I don't hate many books, but without a doubt I loathed everything about this one. I like to enjoy my reading experiences even though they may seem sloI don't hate many books, but without a doubt I loathed everything about this one. I like to enjoy my reading experiences even though they may seem slow or dull to others, or my thing just isn't their thing. But THIS monstrosity failed the able-to-read test on every one of my levels. A synopsis of the story has already been given, so there's no need for me to expound further on meaningless details of plot or writing ability. A reading group to which I belong is reading this book as a selection for August. I won't be participating even though it might be kind of fun to verbally destroy this book. That, however won't help any of the poor souls who did agree to read and join in conversation with the group. This author came highly recommended to me. I have no idea why since I never found either the plot nor the writing noteworthy. I think this was supposed to be the kind of book I'd receive some kind of symbolic message from. I didn't. I threw it out when I finished it just like I would any other piece of useless garbage....more
I used to have some respect for Joe MGinniss based on some of his earlier books. After reading this trash, I question why I ever believed a word he prI used to have some respect for Joe MGinniss based on some of his earlier books. After reading this trash, I question why I ever believed a word he previously wrote. He obviously knows nothing about objectivity, but he's got mud slinging and unverified source material down to a science. For me, this subject is NOT about whether or not we like Sarah Palin nor what she says and does. Instead it's about Joe McGinniss out to further demean and humiliate someone to whom the press has given unprecedented hatred. What IS it about Sarah Palin that seems to threaten men so much? Her treatment from women isn't a whole lot better, but I haven't seen this much vitriolic name-calling and malicious oratory directed at someone since Roseanne Barr declared herself a Domestic Goddess. I mean, c'mon... he rents a house next door to Sarah Palin, and then acts all surprised that she doesn't drop in to see him with some homemade cookies and all the time in the world to answer his obnoxious questions? Puhleeeeeeze. When did Joe MGinniss lose all sense of reality? While Joe may want to paint a portrait of some crazed lunatic locking herself away from her friendly, neighborhood snoop hellbent on writing an unflattering tell-all about her, I saw a woman who has learned all about wolves in sheeps' clothing and decides for the sake of her whole family to ignore the hate mongrel living beside her. It seems that Joe came a little late to the Let's-Lynch-Sarah Party, because the general public wasn't exactly bowled over by his book. That's a good thing because the only purpose it might serve is kindling for a fireplace in Alaska. Maybe Joe could heat some water for a nice cup of tea.
One more thing. GR ought to give the option of zero with their stars. That's what this mess of a document really deserves....more
When I finished reading this novel, I decided that I would have to read it again before I could comment on it. It was not quite what I expected, it waWhen I finished reading this novel, I decided that I would have to read it again before I could comment on it. It was not quite what I expected, it was disturbing, and there were times (just a few) when I almost gave up on it. The disturbing part was what kept me going. Louis Drax is by no means a typical child, and his life is anything but normal. There have been a few times in my life when I have questioned the right of some people to reproduce. This was one of those times. Some people just should NOT be parents. At some point soon, I'll be revisiting Louis to see what a second reading gives me....more
In my opinion, very, very few writers do this genre better than Ruth Rendell. Every now and then, someone will compare another author to her, but, in In my opinion, very, very few writers do this genre better than Ruth Rendell. Every now and then, someone will compare another author to her, but, in my view, those comparisons have been dead wrong every time. I'm not a huge fan of Inspector Wexford. He used to be far too arrogant for my taste, but over the years as I read more of him, he grew on me. I'm almost up to "like". In this mystery he is not the main investigator on the case, and it's interesting to see how the case moves forward without his full time participation. The story concerns the murder of a middle-aged housewife found in a parking garage. No one seems to know why she was killed much less IF she was even killed in that garage. Ruth Rendell mixes up her magic immediately by tossing in details of psychological motives and nasty little secrets. That's another thing I like about her so much. I've always enjoyed her insights into why people do what they do. This one certainly delivered in that department....more
Richard North Patterson is one of my favorite authors. This was the first book I read by him years ago, and I wanted to reread it because I liked it sRichard North Patterson is one of my favorite authors. This was the first book I read by him years ago, and I wanted to reread it because I liked it so much the first time. I love big books, long stories, mysteries, and courtroom drama. Patterson delivers all of that in one package/novel every time I've read him. ...more
For me this book was about the expectations women bring to marriage and to friendships. Delia is married to a philandering husband. She knows this aboFor me this book was about the expectations women bring to marriage and to friendships. Delia is married to a philandering husband. She knows this about him, but she prefers not to acknowledge it. So long as she does that, she can keep up the illusion of a close family unit with a husband she both loves and will help in furthering his political career. Meri, who moves next door to Delia, is a mess. Because she has no clear idea of what being a wife and mother demands of her, she begins to look to Delia as her standard of what wife and mother should be. What Meri doesn't count on is what happens when we get far too involved in the lives of other people, especially when the other woman's husband apparently has the morals and sensitivity of an alley cat. I'd recommend this book to people who enjoy reading about complicated relationships and discuss the repercussions of exposing oneself to people who seem likable but can merely be covering up a willingness to betray those they seem closest to....more
As a pollster, Dick Morris has to be the most wrong forecaster of how the population thinks. As a writer or political commentary, he's above average iAs a pollster, Dick Morris has to be the most wrong forecaster of how the population thinks. As a writer or political commentary, he's above average in being able to explain complicated entities that usually make people's eyes glaze over. I attribute much of that to his wife's participation in their book efforts. Since Morris tends to go meandering off in left field (pun intended) about the right vs the left vs the centrists vs the Obamarx sheep, he must have someone on standby to rein him in. That person must be McGann.
I am a staunch conservative, so it stands to reason that I would agree with many of Morris' predictions about where the US is heading under the current (non)leadership. However, I don't think that detracts from the straightforward information Morris presents in an effort to get people to sit up and take notice to where our current path has taken our country. It's a recipe for disaster if we want to preserve life in this country as we know it. If now isn't the time to take control of the reins and become more involved in the decisions we are constitutionally guaranteed to make, then when is?
I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to be more aware of what institutions are doing to control our way of life. The World Bank is just one example of where we should be paying more attention. The UN s another -- that place is a cesspool of corruption and stupidity, and we should in no way support anything they want.
This book should have been mandatory reading for anyone planning to vote in the 2012 US elections, but it's too late for that now. It is NOT too late, however, to become better informed for the future. This book will help in that endeavor....more
I first read this book shortly after it was published, and I didn't like it. Coincidentally I had read another book which had a very similar storylineI first read this book shortly after it was published, and I didn't like it. Coincidentally I had read another book which had a very similar storyline right before I got this one, and I felt that Gone Girl was not only overhyped, but it was also a ripoff of the other book. I read it again lately to participate in the Nothing But Reading Challenges Group read. I was surprised how much of the book I'd forgotten, so in many ways, it was like reading it for the first time.
While I did like Gone Girl better the second time around, I still think it was overhyped, and the ending was too contrived for my taste. For me, Nick, the husband of the piece, was too all over the place alternating between victim and full fledged jerk, while Amy, the wife, was bordering on schizophrenic most of the time. It's very difficult to be more specific in explaining these opinions without giving too much of the story away, so I'll just let my opinion go at that.
This book is a good read insofar as keeping the reader guessing what's going on, unless, like me, you've got an idea from the beginning where it's all leading. If your experience is the latter, then you may end up feeling taken in by entirely too much hype....more
Not bad, but not really good either. I never connected with any of the characters, so I found this book a slow read. If comparisons are to be made witNot bad, but not really good either. I never connected with any of the characters, so I found this book a slow read. If comparisons are to be made with Stephen King, then I have to say that many of his books (but not all) I found impossible to put down, no matter what the length. I did not find this to be the case with Simmons. The mystery, such as it was, wasn't nearly strong enough or well written enough to keep me engaged. This was the first novel by this author I've read. I will try him again in the future; I just won't be in much of a hurry to do it....more
I don't think this is one of McCammon's best efforts. Usually I cannot put his books down. I pushed myself to finish it simply because McCammon wrote I don't think this is one of McCammon's best efforts. Usually I cannot put his books down. I pushed myself to finish it simply because McCammon wrote it, and I thought it had to get better. It didn't....more
Interesting premise, but I don't like messy endings, and this one was a bit of all-over-the-place.Interesting premise, but I don't like messy endings, and this one was a bit of all-over-the-place....more
There is no way to sum up this plot without going far beyond the boundaries of the dreaded "spoilers". It's a good book with surprises, twists, and a There is no way to sum up this plot without going far beyond the boundaries of the dreaded "spoilers". It's a good book with surprises, twists, and a convoluted storyline that got kind of messy in parts. One of the things I liked most about it was the picture it portrayed of the time in which it was written as it pertained to how women were expected to live....more
I read this because normally I like Goldsmith's books. I think she was good at what she did. This book, however, was not one of her best. Rather long I read this because normally I like Goldsmith's books. I think she was good at what she did. This book, however, was not one of her best. Rather long and predictable....more
This is another of those books I read because it sounded like an interesting premise, and it did manage to hold my interest most of the time. The thinThis is another of those books I read because it sounded like an interesting premise, and it did manage to hold my interest most of the time. The thing is that I just didn't buy it. It seems to me that all the men in the story had to be pretty stupid to fall for the werewolf spin. Apparently this is the first book in a series. I won't be reading the rest. I also have no intention of seeing the movie should there be one. Too much gratuitous violence....more
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