Desire Lines

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Summary: A Definite Page Turner...
Review: A fan of Baker Kline's since her first novel SWEET WATER, she shows that she hasn't lost her touch as a talented writer with this new book. Christina Baker Kline has written a powerful story about friendship, family, loss, and redemption. Her characters are so real, the plot fresh, and the dialogue crisp. You become so involved in Katherine's search for her missing friend, Jennifer, -- and Katherine's own search to find herself -- you will not be able to put the book down until you turn the last page. Desire Lines is definitely one of the best new books of 1999.

Rating:
Summary: a well-written look into a disappearance
Review: As a story about revisiting home and high-school friends, this novel is engaging, but as a mystery it falls short. Kline resorts to a few well-worn strategies in the "mystery" element (read Busch's GIRLS for a better rendering), and the actual mystery becomes a hinderance to the novel. Still, the scenes with the protagonist and her mother are true and affecting...

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Summary: This intelligent page-turner is a thinking gal's beach read
Review: Baker Kline's novel is a page-turner that's worth the time. The mother daughter relationship seemed modern and realistic and the music and style references are effective, informed and natural. Once I got started, I found myself racing along. I'm a decade older than the main character, but felt the author tapped into some universal girl issues re; growing up and realizing pretty much everyone else does too (eventually). No, it's not Chekhov, but it is the kind of book you'd pass along to your three sisters

Rating:
Summary: A passionate tour de force by an effortless stylist
Review: Desire Lines are those paths we wear to familiar destinations -- literally, the screaming semaphor of individual destiny -- and Christina Baker Kline has effortlessly limned those mews in this evocative, sharp and sure-footed demi-suspense novel that stopped my breath with its whimsical palimpsest of madness and elegance. Far more than a genre mystery, this is a book in a new mode: disruptive but deep, suggestive but achingly sensual. Definitely one for this reader's personal canon.

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Summary: A made-for-TV-movie-book....
Review: Desire Lines is a hugely enjoyable read for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that it does not fit squarely into any specific genre. I am not at all sure where the Gen-X tag is coming from, to approach the book with that in mind is to begin with an unnecessary preconceived notion. At no point during the book did I find myself pausing to wonder if anyone would actually say that, if anyone would actually do that, if such things could actually take place. The story is eminent and the existential dilemmas are enough to inspire empathy in any person. The scattered bad things I have read about this book seem to have been written by people who didn't actually read it and could not conceivably be more off base. Do yourself a favor, buy two. One for yourself and one for someone you love. Or like.

Rating:
Summary: Unlike any other current novel.
Review: Desire Lines is a hugely enjoyable read for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that it does not fit squarely into any specific genre. I am not at all sure where the Gen-X tag is coming from, to approach the book with that in mind is to begin with an unnecessary preconceived notion. At no point during the book did I find myself pausing to wonder if anyone would actually say that, if anyone would actually do that, if such things could actually take place. The story is eminent and the existential dilemmas are enough to inspire empathy in any person. The scattered bad things I have read about this book seem to have been written by people who didn't actually read it and could not conceivably be more off base. Do yourself a favor, buy two. One for yourself and one for someone you love. Or like.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent suspenseful work!
Review: I couldn't put this book down. The character development was quite even and well-paced, continually prompting me to want to know more and more of what was happening in this book. The story ties together extremely well, with all locations and characters throughly described. I wanted the book to go on and on and I can't wait for Baker-Kline's next work!

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!!!
Review: I loved this book and couldn't put it down. I graduated from high school in the same year the main character did, and all of the cultural references were perfect. Plus, the author does an incredible job of describing everyday life - conversation, gestures, all of it. I was thoroughly captivated and could relate to what the characters were going through. Great book!

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Summary: a well written first novel...
Review: I really enjoyed this book. While the story is about a best friend's disappearance 10 yrs prior on the night of high school graduation, the real focus of the book is someone coming to terms with themself. Revisiting the disappearance of her friend on that fateful night, with ten yrs life experience and disappointments under her belt, allows the narrator to discover who she is and, ultimately, through this process to unravel the mystery. A worthwhile read that approaches a typical subject matter from a different angle with winning results...

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I was very disappointed by this book. The writing was bland and less interesting than most genre fiction. The plot had promise as a different twist on the coming home theme but was not done well. If the writing is dull, the plot had better be strong. If the plot is weak, then the characters and writing had better be stellar. This book had none of that. If this book was intended to target the Gen-X market, well I'm a Gen-Xer and the only targeting I saw was the name-dropping of popular music groups. You could change those names and this story would fit into any generation.