Rating: 
Summary: Heart wrenching
Review: Thoughtful. Map takes a look at the emotions only a woman can experience. The husband's devotion is what all women long for. If you are looking for shallow entertainment, this book is not for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring
Review: This book was mediocre at best! I read the whole book because I kept waiting for something to happen. The book was very flat. I felt like saying get to the good stuff already! But "the good stuff" never materialized. I thought that Hamilton's first book was much better.
Rating: 
Summary: When life turns on a dime...
Review: Jane Hamilton draws you into the book quickly and keeps you turning the pages as fast as you can. Her descriptions and metaphors are delicious and place you squarely in the middle of the action. Her book also teaches the reader that one of lifes turning points can happen in the blink of an eye - thereby changing ones life forever. You can never really go back. Little choices can have devastating effects. Excellent reading!
Rating: 
Summary: A Real Downer
Review: If you're feeling especially happy and upbeat this is just the book to read to bring you back down
Rating:
Summary: thoroughly engrossing
Review: I was hesitant to pick this book after reading some reader reviews describing it as boring, too wordy, and turned off by the death of a child.On the contrary, I found it very rich, textural, and complex in a very human way. I was never bored and whipped through this in less than a week. I found it fascinating. I loved the way Alice narrated it at first, then Howard, than back to Alice again. People are very fallible, complex characters and this book finds the perfect pitch to tell that story. It is about surviving trageday, and ultimately, forgiveness. While this is not a "happy" read, I was not depressed by it either. I get so tired of people complaining about subject matter being depressing and therefore, throwaway. It is through pain we often find joy. For me, a good book, or movie is something that grips me and holds my attention, whether it be happy or sad or both. This is one of the better books I have read in a long time. I will read more by Jane Hamilton.
Rating:
Summary: A Map of the World
Review: Buy this book only if you want to feel sad and depressed. This book is yet another pathetically sad book in Oprah's book club!
Rating: 
Summary: Thrilling!
Review: This was a great book. I could not put it down
Rating:
Summary: Boring, boring, boring
Review: What a bunch of words to say a bunch of nothing. I guess I'm missing something. I did read more than 50 pages and neither the characters nor the plot grabbed me. Disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Moving!
Review: I felt alot of emotions while reading this book. The characters came to life for me. Yes, it was depressing. It made me angry, scared, nervous, joyful, happy all rolled into one. Ms. Hamiltons descriptive writing is amazing! My interest was kept throughout the entire novel. As time went by, I felt as though these people were a part of my life! The pain and suffering was real. This could truly happen to anyone! A total misunderstanding! How Alice endured throughout it all. How Theresa (bearing the pain of losing a child) and still remain loyal to Alice. How Howard sacrificed his dreams! I was truly moved by this book! I would recommend this to any who has a heart! It is truly an inspiring read, that one can lose it all and overcome!
Rating:
Summary: Author deserves accuracy
Review: Perhaps Amazon needs to tighten its editing reins: the family in Map of the World is the GOODWINS not the GOODHEARTS. Did Kerry Fried read the book recently?
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