Rating: 
Summary: I highly recommend this book!
Review: I am a teacher who does not have a lot of time during the school year to leisurely read books. However, I started this book during winter vacation and found that I could not put it down! When vacation was over I had to make time at night after some long days of teaching to read every word until there were no more words left. Ms. Hamilton has written a beautiful, heartbreaking, modern tale of friendship, marriage, family, and loss in almost every form. This book made me think. It also made me feel. The writing is excellent and the plot very plausible. Ms. Hamilton does a great job with her characterizations. I could understand and relate to her characters. If you are a book lover like I am, I highly recommend this book to you!
Rating: 
Summary: a deep disappointment...
Review: I am an avid reader and usually enjoy Oprah's suggestions...however, this one was highly disappointing. It's a book told from the perspective of a married couple, with both the man's and woman's view, who are experiencing a great deal of troubles and trials in their lives. For someone to spend their entire career trying to get people to gain insight into themselves, I am amazed Oprah selected this book. The woman is highly self-absorbed with little understanding of how her actions are impacting her family's life. She seems to wallow in self-pity and not recognize that what is happening is also impacting others. The man is so closed-up and uncommunicative, you wonder how he is ever able to function in a social environment. In the midst of all this denial, poor communication, and chaos, there are two little girls who are grossly neglected-- but nobody seems to notice or care. I found the book disturbing, somewhat because of the main character's lack of insight, but more so that Oprah would put this book forward as an example of how people live their lives. Why has she worked so hard to try and change how people deal with each other, and then put this out as a good example? It's just a sorrowful read with few lessons to learn-- and certainly none that the main character seems to learn from it all.
Rating:
Summary: can't seem to get interested...
Review: I'm not actually done reading the book, & it upsets me. I find myself struggling to read a single page! After coercing myself to read 5 pages, I'd have to put the book down...then force myself to pick it up again maybe 2 days later & do the same thing all over again. I"ve never had this problem before!I do believe that once I get done reading the book, the story will be a good one---that's why I"m so upset that I can't get myself to be interested in it by now! Then again, I also fear that maybe everybody is giving this book so much praise merely because the "overall story" is a good one, while at the same time, it's a bad read. Seems to me, & this is the first time I've ever said this, that this story is probably more enjoyable as a movie then as a book.
Rating:
Summary: Is There a Creator Who Cares About You?
Review: I for one, am not a big fan of science. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book very much because of how self-explanitory it proved to be, in not only uncovering our physical makeup, but revealing evidence of a creator. As Scientists try to unravel the mystery of the origin of life, they stumble along a few difficulties in how to explain Darwin's theory of evolution. For centuries, it has become clear that scientists, as well as philosophers, can offer no explanation for the complex biological design on earth. Keeping this in mind then, "How did our universe get here? What is the origin of life? The handiwork- what, or who is behind if all?" Amazingly enough this book answers these questions, but it answers them from the most unique source of knowledge- the Bible. As the Bible aid explains the origin of life, it includes many startling examples and stories, such as Jesus Sermon on the Mount, the early days of Adam and Eve, and the Israelites journey to the Promised Land. These are just three examples out of many that beautifully coralate together, to illustrate the answers to these questions. If you are looking how to find a satisfying meaning to life, and believe in creation, but wonder if there is a creator, this book is for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Of Love and Other Demons
Review: Set in the tropical South America during the 1700s, Marquez writes of the fateful love affair between a young girl and a priest. Sierva Maria, who was made to live in the slave quarters until the age of twelve, is bitten by a rabid dog one day, and is consequently forced to undergo uncivil, tormenting therapy. Maria is soon sent to a convent when the local Bishop states his belief that Maria is possessed. It is at this convent where she encounters Father Cayetano Delaura, who wil be deciding on whether or not Maria needs to be exorcised. From this point on, Delaura begins to realize the strong feelings that he feels for Sierva Maria. Marquez powerfully demonstrates the unfortunate sequence of events that can come from one incident, and from one ill-fated love affair. I stronly reccomend this book. Enjoy! :-D
Rating:
Summary: A Real Page Turner!
Review: I got into the book within the 1st 3 pages. It was a real page turner that I had trouble putting down. It is the perfect example of how life's twists and turns can change your life in only a matter of minutes. Her descriptions were very good word pictures! You could feel the summer heat, the uncomfortableness of their ties to the town, the discomfort at the furneral, the changing relationship with the husband, and the impact of a precious friendship lost. The book sucks you in and doesn't let go. This is the experience every reader longs for when reading a book. You can travel several miles or cross the country without ever leaving your home. Reading is the ultimate escape and this book takes you out of your world of problems to someone elses, thus making your own problems miniscule by comparison! Great fiction!
Rating:
Summary: Miraculous
Review: I must admit that I was skeptical in picking up this book because I did not enjoy The Book of Ruth, a book in which I just could not relate to any of the characters or their life choices. And yet, I was blown away -- I found this work to have such depth of character and so much meaning. Ms. Hamilton writes so beautifully that the characters come alive and you experience their tragedies just as if you were a close friend. Just as one reviewer said, you can't put it down, but you tremble as you turn the page, terrified of what may happen next. It is an amazing story of the power of forgiveness, and surviving (but not triumphing over) adversity.
Rating:
Summary: I Loved this book.....every word of it.
Review: If you are a Mom, A Wife, A Women and a Best Friend to someone, you will adore this book. I found myself saying "Jane Hamilton" knows me.
Rating:
Summary: Remarkable
Review: Jane Hamilton's use of correlative prose and richly detailed characters drives this magnificent book through a tale that intrigues and makes one look at the self in a way that's spellbinding. It is a story that proves just how fragile life is and how special those close to us really are. If you want to read a book of the heart and soul, read this one! If you enjoy books from Oprah's book club, I also reccommend "White Oleander" by Janet Fitch...It's just as good, if not better.
Rating: 
Summary: This map didn't provide any directions
Review: I didn't not hate this book, but I can't say I really enjoyed it either. All I can say is that it is slow moving and very tragic. I find that too much tragedy happens to the main character, Alice. Your best friend's child dies on your hands, and then you are jailed and tried for sexual abuse. Come on! While other books flourish with two sides of the story, this book seems to flounder as it swithces between Alice and her husband Howard narrating. Nevertheless, it is an in depth look at at a pathetic woman who is faced with guilt and despair. A really, really, pathetic woman. If you tend to like the tragic, this book is for you.
|
