Mother of Pearl

Rating:
Summary: excellent, enriching
Review: I had a hard time putting this book down. I loved the author's style of writing. It held me hostage to this book. I couldn't put it down. I felt like I was stepping into Petal, Mississippi. This is my favorite Oprah pick yet. Please Melinda Haynes write another soon. I'll be waiting anxiously.

Rating:
Summary: A Stimulating Read! Delightful humor!
Review: The characters have remained with me long after closing the book. I could see them so clearly! Far from being bothered by numerous characters, I found the challenge of knowing so many and of seeing life through each one's eyes to be utterly fulfilling. An intellectually stimulating book filled with wisdom that is sometimes overlooked by those who have never walked through hardships. I loved it! Hope there is a sequel!

Rating:
Summary: A rich tapestry of marvelous characters.
Review: My opinion of this book seems to be very different than many of the other reviewers here. I really liked the book! I loved the rich descriptions of the characters. I am a real fan of "southern" fiction, so this one had me right from the start. However, I did find it a bit long and tedious in parts. All in all I found the writing intriguing and compelling.

Rating:
Summary: Argh, I'm only at chapter seven
Review: Oh Oprah, I guess you cannot win them all. I am glad that some others agrees with my opinion on this book. I found it too wordy and difficult to follow at times due to an over abundance of characters. Even was a ridiculous name to choose for a main character as his name is often confused with adjective "even" in several sentences. Well, I'll continue to slog through this one, but it's not a novel I can't put down.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but very complicated
Review: It was a good story with a good plot and I enjoyed how it all binded together at the end, but it was very hard to understand and I found myself reading lines over and over to make since of it.

Rating:
Summary: the worst book I've read this year
Review: I'm sorry I wasted the money. The characters start shallow and are never developed. It should have been good, but this author doesn't have the ability to make readers believe her story is real. I felt constantly as if I was being fed baloney. Oprah is wrong on this one. Big time.

Rating:
Summary: A waste of pleasure reading time! The worst!
Review: Oprah's choice here of "Mother of Pearl" almost puts me back to not wanting to follow her recommendations. The character's name Even throws the reader off when the author uses the word as a proper noun and an adjective in the same paragraph. The story tended to be choppy, discontected and often times confusing. And the story itself is begining to get long in the tooth. Sorry, but there are better summer readings out there to enjoy rather than suffer through this one.

Rating:
Summary: Tedious and wordy with a rehashed plot
Review: Every word read like razors slicing through my skin. I enjoy Southern fiction, but the plot is old and the author's voice didn't bring anything fresh to the story. I'm wondering how this even made it to a publisher's desk...

Rating:
Summary: Either you love it or hate it, y'all
Review: Plunk me right down in the hated it, do I only have 2 thumbs-to-vote-this-drivle-down-catagory? An overwritten, over hyped piece of southern fried fiction. E-gad Oprah, what were you thinking to elevate this particular book into the mainstream? Sorry, love you, but this particular work was not ready for publication...and not worthy of your endorcement. Somebody hand me my blue edit pencil...........!

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't even get through the first 20 pages
Review: I usally enjoy all of Oprahs choices but this one is very disappointing. I didn't even finish the book.