Not my favorite Kristin Hannah book. She started losing me about halfway through. Most of the characters were not well developed and much of the storyNot my favorite Kristin Hannah book. She started losing me about halfway through. Most of the characters were not well developed and much of the story seemed unbelievable. To me, this book was more about battered wives than it was a historical fiction. ...more
Beautifully written book! The story gets better and better as it progresses. I loved how the author unfolded the personal stories of each of the charaBeautifully written book! The story gets better and better as it progresses. I loved how the author unfolded the personal stories of each of the characters during the hostage situation. This could be a story about "ordinary" people - these individuals each with their own personal anxieties, insecurities and self-doubt. I would call this story a tragic comedy, as it both humorous and heartbreaking at the same time. ...more
I usually enjoy young adult books, coming-of-age stories, and historical fiction. This book, to me, is written on a fifth grade level - not a young adI usually enjoy young adult books, coming-of-age stories, and historical fiction. This book, to me, is written on a fifth grade level - not a young adult level. I wouldn't recommend this to teenagers, as it is too simple. The title refers to the book that the main character was reading (To Kill a Mockingbird), but the story was very shallow and somewhat corny. Huge disappointment in comparison to this author's previous book, West with Giraffes. ...more
As I started reading this book, I was at first impatient with the writing style - very short sentences that were vague and had no context. It did not As I started reading this book, I was at first impatient with the writing style - very short sentences that were vague and had no context. It did not make any sense. Where was the story? As I kept reading, the story emerged after 30+ pages, and the writing style was no longer the focus. I was able to get into the story without wondering what the heck was going on. The author does go back and forth between timelines, but it works really well for this story, and is not difficult to follow. If you鈥檝e read the description or the book jacket, you鈥檒l know that there is a lot of loss and tragedy in this story, but there is also humor and love. Matthew, the oldest brother, narrates the story - and at times it seemed unbelievable because he was not present in large parts of the story. So how could he narrate those parts with such great detail? But, it works with this story, and I found myself immersed in this book, not wanting to put it down. ...more
I think this story would make a great movie that is much better than the book because there were many pages that did not add to the story or to the chI think this story would make a great movie that is much better than the book because there were many pages that did not add to the story or to the characters. Those pages could easily be eliminated for the movie script without losing anything from the story. Halfway through the book, I almost gave up because no progress was being made. ...more
Definitely a page-turner. This is an enjoyable read as an action thriller, and I could see this getting made into a movie. Not a very "deep" story - mDefinitely a page-turner. This is an enjoyable read as an action thriller, and I could see this getting made into a movie. Not a very "deep" story - mostly just edge-of-your-seat" action and suspense. So if it does become a movie, I would go see it....more
What a great writer and a moving story. As a historical fiction about the Vietnam War, this novel is incredible and heart wrenching. This is a novel tWhat a great writer and a moving story. As a historical fiction about the Vietnam War, this novel is incredible and heart wrenching. This is a novel that you can get completely immersed in, as the characters are so well developed and the descriptions of what the main character, Frankie, experienced are so well written. Keep a box of Kleenexes near you....more
After reading Familiaris, I feel like I need to re-read Edgar Sawtelle. It has been so many years, I don't remember the story. I loved many of the chaAfter reading Familiaris, I feel like I need to re-read Edgar Sawtelle. It has been so many years, I don't remember the story. I loved many of the characters in this huge novel. The author is an amazing writer, but I did find myself skimming pages because he goes into such minute detail, page after page after page, about one thing that (in my opinion) doesn't really add to the story. This 975-page novel certainly could have been cut by a couple hundred pages by removing some of these pages of details without taking away from the depth and meaning of the story. ...more
Although the story deals with family dynamics, narcissistic personalities, and depression (to name a few), it is very shallow. One or two main charactAlthough the story deals with family dynamics, narcissistic personalities, and depression (to name a few), it is very shallow. One or two main characters are completely unlikable. ...more
欧宝娱乐 two stars - "It was okay." Funny how apologetic readers are when they rate a book against the majority opinion. It is, after all, opinion. Y欧宝娱乐 two stars - "It was okay." Funny how apologetic readers are when they rate a book against the majority opinion. It is, after all, opinion. Yes, James McBride's writing is excellent. Like some other reviewers, I also had difficulty getting into this book, not only because there were so many characters, but also because none of them were well developed. The author went into too many tangents that were not relevant to the main plot. Some of the back-and-forth dialogue between characters were so drawn out and useless, I wanted to quit reading. I do think that this story could make a great movie. ...more
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