Reviews (16)

I'm sorry but I'm sooooo bored
I've read all the glowing reviews here and I will say that I loved Cold Mountain.I'm only 1/2 way through Thirteen Moons and I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to finish it.It is so boring that I read pages and pages and realize that I have no idea what I've just read!It might as well be a book on economic theory for all the pleasure it is giving me.

Who the hell is Claire?
a mysterious girl named Claire.... we never found out who she is, what
Did I miss something too?
Like an earlier reviewer, I wonder what I missed that others did not.Though the author writes beautiful prose, I think his story (or the lack of one) makes for one of the most boring and uninteresting novels I have ever read.I recommend that you not waste your valuable time reading this novel. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - General    4. General    5. Fiction / General   

Reviews (11)

A pedestrian effort from an otherwise engaging author.
Flynn, with his latest novel, "Act of Treason" manages to punch his time card and, I would imagine, collect on his Mitch Rapp annuity.But this book is on balance a great disappointment.My wife and I have both eagerly awaited each of Flynn's new novels and have yet to be disappointed.But this book disappoints.Not so much so that I wouldn't recommend buying it and reading it but it ends up being a mundane and ordinary effort particularly in comparison to his early Mitch Rapp books.My wife, father, and both in-laws will all end up reading this book but it will only be with a lukewarm recommendation from me.
Good but not Great
If this is your first introduction to Mitch Rapp, then this is a 5 star book.But for those of us who have read the first seven, this one is a little thin on plot (wasn't difficult to see where it was going) and character development (nothing new).
Too short.
I loved the book.Thought the ending was great.As always, it's a rush and then a letdown to finish a Vince Flynn book.I'm always left wanting more.Go Vince!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - Espionage / Thriller    3. Literary    4. Political    5. Thrillers    6. Fiction / General   

Editorial Review

Since his first novel was published in 1974, Stephen King has stretched the boundaries of the written word, not only bringing horror to new heights, but trying his hand at nearly every possible genre, including children's books, graphic novels, serial novels, literary fiction, nonfiction, westerns, fantasy, and even e-books (remember The Plant?). With Read more

Subjects:  1. Authors    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - General    4. Fiction - Horror    5. General    6. Grief    7. Horror    8. Horror - General    9. King, Stephen - Prose & Criticism    10. Widows    11. Fiction / General   

Editorial Review

Settle down to enjoy a rousing good ghost story with Diane Setterfield's debut novel, Read more

Reviews (57)

What is the truth?
Margaret Lea, the narrator of The Thirteenth Tale is a solitary, intelligent woman, with a true passion for the written word.However, true to the gothic styling of the story, she has her own compelling secrets to discover.She is commissioned to compose the dying Vida Winter's (the world's best selling and most peculiar{?} author) biography...or has she?
A Modern Classic
This book is written in the grand old style of the 19th-century authors, and it's amazing.It gives a strong nod to Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, so if you liked those books you may like this as well.But the plot is not copied from those books, it's just written in a similar style.The Thirteenth Tale will sit nicely beside my Jane Austen and Bronte sisters, and I would welcome more books by Ms. Setterfield.

I could not put it down.
Ms. Setterfield has written a book lover's book, with a wave of her pen acknowledging Rebecca, Jane Eyre, Scheherazade and countless Gothic heroines. This book has it all: strange family members, incest, rape,sadism, murder, madness, secrets and lost children. Quickly, the plot. A biographer is hired by a well known, much loved author to tell the truth about her life. The author, Vida Winters, has outwitted one interviewer after another by sharing marvelously inventive and utterly untruestories about her background.Now dying, she feels compelled to tell the truth. Margaret, a bookish young woman and reluctant biographer, has secrets of her own.
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Subjects:  1. English First Novelists    2. Female friendship    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - General    5. Fiction - Historical    6. General    7. Historical - General    8. Literary    9. Recluses as authors    10. Women authors    11. Fiction / Historical   

Editorial Review

Jacob Jankowski says: "I am ninety.Or ninety-three.One or the other."At the beginning of Read more

Reviews (161)

Ham Sandwich
Easy going down and eminently forgettable.Not a bad effort by Ms. Gruen by any means, but a substantial amount of the book is given to cliched, obvious writing (both in language and character).The general premise is enjoyable, however; who doesn't like the circus.Reading "Water for Elephants" is like watching a movie on cable - odds are that you've already seen it, you know where it's going, but it's still a fine way to pass some time.

Wonderful, engaging book
What a great read. Couldn't put it down. Great character development. I truly cared about these people. A wonderful combination of a book about aging, the circus, a love affair and at the same time keeps you on the edge of your sit. Oh, its about an elephant too!

A Wonderful Book
I found this book while perusing Amazon.com.It is rare for me to find a book that is so entertaining but this one was.I have never read any of the other books by this author, but she is excellent.The book takes you into the time of the depression and you feel, smell and experience everything that the charachter is feeling.The main charachter is in his nineties now, but we get to travel back in time through him, to this time in U.S. history and experience how a traveling circus worked back then.It is such a richly written story, you will not want to put it down.The desperation of the times, the way people lived, their expectations, their feelings, etc. are all here.I have recommended this book to multiple friends, which I rarely do.You will not be disappointed with this story.There are no low points that drag.It's a green light read from start to finish.There is an authors note at the end, and she explains how she came up with the idea and her research to write this book depicting this time period and the circus era.Although it is fiction, she got the facts first and melded it into this novel.Very good indeed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Historical Fiction    2. Circus    3. Circus performers    4. Depressions    5. Fiction    6. Fiction - General    7. Historical - General    8. Literary    9. Fiction / Literary   

Editorial Review

An emperor amasses an army of hundreds of thousands, drawn from twocontinents, to invade a third continent and conquer a tiny, divided nation. Onlya few hundred warriors stand against them. Yet the tiny nation is saved. Itsounds like the plot of a preposterous fantasy novel. It is historical fact. In481-480 B.C., King Xerxes of Persia raised forces in Asia and Africa and invadedGreece with an army so huge that it "drank rivers dry." Then they entered themountain pass of Thermopylae and encountered 300 determined soldiers fromSparta....Read more

Reviews (64)

Worth every penny!
This is a georgeous folio book.Frank Miller at his best.Dark and vivid.This book was out of print for a while, and it is an absolute treasure to own.

Herodotus meets Sin Cityand gets whacked.
I was hoping that Miller would turn his talents from the dark side and we would see how well he could reproduce a Classical Epic.What we get is a blood splattered "300 Lacedaimons in the Hood".The Spartans are presented to be a buch of Homo erotic Rastafarians.The Persians rather than the Noble Middle Eastern Autocrats presented in their Art are drawn by Miller to resemble African American Gangstas with piercings and Skin art everywhere.I was looking for Xerxes to have a grill and whitewalls on his chariot.
I will always think of this as 'Zoo.'What can I say?I'm special.
But do not miss this trade paperback.The story is as fine as you'll ever read, a tale as old as time.And the artwork is fantastic.
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Subjects:  1. Comics & Graphic Novels    2. Fiction    3. General    4. Graphic Novels - General    5. Historical - General    6. History - General History    7. Comics & Graphic Novels / General    8. Graphic novels   

Reviews (66)

World War Z Makes This Reader Want MORE
Max Brooks' shamblingly good World War Z made this zombie-genre-fan want more, more, more. This "oral history" chronicles the stories of many who fought in and survived the zombie wars. If any one of their stories were expanded into a full-length novel, I would snap it up. I'm sure he's already been asked, but I must add my voice to the clamor: Please, Max Brooks, if youhave a third zombie book in you, write one that follows a protagonist from start to finish so we can go even further into the scary, creepy, wonderful world you've created.
A cut above genre
Zombies as a genre fit overwhelmingly into a visual medium, and there have been quite a few great zombie movies, "Night of the Living Dead", "Sean of the Dead", "28 Days Later",as well as some fun zombie graphic novels, "Marvel Zombies".Zombies are simple creatures that translate well to visuals with their sole moviation of kill, eat and infect. In "World War Z" Max Brooks takes on the zombie genre in the form of an intelligent oral history from the survivors of the global epidemic. Each chapter is the story told from a different survivor and organized chronologically from the start of the infections in China, throught the rise of zombies globally, the human resistance, and eventual human triumph. How do you translate the zombie genre from their success in the visual mediums into prose form? Mr. Brooks does exceedingly well by telling the human side of the horror story.
Worthy Read for Zombie Lovers
A fun read that has a bit of difficulty maintaining a tone. Is this serious, sometimes its very serious, at others a bit comicbooky - as the narrative of war against the undead unfolds we have some rather uneven snap shots - but the highs definitely outweigh the lows. Recommend reading for Zombie or survival fiction enthusiasts. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Satire And Humor    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - Men'sAdventure    4. Humor    5. Humorous    6. War    7. War & Military    8. Fiction / General   

Reviews (166)

Absolutely Fascinating!
I was hooked after reading only the first line!What a wonderful picture of Life in 19th Century China.Gloriously written.I've not read anything by Ms. Lee before, but I'm definitely going to explore some of her other books!

Touching and informative
The setting of this book is 19th. century China, a time when men's and women's roles are rigidly defined by age-old customs and rules.The two main characters are Lily, the narrator, and Snow Flower, her "laotong", who are bound together by contract and by love developed through many shared experiences.They are closer than husband and wife, or parent and child and they give one another much-needed love and support in a society where they are women and therefore useless for anything other than producing sons.Lisa See reveals details about many practices of the day, including foot-binding and nu shu, a specialized "women's writing" which is used by Lily and Snow Flower to communicate.They write hearfelt messages to one another on a fan, which becomes a chronicle of their intertwined lives and their most priceless possession.This is a fascinating look at what life was like for Chinese women in the 19th. century, and on another level it is a timeless lesson on the necessary components for a successful friendship between women.I highly recommend this book.

Intriguing Look into A Different World
What I thoroughly enjoyed about Snow Flower and the Secret Fan was becoming engrossed in the time period of the novel, learning about a culture I knew little about, and coming to understand the role of women in the Chinese society of the day. The friendship between Snow Flower and Lily was very well drawn, but the relationships between all of the female characters in the book was intriguing. This novel proved to be an excellent choice for my women's book club! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asian American Novel And Short Story    2. China    3. Female friendship    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - General    6. Fiction - Historical    7. General    8. Historical - General    9. Popular American Fiction    10. Psychological    11. Reminiscing in old age    12. Women    13. Fiction / General   

Editorial Review

If your pulse flutters at the thought of castle ruins and descents into crypts by moonlight, you will savor every creepy page of Elizabeth Kostova's long but beautifully structured thriller Read more

Reviews (1105)

This historian is a good read
Okay, this is an enjoyable book, but far less enjoyable than any Harry Potter novel. I have yet to read the end, but I am disappointed that Dracula, himself, shows up only in the last 100 or so pages. That's lame.
I suddenly wish I were a Historian... Wonderful*****
I found The Historian to be a wonderful & easy read from beginning to the end.Very well written.VERY Dracula-esque.If you loved Bram Stoker's original masterpiece, you will love this as well.
Lovely!
The story begins with our heroine finding a bunch of old letters, all addressed, quite melodramatically, to "My Dear and Unfortunate Successor". Shortly afterwards, her father goes missing and she uses the letters to try and track him down. Her quest takes to monasteries and libraries all over Europe, and she finds herself being hunted down by a sinister figure - the same being that has haunted both her grandfather and father's letters, and who may be the cause of her mother's mysterious death. As she delves deeper, she finds out more about her family history and begins to understand just how truly terrible her adversary is.
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Subjects:  1. American First Novelists    2. American Horror Fiction    3. Fantasy - Dark/Horror    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - Fantasy    6. Fiction - General    7. General    8. Horror    9. Horror - General    10. Horror fiction    11. Occult fiction    12. Suspense    13. Vampires    14. Fiction / General   

Reviews (40)

The Ultimate Gift
This is a book that easy to read and comprehend for most teens as well as adults.Its teachings are powerful.Each chapter would make an excellent topic for discussion and tasks to implement the teachings into the lives of the readers. It should be a mandatory reading and a discussion topic in high schools through out our Nation.I enjoyed the book immensely and recommend it highly.

A Great Book to Wrestle Through
The Ultimate Gift is a short, quick read but gives you a little something extra to think about other than the story at hand. Stovall wrote the story about a young man who wants a part of his grandfather's will. At the begginning of the book, the young man is angry that he didn't receive money or other material items like his relatives did. But his grandfather has other plans for the young man and wants to give him the "Ultimate Gift."
Inspirational (but not religious)
I agree with the other reviewers -- this is a powerful inspirational story.
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Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - Religious    3. Great-uncles    4. Inheritance and succession    5. Religious - General    6. Travelers   

Reviews (61)

Troubling
In STORM the Germans are an impersonal calamity, like Katrina.We see French of every class and sort scatter like ants whose anthill has just been stepped on. There's good sardonic social observation here and I'm afraid it's probably accurate.But as a reader you sit and feel rather smug at the spectacle.In DOLCE we meet the German occupiers. They are not the evil Huns we have met hundreds of times in the war movies. They have names, faces and, be it confessed, impeccable behavior.(The irony of what was in store for the author is heavy here.) But the troubling part is how naturally so many of the French in this particular village fall into the routine of collaboration.Without judging or condemning, Nemirovsky shows us how it must have happened.The scenes are so vivid here you can't help placing yourself there, and wondering if you would have been a whit more heroic. Or, for that matter, if you had been one of the Germans, would you have been much different than they? Be honest.
How it was possible
Reading these two novellas was, for me, like standing for hours, looking at painting after painting by a great artist.For every page, every chapter was filled with amazing colorful details; the details that make up the lives of those populating these novellas--lives torn apart by the terrible earthquake that results from a defeat.
Novel of the year
Storm in June is the best book I've read since Vikram Seth's An Equal Music.The second part of Suite Francaise is good, but Storm in June is a gem everyone will love.I didn't expect to laugh out loud with the Nazi's at the door.Happy reading.I'm wondering when Nemirovsky's earlier novels will be translated into English. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - General    3. France    4. French Novel And Short Story    5. German occupation, 1940-1945    6. Historical - General    7. History    8. Literary    9. World War, 1939-1945    10. Fiction / Literary   

Editorial Review

Yann Martel's imaginative and unforgettable Read more

Reviews (1619)

Great for discussion!
Although I had a bit of trouble getting into the first 3rd of this remarkable novel, my persistence was rewarded with an incredible book, which leaves so much open to interpretation and discussion.The story of a boy who is shipwrecked, and forced to live on a lifeboat with a tiger for months, it is also the story of our world, our lives and our families.One can't help but wonder about the nature of truth and meaning of our coexistence.In short, it's an impressively rich and meaningful literary journey.Well worth your time.

SPIRITUALLY INSPIRING AND AN INTRIGUING JOURNEY
The Life of Pi is actually a book in two parts. The first half is based primarily on Piscine (Pi) Patel's exploration of three very different religions - Hinduism, Islam and Christianity, as well as his family's ownership of a zoo. The second half of the book is the story of Pi's journey by barge to Canada. The boat sinks leaving Pi, a hyena, an orangutan, a zebra and Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, adrift at sea in a life boat.
Life of Pi Book Review
The Life of PI was a very interesting book about a very religious boy named Pi. By very religious I mean he took up Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity. Just for the record Pi lives in India where these are common religions. In india Pi lives with his mother, father and brother.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - General    4. Literary    5. Psychological    6. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure    7. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (9)

Legal thriller set in Rome
Imperium tells the story of the adult life of Cicero as seen through the eyes of his faithful slave Tiro. At first I found this story pretty boring. Cicero is sort of a dull character, and for a story set in Ancient rome there wasn't a lot of 'color.' After a while though, the book really began to hook me. The narrator does an excellent job of pulling you into the story, especially the legal details.
Good for the history, but a little flat on the story
I enjoy Harris's work and looked forward to this one, though with a slight hesitation that came from my disappointment with his last Roman novel, Pompeii. The book is interesting in terms of the history; it places Cicero in the political context of Pompey that precedes the era of Julius Caesar. It gives Cicero presence and depth.
Great tale
This is a very engaging tale - quite an enjoyable read and very relevant to today's political climate.Highly recommended!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (Marcus Tullius),    2. Cicero, Marcus Tullius    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - Historical    5. Historical - General    6. History    7. Mystery & Detective - General    8. Political    9. Republic, 265-30 B.C.    10. Rome    11. Tiro, M. Tullius    12. ca. 104-4 B.C.    13. Fiction / Historical   

Reviews (3)

TYPICAL CUSSLER, WHICH IS TERRIFIC

Great Clive!
One of my favorite Clive Cussler novels in the past few years. Fast paced to be sure, but I thoroughly enjoyed the non-stop action-adventure written by the master. If you love Clive Cussler, you will love it!!

Sub-par Effort
I'm a big Cussler fan, but this novel is not up to par.I expected this to be a light read, with the standard fast-paced, multi-line story with a lot of action.Skeleton Coast delivers, but delivers way too much pace, way too much action, and not much narrative.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Cabrillo, Juan (Fictitious character)    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - General    5. General    6. Mercenary troops    7. Treasure troves    8. Fiction / General   

Reviews (7)

Other than Kenyon, awful compilation
I didn't like one story in this book other than Kenyon's, and even that wasn't her best.The book was actually so bad that I resent the money I paid for it.And to add insult to injury, the other book I bought that was a compilation including Kenyon was even WORSE.Just a total waste of money.Two of the stories are written in the first person -- and come on, are you a 12 year old writing a story for composition class? -- and all of them are hokey and, to be blunt, lame.

severely disappointed
Severely disappointed is the only way to describe my reaction to this anthology.I ran right out to buy this book because of all the positive reviews.Save your money and buy it used.

Some are silver and the others gold, but all GREAT!
To say that I was looking forward to this book for the authors that I already know and love is an understatement.I couldn't wait to read L.A. Banks' story and Sherilyn Kenyon's.However, I have to say that I not only enjoyed the stories from the authors that I am already familiar with and love, but I enjoyed the stories from the authors who were previously unknown to me as well.What a great introduction to something new!I am definitely going to be broadening my book collection with some new authors and of course will continue on with the ones I love and know already.This was a book filled with interesting, romantic and exciting tales and I would recommend it to anyone.KUDOS to these writers for a capital accomplishment.
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Subjects:  1. Fantasy    2. Fantasy - General    3. Fantasy - Short Stories    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - Fantasy    6. Horror tales, American    7. Occult    8. Weddings    9. Fiction / Fantasy / General   

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Cussler, Clive - Prose & Criticism    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - Espionage / Thriller    5. Oceanographers    6. Oil industry    7. Pitt, Dirk (Fictitious character)    8. Thrillers    9. Fiction / Thrillers   

Reviews (36)

Okay While On Pain Killers
I had a few days at home recovering from minor surgery. I was slugging my way through the latest Woodward book on Bush and decided I needed a lighter read so I picked up Book of Fate. I read it in 2 days and it kept my interest.In thinking about it afterwards neither the premise or the execution made any sense.The whole issue concerning Jefferson and the Code was never part of the story.Characters were introduced and never followed through.
Waste of Time and Money
Previous Meltzer books were good reads.This one sucks. Don't waste your money buying a book that has no business anywhere near the bestsellers list.Even one of those formulaic books from Patterson and whoever would be a better use of your time and money.

garbage
I have read all of Meltzers books and have to say that I am shocked at just how bad Book Of Fate is. Meltzer has a lot of talent. Its apparent if you read his earlier books. Sadly it is greatly mis-spent here.
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Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - Espionage / Thriller    3. Political    4. Political fiction    5. Suspense fiction    6. Thrillers    7. Fiction / Thrillers   

Subjects:  1. Anthologies (multiple authors)    2. Fiction - General    3. General    4. Literary Collections    5. Literature: Classics    6. Middle Eastern    7. Literary Collections / General   

Reviews (14)

The Original Erotic Horror Novel
When people mention erotic horror, which is a phrase thrown about continuously nowadays, I immediately think of Ray Garton's "Live Girls". There may have been other books that came before this one to pioneer the new sub-genre of horror but Live Girls was the first I was exposed to. In this regards, I find myself unbelievably lucky.