Rating: 
Summary: pleasantly surprised by the work of this skilled author
Review: A lot of books pass my desk in the course of a day being employed at a public library, many i put aside to read some other time, but this one i actually took home and jumped into immediately. The skill of Mr. Moran in meshing the two worlds of the known and unknown held my attention for the length of the novel..its not often that a new authors work of fiction grabs my heart so readily!
Rating:
Summary: A love story that breaks the threshold of reality.
Review: A moving, lyrical and poignant love story that has no boundries. One of the most important books about human emotion and tragedy that has ever been written.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing--I've already read it twice!
Review: I had never heard of this book, and just bought it because it "looked good". I couldn't put it down, and have already read it twice (in less than six months! ) I've recommended it to everyone I know, and am afraid to lend it someone in case they don't return it! I am a physical therapist and sometimes feel that I have become "hardened" after working in the medical field, but this book made me cry! This is probably the best book I have read in several years!
Rating: 
Summary: A fine idea, but falls short in development
Review: I normally don't write reviews for books I don't like, but this one frustrated me so much, I had to make my views known. The first few chapters got the novel off to a great start. The idea of a man living vicariously through his ICU nurse in the worlds he makes for her in own mind is simply brilliant. But once his fantasies get started, they are cut short and never finished. Perhaps this can be chalked up to the delusional state of the protagonist. But the main main character repeatedly refers to "the world I'm making for Nuala," when, in fact, there is really no "world" to speak of--it just never develops. The death of Brigit is a further source of frustration. It interrupts the flow of the novel, has very little relevance to the plot line itself, and, like the fantasies of the main character, isn't followed up on. Nuala cries a little, and very little else is said. It is almost as if she didn't really matter at all, when, in fact, she played a very large role up until the point of death. All in all, this novel was just a big disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: an exceptional book
Review: I picked this book up on vacation and from the very first page, I was mesmerized by the beautiful, spare prose and the character as he develops. This is a book which is very intense, and drew my emotions out gradually and deeply. It has been added to my library of "never lend out" books, but believe me - I WILL tell others about it's magic. I read and reread the ending chapter, it was so intense. The author's notes after the last chapter just put the entire book into perspective for me. Buy it! Read it!!
Rating:
Summary: an exceptional book
Review: I picked this book up on vacation and from the very first page, I was mesmerized by the beautiful, spare prose and the character as he develops. This is a book which is very intense, and drew my emotions out gradually and deeply. It has been added to my library of "never lend out" books, but believe me - I WILL tell others about it's magic. I read and reread the ending chapter, it was so intense. The author's notes after the last chapter just put the entire book into perspective for me. Buy it! Read it!!
Rating: 
Summary: Good Book
Review: I thought this book was very powerful and touching. The author writes it from the disabled person's point of view, and you can't help but feel bad for the man. I couldn't stop reading it. Unfortunately, I thought some parts of the book were confusing and dull. When the man starts getting tired, and can't think properly anymore it gets confusing for me, but of course in reality this does happen, so I don't blame the author. Over all I thought it was a good book. I would reccommend this book to people who enjoy reading sad books. After I read this book I really started to enjoy life a lot more.
Rating:
Summary: A powerfully original and moving story
Review: James Blatchley, the narrator of Thomas Moran's second novel, "The World I Made for Her" finds himself in a terrifyingly real predicament: stricken by a minor childhood disease that leaves him unable to walk, speak, or breathe on his own. Completely helpless, he is cared for by two Irish nurses--the bawdy, outgoing Brigit, who has a penchant for shooting up the narcotics meant for her patients, and the graceful, softspoken Nuala, nicknamed St. Nualala by Brigit for her demure behavior. James fixates upon Nuala and begins a love affair with her that exists only in his mind. As the days wear on, James drifts in and out of consciousness, envisioning Nuala's daily routine, her past, and her aspirations and desires, as it soon becomes clear that Nuala needs James almost as much as he needs her. The story is augmented by Moran's vividly straightforward prose and utterly believable characters. Told from James's point of view, the novel is also highly personal, as Moran himself fell ill with a minor childhood diease and spent five months in the hospital as the virus attacked his organs and nearly killed him. He recalls his own visions in hypnotic detail that underscores the redemptive, life-affirming power of love.
Rating:
Summary: A powerfully original and moving story
Review: James Blatchley, the narrator of Thomas Moran's second novel, "The World I Made for Her" finds himself in a terrifyingly real predicament: stricken by a minor childhood disease that leaves him unable to walk, speak, or breathe on his own. Completely helpless, he is cared for by two Irish nurses--the bawdy, outgoing Brigit, who has a penchant for shooting up the narcotics meant for her patients, and the graceful, softspoken Nuala, nicknamed St. Nualala by Brigit for her demure behavior. James fixates upon Nuala and begins a love affair with her that exists only in his mind. As the days wear on, James drifts in and out of consciousness, envisioning Nuala's daily routine, her past, and her aspirations and desires, as it soon becomes clear that Nuala needs James almost as much as he needs her. The story is augmented by Moran's vividly straightforward prose and utterly believable characters. Told from James's point of view, the novel is also highly personal, as Moran himself fell ill with a minor childhood diease and spent five months in the hospital as the virus attacked his organs and nearly killed him. He recalls his own visions in hypnotic detail that underscores the redemptive, life-affirming power of love.
Rating:
Summary: Good Book
Review: Moran's writing style flows & encourages your own mind to do the same...as I was reading, I would stop occasionally & remember the severely ill all too young patients in my care whom died. Although most could not speak; their eyes would tell me that yes there was a very real person there in spite of a body which was being ravaged by disease. Long after I was through; the novel & James stayed with me, as have some of the once real James that I had the opportunity to know.
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