Rating: 
Summary: one of the best romance novels I've ever read
Review: Have you ever been in love? Have you ever wanted to be in love? Well if you can read over ten pages of The Gods Laughed without falling in love with the two main characters, Monica Sanders and Paul Logan, then there is something wrong with you. Kaya Casper, the editor of Widethinker.com, and Rick White, a retired newspaper and magazine editor, have teamed up to write one of the best romance novels I've ever read. Set in the old theme of two castaways on a deserted island, Monica Sanders, an up and coming MBA who happens to be twenty-two, beautiful, and black, falls in love with Paul Logan who is sixty-two, retired, and white. It could only happen on a desert island. Faced with the issue of race and age being second to their survival, Paul and Monica quickly learn to look past what they see with their eyes and react to what they see in their hearts. The dangers of living on an island are many, and the couple faces more than their share of dangerous situations. Of course the story begins with the most dangerous senario of the entire book when the plane they are on goes down in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It gets better from there. The Gods Laughed, the first full length work by Ms. Casper, and the third from Mr. White, manages to evoke emotion and stir passion in its readers. While the idea of an older man and a younger woman of different races might sometimes be met with resistance, the authors have managed to handle the situation in such a way as to make it not only alluring, but sweet and genuine. For Monica and Paul it would seem they have found their soulmates. Two strangers finding love on a desert island; yes, it's an old theme, but Ms. Casper and Mr. White manage to make quite a tale of it. They weave a story of fantasy frought with reality as they wait to be rescued while sometimes hoping they can spend eternity alone on the island. Their story asks these questions: Does the world around us prevent us from discovering our true selves and living up to our true potentials? Does the real world, with all its negative pressures, cause us to miss out on true happiness? Could it be that in this world, one might live a lifetime and never see past age and race to find one's true love? Big questions, right? The God's Laughed entertains many fantasies that people around the world share, but the work is pure romance built on modern day issues of age and race, and is in no way porn. I wouldn't be concerned in the least if my teenagers were to read it. You might find yourself aroused but there's nothing dirty about it. As a matter of fact: The emotions conveyed on the pages of The Gods Laughed, are those of tenderness and warmth. No matter what your opinion of mixed race couples, or affairs between older and younger lovers, you'll feel nothing but goodness and joy as you read of the love that Paul and Monica share. The Gods Laughed by Kaya Casper and Rick White manages to ask many questions, and it answers many as well, but there is one question it doesn't answer, and please pardon me for asking but many will: Could it be that Monica Sanders and Paul Logan are in reality, Kaya Casper and Rick White? Judging from what I have read, I'd say Kaya and Rick are on their way to the best seller lists. I wish them all the luck in the world. -Billy Jones, Author of Carrot on a Stick
Rating: 
Summary: Long on platitudes, short on substance
Review: I bought this book because I thought the idea behind the plot was interesting. Two people as different as night and day stranded on an island. The idea was good the story wasn't. I found the story dragged on and on. It was also very preachy on why a future between the two characters would be impossible. After reading the first few chapters I didn't care if the characters were rescued or not, I just wanted the story to end. Save your money because the characters and the story are both weak.
Rating: 
Summary: Monica and Paul's love is ageless.
Review: I like the book but it was too short. I got tired of them saying they love each other. Way to short. I hope there's a sequel.
Rating: 
Summary: The Gods Laughed
Review: I like the book but it was too short. I got tired of them saying they love each other. Way to short. I hope there's a sequel.
Rating:
Summary: Read this book!
Review: I loved this book because it clearly illustrates the love, tenderness, and the mutual respect that Paul and Monica felt for each other. Paul's wisdom,intellect,and his strong attraction for Monica made the story very exciting. Monica's youth, beauty, and intellect was very appealing to the storyline. The love and passion that they shared was riveting and tender. However, I wanted Monica to kick her boyfried to the side. I was looking for a happily ever after ending for Monica and Paul. I wanted Paul and Monica not to allow race and age differences to play such a strong role in their decision not to build a life togehter.
Rating:
Summary: Read this book!
Review: I loved this book because it clearly illustrates the love, tenderness, and the mutual respect that Paul and Monica felt for each other. Paul's wisdom,intellect,and his strong attraction for Monica made the story very exciting. Monica's youth, beauty, and intellect was very appealing to the storyline. The love and passion that they shared was riveting and tender. However, I wanted Monica to kick her boyfried to the side. I was looking for a happily ever after ending for Monica and Paul. I wanted Paul and Monica not to allow race and age differences to play such a strong role in their decision not to build a life togehter.
Rating:
Summary: Waste of Time
Review: I purchased this book after reading many rave reviews on various sites. When I received it I anxiously began to read expecting to be thoroughly entertained. Instead, I found that I had to force myself to finish the book. The main characters that have been described as having depth appeared to me like that is exactly what they lacked. The entire book is filled with Monica and Paul telling each other the same thing over and over and over and over and over (must I go on??) and by the end it grew extremely tiresome. I feel as if I wasted my time and money on this book and I would not recommend it to anyone. The plot made it seem as if the book would be interesting, but in reading it I was bored to tears. If you have a few hours to waste reading a totally pointless book, then definitely purchase this. Otherwise, take my advice and find something else.
Rating:
Summary: I wish I could get my money back!!
Review: If only I had taken the time to read all the reviews! I read romance novels because they offer abreak from my reality of a stressful and demanding career. Books are islands of tranquility and joy... this book (set on an island, no less) sucked the life out of my fantasy. By page 18 I was hoping they would get rescued or die from exposure (when the hurricane passed through I thought this would be the break I was looking for.)
Paul's twinkling eyes and lopsided smile became a leer and a smirk; if I heard once more how awesome Monica thought this man was because he could find the sun at midday in a cloudless sky I would cheerfully have her fall into one of the black holes never to return.
I have little extra to add to those reviews which rated this book with one star. I'm still trying to figure out what the writers were trying to accomplish. It appears they were trying to make some profound sociological statements about May-December romances, interracial love, economic inequalities, utopia, and something else I'm sure I'll never know.
This was a waste of my time (it's a slim book, but it took twice as long to read) and my money.
Rating:
Summary: Waste of Time
Review: Imagine being stranded on a tropical island with a stranger. Imagine that
stranger is a man forty years older than you. Imagine that the two of you
fall in love and have a fantasy affair amid the ocean breeze, vibrant
sunshine, and palm trees. Imagine that he is white and you are black. This
is the pretense and dilemma set out in THE GOD'S LAUGHED. Kaya Casper and
Rick White have joined together in a writing partnership that seems to mirror
their main characters, Monica and Paul. The result of this union is a
whimsically romantic story that constantly ponders the what-ifs of a modern
relationship and the hypocrisy of society at large. In THE GOD'S LAUGHED, Monica Sanders, a 22 year old black woman, and Paul
Logan, a 62 year old white man, are the sole survivors of a plane crash who
find themselves stranded on an island somewhere on the Caribbean coast. They
combine efforts to sustain themselves and during the course of building huts,
fishing, and picking fruits they discover they have a lot in common and
develop an attraction for one another. They explore this attraction and
uncover a great gift in each other as well as overwhelming happiness in spite
of their meager circumstances. However, Monica and Paul must confront the
stark differences between them as they ponder the age old question, `Is love
enough?' THE GOD'S LAUGHED is a May-December romance that is further complicated by
race. The authors' writing styles mesh well and it's virtually impossible to
tell who wrote what. The story is a thinking person's romance -- the hearts
and flowers are presented with a heavy dose of cynicism about the probability
of success of this union. Casper and White spend a great deal time in the
story ruminating over the pros and cons of the age and race gap. Nonetheless,
THE GOD'S LAUGHED is a bittersweet love story for anyone who believes or wants
to believe in love. Reviewed by Diane Marbury (HonestD)
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Rating:
Summary: NOT THE ORDINARY MAY-DECEMBER AFFAIR
Review: Imagine being stranded on a tropical island with a stranger. Imagine that
stranger is a man forty years older than you. Imagine that the two of you
fall in love and have a fantasy affair amid the ocean breeze, vibrant
sunshine, and palm trees. Imagine that he is white and you are black. This
is the pretense and dilemma set out in THE GOD'S LAUGHED. Kaya Casper and
Rick White have joined together in a writing partnership that seems to mirror
their main characters, Monica and Paul. The result of this union is a
whimsically romantic story that constantly ponders the what-ifs of a modern
relationship and the hypocrisy of society at large. In THE GOD'S LAUGHED, Monica Sanders, a 22 year old black woman, and Paul
Logan, a 62 year old white man, are the sole survivors of a plane crash who
find themselves stranded on an island somewhere on the Caribbean coast. They
combine efforts to sustain themselves and during the course of building huts,
fishing, and picking fruits they discover they have a lot in common and
develop an attraction for one another. They explore this attraction and
uncover a great gift in each other as well as overwhelming happiness in spite
of their meager circumstances. However, Monica and Paul must confront the
stark differences between them as they ponder the age old question, 'Is love
enough?' THE GOD'S LAUGHED is a May-December romance that is further complicated by
race. The authors' writing styles mesh well and it's virtually impossible to
tell who wrote what. The story is a thinking person's romance -- the hearts
and flowers are presented with a heavy dose of cynicism about the probability
of success of this union. Casper and White spend a great deal time in the
story ruminating over the pros and cons of the age and race gap. Nonetheless,
THE GOD'S LAUGHED is a bittersweet love story for anyone who believes or wants
to believe in love. Reviewed by Diane Marbury (HonestD)
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
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