Rating: 
Summary: Well...indeed!
Review: This is the first book that I've read by Balducci. Therefore, I couldn't be "disappointed" with his venture away from the suspense novel. Needless to say, I found my eyes welling up with tears a number of times from early on in the book. It was one of those books that I thought about all day while at work and couldn't wait to return to. I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: TOUCHING AND MEMORABLE
Review: As a fan of Baldacci's writing, he has surpassed himself with this touching and memorable story laced with unforgettable characters and a reviting tale. He introduced me to a place I've never seen and to strong characters who reminded me that with faith and love the human spirit can overcome and cope with whatever difficulties life dishes out. It is a story so reminesent of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and THE YEARLING that once I started reading it I didn't stop. He is a surperb storyteller regardless of the genre and I hope he takes us back to those mountains again in a future book.
Rating:
Summary: Baldacci's style far exceeds any Grisham novel I've read!
Review: I normally do not read books with a theme and storyline that "Wish You Well" contains; but since I love all of Baldacci's other books, I tried this one. How surprised I was. I couldn't put this book down! My favorite characters, Lou and Oz are so endearing dealing their struggles in losing a parent, two actually, and the drastic lifestyle change that was laid upon them. This book has a perfect blend of personal strenght and family devotion, with a twist of courtroom drama and high stakes suspense . Great ending, by the way! You know that this was a bold move for Baldacci and I thank him for it.
Rating:
Summary: "Well" done
Review: David Baldacci spins a compelling tale of life on the "high rock" in 1940's West Virginia. Baldacci begins slowly in this book, opposite his prior works, and methodically brings to life characters that endear one to the plain and hard-working life of the mountain. However, after challenging you to invest emotionally in the characters, Baldacci begins building a sequence of events that spur the readers' interest and provides a worthy return on the investment made in each of these characters. I applaud Baldacci for writing what is in his heart and taking the risk of a new style.
Rating: 
Summary: WHAT IS MR. BALDACCI THINKING?
Review: I always wonder why a successful writer of suspense novels decides to stray from the genre that made them famous, and venture into straight fiction, when most do this unsuccessfully...such is the case with David Baldacci and his new novel "Wish You Well"."Wish You Well" tells the story of Louisa(Lou) Mae Cardinal. As the novel opens up it is 1940 in New York City. While living on the verge of poverty with her family, her father an unsuccessful writer, and her mother in poor health, Lou is unaware of the hardships that her family is facing. After a tragedy strikes, Lou, her brother Oz, and her mother are forced to go live with her great grandmother Louisa in Virginia. Once in Virginia, Lou, will face many more struggles on her journey towards adulthood, and along the way she will find out about life, love, and her family past in the land that holds many mysteries, adventures, and was the inspiration of her father's writing (Lou also has a passion for writing). What was David Baldacci thinking when he wrote this novel? I have been a huge fan of David Baldacci since his first book "Absolute Power", and I am very disappointed (as will MANY readers) in his new novel. As always though, his writing is top notch, but why write such a dull novel about a twelve year-old girl? The power of Baldacci's name will sell this, but as word gets out, it will drop off the bestseller list's quickly. Please go back to writing thrillers! Nick Gonnella
Rating:
Summary: "Wish You Well"......Very well indeed!
Review: Could the same guy who wrote SAVING FAITH, ABSOLUTE POWER, and those other great suspense novels REALLY write this superb work of literary fiction???? YES! David Baldacci has shown us with this work that he is a not only a great storyteller, but a **wonderful** writer with WISH YOU WELL. A book of rolling emotions that roll like the Virginia countryside in which it is set, WISH YOU WELL will have you willing to wait for another thriller while you revel in this profound story of hope. If you are tempted to say, "I think I'll pass and wait for next 'real' Baldacci book," do yourself a favor and give WISH YOU WELL a chance. You won't be sorry. This book did me good, very well indeed -- Thank You Mr. Baldacci!
Rating: 
Summary: Good commercial fiction
Review: I'm still not quite sure what to make of Baldacci's WISH YOU WELL. Despite the hype, this is not a literary novel, although it does sometimes come close, but rather is commercial mainstream fiction aimed to sell well and not to challenge our preconceptions of the world. As long as you view it as just that - a commercial novel - you will be satisfied with this book. In 1940, Jack Cardinal dies in a car accident that leaves his wife Amanda in a coma and his two children, Lou (short for Louisa) and Oz (Oscar), without a caretaker. Lou acts on her parents' last conversation and suggests the surviving family members go to Virginia to live with great-grandmother, Louisa, whom none of them has met. So off the three go: Lou, Oz, and comatose Amanda. There, Lou and Oz discover a hard but rewarding existence in the mountains where coal and poverty rule. They come to love Eugene, also known as "Hell No", Diamond who is a resourceful but uneducated orphan, and, most of all, Louisa herself, who has many lessons to teach the children. Although the plot is somewhat predictable and Baldacci populates his Virgina mountains with a supporting cast of types (the greedy coal company men, the abusive man who tends to his mare's foaling despite his wife's difficult - and simultaneous, of course - labor, the black man who gets respect only from the good guys), Baldacci goes further with his main characters. Pre-teen Lou is well imagined, even if she sometimes acts too old for her age. Louisa, Lou's great-grandmother, has the most commanding presence of all the characters, with her mountain hardness tempered by a generous heart; her past and present all feel real, true to life. You'll enjoy this book as long as you don't expect high literature. Baldacci knows how to tell a story, and how to tell it well, leaving his readers with a firm sense of resolution. You won't find page-turning suspense here, as you will with his other bestselling books, but you will discover a new side to this author. As a literary novel (which some people claim it is), I would give it three stars; as a mainstream commercial one, I'd give it five.
Rating:
Summary: A joy to read
Review: Although a departure from his usual tales of intrigue, "Wish You Well" is every bit as well-crafted and captivating as David Baldacci's five previous books. Reminiscent of the Harper Lee classic, "To Kill a Mockingbird," this moving story about triumph in the face of adversity is enchanting and wholly uplifting. Rife with unforgettable characters, Baldacci's timeless tale is a page-turner that will bring tears to your eyes and joy to your heart. In short, "Wish You Well" will be a treat for Baldacci fans; for those who have not yet read his earlier books, here is a highly memorable introduction to a very gifted novelist.
Rating:
Summary: wish you well
Review: strong literary instincts reveal a new side of this best selling author normally known for his thrilling twists in tales. His lucidity and fluency remain and combine to make this book a very impressive read - and not so unrecommended for the weak-hearted.
Rating:
Summary: Worth 10 Stars-Best Book I've Read All Year!
Review: This is definitely one book that I hated to have come to an end; that's how great this story is. If you enjoy well-written, quickly developed characters & a storyline that tugs at your heartstrings, then this is the book for you. Wish You Well is a departure from David Baldacci's mystery/suspense novels and a very nice one at that. You will find yourself breezing through the pages from the opening chapter and these characters, particularly the children-Lou(short for Louise)and her little brother Oz(short for Oscar)are ones that you actually care about. What a wonderful movie this would make, but what am I saying here-there's no actual foul language or sex scenes-not exactly Hollywood's cup of tea. Still, if it were done right, it would at least make a good Made For Television film. I hope Mr. Baldacci eventually writes another novel about real people from different eras. Very highly recommended.
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