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Summary: Gray Matter Makes You Think
Review: This is the first Gary Braver (Goshgarian) book I've read, but it definitely won't be the last. The book is at turns entertaining, thought-provoking, provocative, and, often, downright scary. I won't rehash the plot here - other reviewers have already done that - but I will say it's as good as any work of fiction currently on the top-ten best-seller list, and better than most. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced, intellectual thriller with real, believable characters. Pick it up and give it a read - you won't be sorry.
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Summary: Thriller about brains with a Heart:)
Review: Do I have to offer a synopsis before I review???
'Spose so*sigh*, a young boy is slow, parents are concerned look into methods and alternatives to make his/their lives easier and discover that it is possible for their son young Dylan to undergo an unapproved experimental proceedure which would increase his i.q.I was reluctant to summarize this novel for two reasons:
1.) It is sooooo brilliantly plotted a "blurb" can not do the book justice especially without using spoilers which may ruin it for those that haven't read it yat.
2.) This is a thriller with an electric intense plot true enough yet it is the other elements of Braver's novel which elevates it above the average suspense thriller. Not only is the premise of this book fresh and relevent, but it touches on issues that make the reader think as opposed to turning pages rabidly to find out if the good guys win in the end. Mainly because it is not a "white hats vs. black hats" thriller. Sure compassionate readers' root for the Whitmans (Dylan's family) but they are not neccessarily "heroes".
Braver offers social commentary on top of his plot and themes he throws in sidebars on suicide rates of people who didn't do as well as expected on SATs and sets scenes of little league soccer games as another example of the pressures youth in the twenty-first century face to excel. Tess Gerritson called this title "thought-provoking and controversial" and I have to agree whole heartedly with both those assessments.
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Summary: Hooked on this medical thriller!
Review: This well-paced novel by Gary Braver reflects shades of Robin Cook. "Gray Matter" will grab your attention immediately and hold you in suspense as the pages whirl past. The science and medicine are just on the edge of possibility and, therefore, the plot is believable. That's what makes this book so horrifyingly realistic. Character development is intricate and complete. You will conjure up emotions towards this cast of characters. Furthermore, the New England setting is pristine and creates a perfect complimentary environment for this thriller. Don't miss it!
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Summary: As good as supermarket thrillers get
Review: Very, very entertaining. Interesting premise that was well-executed. Some of the descriptions of Dylan and his abilities and his parents worries went way beyond what one would expect in a beach-read type thriller. Can't wait to read his other book - hope it's as much fun.
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Summary: I *THINK* This is a Good Book
Review: I *think* this is a good book. I bought it in a midwestern airport and devoured much of it on my flights to San Francisco. What I didn't complete en route I worked on as soon as I got home, taking time out only for a salad for dinner. As the evening drew to darkness, I continued with the book. Although parts of it seemed improbable, and a bit "Saturday matinee," it was good enough to try to read non-stop (unlike my airplane trip). Unfortunately, when I had about 30 or 40 pages to go, I saw a spider creeping across the wall of my living room next to the west window. I tried to "herd" the spider out the window with the book, but it (the spider), decided instead to run up the book towards me. I jerked back, and the book (and spider) flew out of my hand and out the window, down 10 stories to the bamboo patch in the garden of the building next door. Unfortunately, it's been raining here, and the book is probably not retrievable. Pity, because I was enjoying it. Perhaps, should the author read this positive review, he would e-mail me the last 40 pages? Although I don't, for the reasons stated above, know the absolute ending of this tale, I do recommend it for those who enjoy escapist reading....
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Summary: Two days!
Review: That's how long it took me to read the book. A page-turner! It got me hooked from the beginning to the end, and kept me up at night reading. It is a mix of several stories, among them:
* A mother guilt feelings for feeling she messed up his son.
* A detective's obsessive pursuit of a hopeless case.
* Several "enhanced" kids coping with their gifts.
* And also, some thought provoking ideas about IQ. I liked character development. This is the kind of book where you can see the characters point of view, and they stand up to it. It's a thriller. It really had me in suspense. I could not wait to see the outcome of the several plots. And it has several chilling scenes. Some of the characters and their actions are plain evil. A great book.
Rating:
Summary: smart, gripping, extraordinarily written thriller
Review: A must read. Absolutely engaging. Takes you by the shirt collar from the prologue and doesn't let go till the epilogue. The charachters are just jumping off the pages. Braver doesn't overkill visual descriptions...like say Koontz(Odd Thomas). Suttle twist and turns in timeframe keep the pages turning. Dylan will feel like your own by the end, and you'll crack a smile imagining hearing him sing "What Child is This". Braver, don't stop know...I'm hooked!
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Summary: Food For Thought
Review: I won't go into a synopsis there are plenty here. The book is a page turner, it kept me up. There is a messge in there that got my attention. What is your definition of success? What do you want for your children? Gary convinced me all over again that it is better to be happy and poor doing what you enjoy than to be miserable and rich doing something you abhor.
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Summary: A highly entertaining medical thriller.
Review: The Whitman's have everything: a big house, loads of money and best of all a beautiful and happy six year-old son. Dylan has learning disabilities and although Rachel Whitman knows his intelligence isn't everything, she fears it may cause problems as he gets older. Tortured by the thought that she may responsible for Dylan's learning issues, Rachel begins investigating new medical procedures to help her son. As her search deepens, Rachel comes across a brand new, highly secretive procedure that turns ordinary children into geniuses. Rachel knows the brain enhancement surgery is risky and it would exhaust most of their money in the bank, but what she doesn't know is that the true cost of the surgery is far more than financial. 'Gray Matter' is an action-packed medical thriller laced with cutting edge science. From the shocking opening scene until the explosive climax the reader is held spellbound by a twist filled plot peopled with genuine characters and exciting thrills. Gary Braver has created a riveting read that will appeal to fans of Robin Cook and Michael Crichton. Expect to see 'Gray Matter' on the bestseller lists. Nick Gonnella
Rating: 
Summary: Suspenseful but lengthy
Review: Dylan Whitman has a learning disability. He is slow and has difficulty keeping up with the other children of highly driven upper middle class suburban families the Whitmans live among. Dylan's mother, Rachel, is wracked by guilt. She is convinced that her use of a sex drug when she was younger has caused the condition. She and her husband, Martin, with a sense of desperation, seek a possible remedy-- an experimental procedure that might not only allow Dylan to equal his peers in brain power, but greatly exceed them. Unbeknownst to Rachel, other children have had this highly confidential procedure and are beginning to suffer from unforeseen side effects. It is true that IQ can be greatly increased, however, the price that the children must pay can be excessively high.
Gary Braver is able to tell a suspenseful tale. However, he takes way to long to get through it. There is so much unnecessary filler that the book can be difficult to get through, at times. Character after character are introduced and do nothing to progress the tale. Rather they serve to complicate things. The basic premise of the story is somewhat idiotic and the conclusion predictable. Yet, Mr. Braver proves his ability to tell a compelling story.
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