and recapture the magic of the first book. INSURGENT isn't one of those sequels. It's as powerful or even more powerful than it's predecessor. And considering how phenomenal DIVERGENT was, that's no small compliment.One of the most inventive and action packed dystopian series ever, INSURGENT picks up almost immediately after the end of DIVERGENT.  The factions that dictate every aspect of society are in danger and all out war seems inevitable. Tris's faction has ben split as too many members have turned traitor.  Power hungry Erudite have set their sights on the Divergent, like Tris, systematically rounding them up to kill...and worse.What continues to impress me with the Divergent series is the character arcs.  They are magnificent.  Tris transformed from the almost Amish-like Abnegation member to a brave and confrontational Dauntless member so convincingly in DIVERGENT, and her transformation in INSURGENT is no less impressive.  After the tragic choice she made at the end of DIVERGENT, Tris is plagued with guilt, self recrimination, and shame.  She isolates herself even from those she cares about the most. It's heartbreaking to read. And Tris isn't the only one who evolves in the book.  Characters who I thought were villains became heroes, and characters who I thought were trustworthy became villains.  Shocking doesn't begin to describe it.The beginning of INSURGENT was a little slow and not as easy to jump into as the debut, especially since the worldbuilding isn't really recapped for readers (like me) who could have benefitted from a refresher. But once I got my bearings, and the central conflict was revealed, INSURGENT was as compulsively readable as DIVERGENT.  And the revelations at the end were almost overwhelming--in a good way--considering their implications.  Bottom line, this is a series not to be missed.  The stakes just keep getting higher and I can't wait to dive into the third book in the Divergent series when it comes out in 2013.Sexual Content:Kissing

Answer: Sequels to stand out debuts often struggle to advance the series plot

<hl> Sequels to stand out debuts often struggle to advance the series plot and recapture the magic of the first book. <hl> INSURGENT isn't one of those sequels. It's as powerful or even more powerful than it's predecessor. And considering how phenomenal DIVERGENT was, that's no small compliment. One of the most inventive and action packed dystopian series ever, INSURGENT picks up almost immediately after the end of DIVERGENT. The factions that dictate every aspect of society are in danger and all out war seems inevitable. Tris's faction has ben split as too many members have turned traitor. Power hungry Erudite have set their sights on the Divergent, like Tris, systematically rounding them up to kill...and worse. What continues to impress me with the Divergent series is the character arcs. They are magnificent. Tris transformed from the almost Amish-like Abnegation member to a brave and confrontational Dauntless member so convincingly in DIVERGENT, and her transformation in INSURGENT is no less impressive. After the tragic choice she made at the end of DIVERGENT, Tris is plagued with guilt, self recrimination, and shame. She isolates herself even from those she cares about the most. It's heartbreaking to read. And Tris isn't the only one who evolves in the book. Characters who I thought were villains became heroes, and characters who I thought were trustworthy became villains. Shocking doesn't begin to describe it. The beginning of INSURGENT was a little slow and not as easy to jump into as the debut, especially since the worldbuilding isn't really recapped for readers (like me) who could have benefitted from a refresher. But once I got my bearings, and the central conflict was revealed, INSURGENT was as compulsively readable as DIVERGENT. And the revelations at the end were almost overwhelming--in a good way--considering their implications. Bottom line, this is a series not to be missed. The stakes just keep getting higher and I can't wait to dive into the third book in the Divergent series when it comes out in 2013.Sexual Content:Kissing

<hl> Sequels to stand out debuts often struggle to advance the series plot <hl> and recapture the magic of the first book. INSURGENT isn't one of those sequels. It's as powerful or even more powerful than it's predecessor. And considering how phenomenal DIVERGENT was, that's no small compliment.One of the most inventive and action packed dystopian series ever, INSURGENT picks up almost immediately after the end of DIVERGENT. The factions that dictate every aspect of society are in danger and all out war seems inevitable. Tris's faction has ben split as too many members have turned traitor. Power hungry Erudite have set their sights on the Divergent, like Tris, systematically rounding them up to kill...and worse.What continues to impress me with the Divergent series is the character arcs. They are magnificent. Tris transformed from the almost Amish-like Abnegation member to a brave and confrontational Dauntless member so convincingly in DIVERGENT, and her transformation in INSURGENT is no less impressive. After the tragic choice she made at the end of DIVERGENT, Tris is plagued with guilt, self recrimination, and shame. She isolates herself even from those she cares about the most. It's heartbreaking to read. And Tris isn't the only one who evolves in the book. Characters who I thought were villains became heroes, and characters who I thought were trustworthy became villains. Shocking doesn't begin to describe it.The beginning of INSURGENT was a little slow and not as easy to jump into as the debut, especially since the worldbuilding isn't really recapped for readers (like me) who could have benefitted from a refresher. But once I got my bearings, and the central conflict was revealed, INSURGENT was as compulsively readable as DIVERGENT. And the revelations at the end were almost overwhelming--in a good way--considering their implications. Bottom line, this is a series not to be missed. The stakes just keep getting higher and I can't wait to dive into the third book in the Divergent series when it comes out in 2013.Sexual Content:Kissing


Question: Was the story magical?

The novel is a wild, trippy ride through the inscapes of the mind meshed with the story of one woman's struggle to relate to her loved ones and the world around her.Joe Hill writes a good story. I loved the idea of inscapes, and especially the call out to Mid-World from the Dark Tower Series. The overarching story of how Vic McQueen deals with her gift (or curse) and her conflict with the antagonist, Charlie Manx, drive the story.My main criticism is that at times I felt that the narrative could have been tighter, and in fact a review I read on Amazon nailed how I feel:'NOS4A2 is epic in length, but not in scope.'Vic McQueen is the best part of the story. She has a gift or a curse, depending on your point of view, and her life unfolds in response to this gift (or curse). Joe Hill nails the reality of mental illness with his portrayal of the evolution of Vic's character. I felt a great deal of sympathy for her and pulled for her throughout the novel. Vic is the classic tragic heroine.Charlie Manx is a real-life villain. What he does is horrible, but when seen from his point of view you can understand why he does what he does. You understand why he thinks what he does is right. In that way Charlie is not a caricature, but I never sympathized. There are points in Charlie's history where Joe Hill could have tweaked a few events and made Charlie a villain for whom you feel sympathy, thus making Charlie deeper, but that never materialized.Outside of Vic, the real delight is the idea of inscapes--how everyone has their own perception of reality and that each of our perceptions of reality are linked. These perceptions of reality can become separate worlds whose extent are limited only by our imagination. It's a powerful set of ideas that Joe has put out there.Unlike Horns, Joe Hill's previous novel, I was able to set aside NOS4A2 when I needed to sleep--except for the climax. The last hundred or so pages flew by.In the end what makes NOS4A2 a good novel is the sum of the positives. Like I said, the prose could be tighter, but the lead character, Vic McQueen, and the story itself pull this novel together and make it a good read.If you like Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere or The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King, I think you might like NOS4A2.I will say that after reading NOS4A2 I now want a Rolls Royce Wraith.

Answer: Joe Hill writes a good story

Joe Hill writes a good story .

The novel is a wild, trippy ride through the inscapes of the mind meshed with the story of one woman's struggle to relate to her loved ones and the world around her. <hl> Joe Hill writes a good story . <hl> I loved the idea of inscapes, and especially the call out to Mid-World from the Dark Tower Series. The overarching story of how Vic McQueen deals with her gift (or curse) and her conflict with the antagonist, Charlie Manx, drive the story. My main criticism is that at times I felt that the narrative could have been tighter, and in fact a review I read on Amazon nailed how I feel:'NOS4A2 is epic in length, but not in scope. 'Vic McQueen is the best part of the story. She has a gift or a curse, depending on your point of view, and her life unfolds in response to this gift (or curse). Joe Hill nails the reality of mental illness with his portrayal of the evolution of Vic's character. I felt a great deal of sympathy for her and pulled for her throughout the novel. Vic is the classic tragic heroine. Charlie Manx is a real-life villain. What he does is horrible, but when seen from his point of view you can understand why he does what he does. You understand why he thinks what he does is right. In that way Charlie is not a caricature, but I never sympathized. There are points in Charlie's history where Joe Hill could have tweaked a few events and made Charlie a villain for whom you feel sympathy, thus making Charlie deeper, but that never materialized. Outside of Vic, the real delight is the idea of inscapes--how everyone has their own perception of reality and that each of our perceptions of reality are linked. These perceptions of reality can become separate worlds whose extent are limited only by our imagination. It's a powerful set of ideas that Joe has put out there. Unlike Horns, Joe Hill's previous novel, I was able to set aside NOS4A2 when I needed to sleep--except for the climax. The last hundred or so pages flew by. In the end what makes NOS4A2 a good novel is the sum of the positives. Like I said, the prose could be tighter, but the lead character, Vic McQueen, and the story itself pull this novel together and make it a good read. If you like Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere or The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King, I think you might like NOS4A2.I will say that after reading NOS4A2 I now want a Rolls Royce Wraith.

The novel is a wild, trippy ride through the inscapes of the mind meshed with the story of one woman's struggle to relate to her loved ones and the world around her.<hl> Joe Hill writes a good story <hl>. I loved the idea of inscapes, and especially the call out to Mid-World from the Dark Tower Series. The overarching story of how Vic McQueen deals with her gift (or curse) and her conflict with the antagonist, Charlie Manx, drive the story.My main criticism is that at times I felt that the narrative could have been tighter, and in fact a review I read on Amazon nailed how I feel:'NOS4A2 is epic in length, but not in scope.'Vic McQueen is the best part of the story. She has a gift or a curse, depending on your point of view, and her life unfolds in response to this gift (or curse). Joe Hill nails the reality of mental illness with his portrayal of the evolution of Vic's character. I felt a great deal of sympathy for her and pulled for her throughout the novel. Vic is the classic tragic heroine.Charlie Manx is a real-life villain. What he does is horrible, but when seen from his point of view you can understand why he does what he does. You understand why he thinks what he does is right. In that way Charlie is not a caricature, but I never sympathized. There are points in Charlie's history where Joe Hill could have tweaked a few events and made Charlie a villain for whom you feel sympathy, thus making Charlie deeper, but that never materialized.Outside of Vic, the real delight is the idea of inscapes--how everyone has their own perception of reality and that each of our perceptions of reality are linked. These perceptions of reality can become separate worlds whose extent are limited only by our imagination. It's a powerful set of ideas that Joe has put out there.Unlike Horns, Joe Hill's previous novel, I was able to set aside NOS4A2 when I needed to sleep--except for the climax. The last hundred or so pages flew by.In the end what makes NOS4A2 a good novel is the sum of the positives. Like I said, the prose could be tighter, but the lead character, Vic McQueen, and the story itself pull this novel together and make it a good read.If you like Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere or The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King, I think you might like NOS4A2.I will say that after reading NOS4A2 I now want a Rolls Royce Wraith.

<hl> Joe Hill writes a good story <hl> .


Question: Where can I find book with excellent review?

I had zero intentions to read this book originally. It just didn’t seem like something that would interest me. Well I don’t know if you have noticed, but I have been challenging myself to read stuff outside of my normal reading comfort zone.  Since that’s the case when this was offered by Epic Reads(Harper Teen) as a 68 hour free read online only, I jumped on it. My conclusion: I’m an idiot for passing in the first place. This book was fantastic and addicting and mesmerizing!Shatter Me is about Juliette, a girl that has been locked away in isolation for months because she possesses a power that frightens everyone around her. Juliette can kill people with the simplest of touches and because of that it has been almost a year since she had touched anything. Alone and scared Juliette’s world turns upside down when she is suddenly sharing a cell, and not just anyone, with a boy that may or may not be from her past. When things become even more complicated and Juliette finds out exactly why she has been locked up she must decide who to trust and just what she is willing to do to save her life and those around her.God did I love Juliette. She was such a great character. She had strength, but not too much so she was unbelievable, and she had vulnerability, but not enough to make her seem whiney. And she and Adam together were complete and utter magic. I could not get enough of their interaction. They played off each other so well and yet there was innocence to them even if you could constantly cut the sexual tension with a knife.  Add in the stress of Werner and you have a winning combination of awesome.  What really grabbed me though was the story telling. It was done in a way that I actually believed in the “fantasy” aspect which was what scared me away in the first place. Everything was paced nicely which added to the realistic feel not to mention the emotions all characters showed.All in all, this is a must read book and series. I have the second book waiting for me to read and I can’t wait to get to it.

Answer: This book was fantastic

I had zero intentions to read this book originally. It just didn’t seem like something that would interest me. Well I don’t know if you have noticed, but I have been challenging myself to read stuff outside of my normal reading comfort zone. Since that’s the case when this was offered by Epic Reads(Harper Teen) as a 68 hour free read online only, I jumped on it. My conclusion: I’m an idiot for passing in the first place. <hl> This book was fantastic and addicting and mesmerizing!Shatter <hl> Me is about Juliette, a girl that has been locked away in isolation for months because she possesses a power that frightens everyone around her. Juliette can kill people with the simplest of touches and because of that it has been almost a year since she had touched anything. Alone and scared Juliette’s world turns upside down when she is suddenly sharing a cell, and not just anyone, with a boy that may or may not be from her past. When things become even more complicated and Juliette finds out exactly why she has been locked up she must decide who to trust and just what she is willing to do to save her life and those around her. God did I love Juliette. She was such a great character. She had strength, but not too much so she was unbelievable, and she had vulnerability, but not enough to make her seem whiney. And she and Adam together were complete and utter magic. I could not get enough of their interaction. They played off each other so well and yet there was innocence to them even if you could constantly cut the sexual tension with a knife. Add in the stress of Werner and you have a winning combination of awesome. What really grabbed me though was the story telling. It was done in a way that I actually believed in the “fantasy” aspect which was what scared me away in the first place. Everything was paced nicely which added to the realistic feel not to mention the emotions all characters showed. All in all, this is a must read book and series. I have the second book waiting for me to read and I can’t wait to get to it.

I had zero intentions to read this book originally. It just didn’t seem like something that would interest me. Well I don’t know if you have noticed, but I have been challenging myself to read stuff outside of my normal reading comfort zone. Since that’s the case when this was offered by Epic Reads(Harper Teen) as a 68 hour free read online only, I jumped on it. My conclusion: I’m an idiot for passing in the first place. <hl> This book was fantastic <hl> and addicting and mesmerizing!Shatter Me is about Juliette, a girl that has been locked away in isolation for months because she possesses a power that frightens everyone around her. Juliette can kill people with the simplest of touches and because of that it has been almost a year since she had touched anything. Alone and scared Juliette’s world turns upside down when she is suddenly sharing a cell, and not just anyone, with a boy that may or may not be from her past. When things become even more complicated and Juliette finds out exactly why she has been locked up she must decide who to trust and just what she is willing to do to save her life and those around her.God did I love Juliette. She was such a great character. She had strength, but not too much so she was unbelievable, and she had vulnerability, but not enough to make her seem whiney. And she and Adam together were complete and utter magic. I could not get enough of their interaction. They played off each other so well and yet there was innocence to them even if you could constantly cut the sexual tension with a knife. Add in the stress of Werner and you have a winning combination of awesome. What really grabbed me though was the story telling. It was done in a way that I actually believed in the “fantasy” aspect which was what scared me away in the first place. Everything was paced nicely which added to the realistic feel not to mention the emotions all characters showed.All in all, this is a must read book and series. I have the second book waiting for me to read and I can’t wait to get to it.