Rating: 
Summary: Forgive the middle and love the rest
Review: This book is a celebration of cultures -- Irish, Lebanese and African -- and a tantalizing stewpot of images and ideas. Throw in incest, murder, accidental murder, seductions, shootings, rape, abuse and family banishment and you've pretty much said it all.Yes, it's melodramatic. But the language is absolutely beautiful and arresting, and the structure is marvelous. It reminds me of "The God of Small Things" in how its haunting flashbacks slowly grow toward and reveal the critical relationship that drives all of the story. The first 150-170 pages -- the first third of the book -- is one of the most well-written, intriguing pieces of fiction I've read -- and I've read thousands of books. The climax at the end of that section is so stunning and mind-searing, you can hardly believe it. How about murder, drowning, incest and suicide? Yes, it's outrageous, but just let yourself suspend disbelief for awhile. The middle bogs down because the author throws out innumerable red herrings and assumptions to keep you off track from the crucial question of the book, which is "What happened to the oldest daughter?" The last third of the book begins with another shocking series of events -- attempted murder, another birth, escape -- and then a fast-paced, incredible shock-wave diary narrative that finally explains all that has transpired before. The middle is flawed and needs heavy editing. But the overall imagery, the sweep of history, the memorable characters (dozens!)and, most of all, the potential -- lost, unclaimed or destroyed -- in each member of this family will remain with you long after the melodrama wears off. An excellent Gothic horror show given to us by a very gifted writer.
Rating: 
Summary: I LOVED IT!
Review: Fall on Your Knees is a compelling story about family values and family troubles, people in general, and the world back in the time it was written. It's a good learning experience and it's a totally captivating story. Ann-Marie MacDonald is a well-known actress as well as playwright in Canada and she obviously knows her stuff. I could not put this book down and spent much of my skiing vacation reading it! I had a great time reading it because the characters are rich and have incredible interactions with other characters. You get into the minds of all of the main characters as their stories are passed on through each chapter. I've read it at least three times and I recommend doing so as well. This makes the story... like any other... make total sense. It's pretty easy to understand, however, after you finish it the first time. It's nice to go through again... especially this book... to catch things you missed and to read a GREAT story over and over!! I definitely recommend this book although, parents, you may want to read it first and decide whether it's ok for your child to read it too. I love Oprah Book Club Books. I have found many good books in that selection, including this one!
Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: This is by far one of the best books that I have read - ever! This story has everything - love, despair, incest, manipulation. There is enough drama in the book to make you want to turn page after page without getting enough! I found myself lost in this book and when it ended it craved for more! This book should be one of the MUST READ list for everyone. READ THIS BOOK!! (Have I said it enough times, yet?)
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Absorbing
Review: I couldn't put this book down, I read it in five days! An absolutely riveting read, a story of a doomed family in the outer regions of Nova Scotia. The book was deeply disturbing, but beautifully written. I was actually squirming at points, because it really deals with some horrible issues, but there seems to be redemption and hope at the ending. I didn't want it to end!
I hope she writes a follow up soon.
Rating: 
Summary: The Sins of the Parents
Review: I found the story to be very confusing at times. I had to keep going back in the story and clarify families and family members.There were many interesting sub stories that were both warm hearted and comforting. I came way from this feeling somewhat inadequate as I still had questions at the end of the story.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Melodramatic to be Believed
Review: I found this book to be quite disappointing. Though the writing style is creative and evocative, the plot is quite unbelievable and melodramatic to the point of absurdity. The narrative would have been so much stronger if MacDonald had used one family tragedy as the epicenter of a storm that would engulf this family. Then the reader could focus on how each character responds and how the delicate interconnection of family relationships is compromised and impacted by the actions of all other family members. Instead, MacDonald appears to feel that readers need to be needlessly entertained by a new tragedy every few chapters until I finally found myself asking, "Could there possibly be any other horrible thing that could happen to this one family?"
Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking
Review: This book is beautifully written. It captivates the reader almost from the first words and it never lets you down. It is sad and mysterious and it is surprising. The author manages to tell the story in a way that makes you feel the pain of the characters, while all the while keeping secrets from the reader. You feel that you know the characters so well, but at the same time you are totally surprised by the ending that sneaks up on you. This book is a true achievement in story telling, and its about time that it is finally getting the notice and praise that it has long had by those of us in the canadian east that have read it years ago like myself.
Rating:
Summary: Is it over yet?
Review: Maybe I'm missing something, but I just don't understand all the rave reviews this book is getting. As a fellow Canadian writer, I really wanted to like this book. I do think Ms. MacDonald is an excellent writer but she could do so much better than this poorly told tale. I wasn't offended by the subject matter but the same story could have been told more effectively with fewer, better chosen words. I'm not fond of the "flashback" style, either. I finished the book because I've never read one of Oprah's choices in the slotted time but I had to force myself to pick it up each time. Also, I never think it's fair to review a book without finishing it. I really kept hoping, with every page, that the book would improve. Quite frankly, I was happy and exhausted when I reached the final page.
Rating: 
Summary: Truly an amazing book
Review: I have read a couple of other Oprah picks, but this one was definitely my favorite. The story is incredible, and the web Ms. MacDonald weaves will keep you turning the pages up until the very end. I feel sorry for the few readers who were turned off by the certain peculiarities of the characters. I think the whole point is that life is NOT perfect, and when bad things happen to people, there are repercussions. Mercedes' blanket faith in Catholicism, her obsession with sainthood, fear of the Devil, and constant repenting is one of them. As for the reader who thought the one character's homosexuality needed explaining, well, people are either homosexual or not. It does not need to be explained. I think it was a wonderful thing, to read about a young woman coming into herself for the first time in a new city. I cherished every minute of this story. Do yourself a favor and read this book!
Rating:
Summary: Another Winner!!!
Review: This book took me by storm! I was truly impressed with MacDonald's ability to weave the story line and characters together into such a rich and dynamic book. It's got something for everyone, though I don't imagine everyone would appreciate this story because it deals with issues that some of us don't want to read about. I loved the characters and MacDonald has a way of making you feel their emotions, their pain, their joy, their confusion, their cruelty, their regret. I would recommend this to anyone. In fact, I loaned my copy to a friend who doesn't get a chance to read for entertainment, since she goes to school and works full time! I know that once she starts this and gets caught up in it, she'll not be able to finish her homework until she finishes the book! I hope it doesn't mess up her GPA, but this is definitely a book worth recommending. Come on Ann-Marie, give us another one.
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