Datasets:

subjqa

like 9

books

interesting

matter

fascinating

part

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While I would not recommend this book to a young reader due to a couple pretty explicate scenes I would recommend it to any adult who just loves a good book. Once I started reading it I could not put it down. I hesitated reading it because I didn't think that the subject matter would be interesting, but I was so wrong. This is a wonderfully written book.

What are the parts like?

books

interesting

matter

interesting

detail

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0002007770

While I would not recommend this book to a young reader due to a couple pretty explicate scenes I would recommend it to any adult who just loves a good book. Once I started reading it I could not put it down. I hesitated reading it because I didn't think that the subject matter would be interesting, but I was so wrong. This is a wonderfully written book.

How is the detail?

books

interesting

detail

interesting

matter

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0002007770

I read this book hearing nothing but good things, and the fact that I never read books about the circus, gave me cause for concern. Never judge a book by its cover, I loved it! The details of circus life are so interesting, along with the plot and characters. A book I will never forget. So good I gave it to my parents to read, both in their 60's and they loved it as well.

How is the matter?

books

lovely

end

great

depth

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0002007770

I enjoyed this book although it wasn't quite up to my expectations having been recommended it after finishing a Salmon Rushdie's 'Midnights Children'. There was certainly plenty of suspense and interest in the story and the author's extensive research is obvious. There are some great characters in the novel and it has a lovely ending with a twist.

Is there a lot of depth in that great hole?

books

perfect

end

hard

story

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0002007770

I loved the movie, but the book is so much better.The ending is so perfect! I wish it was longer!

How would you describe the story?

books

true

action

low

price

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0002007770

I’m ambivalent about this novel. It’s good. It’s very nice. It’s a page-turner. It doesn’t suffer the fate of many, many novels — even some of my best loved — but there was something missing.That’s a convoluted way of saying I enjoyed it but it didn’t stick with me.Plot and pacing are excellent in this novel. I often write that most books need to be shorter. Novelists seem to always come up with a great opening. Better ones have great endings. Most fail in the middle. That middle third of most novels is such a bore to me. I think it’s filler to beef up a word count. I didn’t find this in Water for Elephants at all. Gruen can structure a story and keep the pace going. That’s a terribly hard thing to do and she pulled it off wonderfully.With one glorious exception, however, the characterization fell flat for me. Did I care about the characters? Kinda. Did I care about the romance? No. What did touch me was the role of the older Jacob. How this young, female writer climbed into the head of a ninety plus year old man, I’ll never know but his thoughts and actions rang true. He was facing death but still facing life and his inner monologue caused an almost claustrophobic feeling in myself. My god, I kept thinking. This could very well be me - trapped in a body, aware that I’m losing my mind to age and, most frightening of all, without the ability to do a damned thing about it. I hope to elicit that kind of reaction in a reader one day.The parts of the novel confined to an old man doing nothing much more than sitting in a wheelchair will stick with me for a while. I may go back and read those bits at times. The parts with the trains, circus, performances, midgets, elephants, romance and violence? Not so much.

What is the price of lunch in that restaurant?

books

wonderful

write

distinct

voice

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0002007770

The writing and story were wonderful but the end came way too quickly I could have stayed entertained much longer. I was born in 1945 and like other little poor kids we loved when the circus came to the area.

How is the quality of the voice?

books

real

book

heartfelt

story

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0002007770

This book is very enjoyable from beginning to end. It starts with a narration in the present and weaves in events from the narrators past. The style is fluid and non pretentious, engaging for its simplicity and character development. This book feels real when it presents its characters and you can't help but get entwined with the sentiments they live. I haven't seen the movie but I'm glad I read the book first. The story revolves around Jakob a retired circus vet which relates how he came to be involved in the circus world of the 30's and all he lived through while the show went on. The story depicts life through the depression, prohibition and society as a fitting background for the storyline.

How is story?

books

uninteresting

book

bored

reader

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There is a reason that 40% of reviews of ADWD are 1 or 2 stars. As good as A Game of Thrones is wonderful this book is so uninteresting that I couldn't wait to stop reading it: picking it up now and then, like any addict, hoping for a fix that never comes or satisfies. The trajectory of this series is much like that of free falling object. If the first couple of books hadn't sucked me in I'd have stopped reading this one in the middle, much like I was quick to jettison Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time which at least kept my interest for 5 books. This much I know: If Martin ( who is as far from being an American Tolkien as the nearest blackhole is from earth) doest wrap this abomination up in book six I won't even bother to finish. I can't imagine that Martin in his heart of hearts truly believes this work comes within light years of approaching A Game of Thrones. Maybe we are expecting too much and Martin is just another one hit wonder. You can't help but wonder if he is dragging this out for the money.

How is the reader?

books

tedious

book

sloppy

write

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I've spent 5 months reading these books. Each book after the first becomes slow and tedious then bursts into fireworks. The big show in the last two books have not been worth it. We are introduced to too many minor characters and the characters we've come to know simply disappear, Sam for example. These books have become very unsatisfying. I don't think Martin has a clue as to how he's going to end this so he's endlessly dragging it out.

How is the write?

books

low

tolerance

familiar

name

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I will preface this by saying that I love anything to do with Anne Boleyn, but I have a very low tolerance for books that disregard historical facts. That said, I'll start my review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it to be very entertaining. However, I did not like the author's portrayal of Anne. Mary seems to be the perfect character with no flaws while Anne is made out to be a terrible sister. It shouldn't have been that black and white, since life has no black and white. I also didn't like the fact that the author used the idea that Anne resorted to incest in order to get a child. This fact made Anne actually guilty of the crimes she was accused of. The author did not need to do that. The fact that Anne had a fake trial is so much more fascinating and mouth dropping, it really doesn't need any more drama. The Tudor period is so full of it, I found this just to be put in for shock value. From all of the books I've read by Gregory, I think that Gregory has a low opinion of both Anne and her daughter Elizabeth, so I'm not surprised she made Anne out to be such a vicious woman. However, she has no compassion for Anne at all and I found I was frustrated towards the end that she tried to put as much drama and shock value as she could into the novel. That said, if you're interested in an entertaining read, I would recommend this novel. Despite the fact that I disagreed with her view of Anne did not keep me from enjoying the book. Although Gregory may not be the most historically accurate author around, she does know how to tell a story that will keep you hooked until the very end. Just a warning to look things up before you take them as truth.

Is this book have a familiar name?

books

authentic

book

autobiographical

book

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As a South Asian-American I thought this book was authentic, one of the truest books I've ever read. The passages that get a bit longish for some readers seemed eerily like my own life--descriptions of things found in bedrooms, of Bengali-American parties, of people's coping strategies of being first- or second-generation American. I found that I could relate to at least two of the characters, and knew a lot of the types of the other characters from people in my own life. I wish I'd written this book.I give a lot of credit to Lahiri for producing a work that is so emotionally authentic, universal, and resonant, while solving the problem of the guilt sometimes passed around in a family. Lahiri does so without putting any of the blame for anybody's existential or cultural unhappiness on any one character. Everybody is likeable and their situations and impulses are understandable. Ashoke and Ashima are not to blame for Gogol's name, since he picks it himself in a way and he has a problem with being distanced from it. Ashoke is not to blame for Ashima's estrangement from her family and country, because they were living poor in Calcutta and Ashima didn't find a better suitor. Just like in real life, there's often no better option in a situation, just a choice someone made a long time ago with the given inputs. No one is a villain, she just tells it like it is.Also, Lahiri wrote a book about some pretty nice people that are accepting and turn out to be good for each other in the end. If I were writing the book I'd have a lot less of this because sometimes things don't always get patched up, but I'm glad Lahiri does it differently, since with bad Bengali neighbors or children who marry outside the group and cut off ties with their family or what have you, the novel would collapse under its own weight, since there's already death and estrangement to deal with.The Mira Nair movie was also right-on.

How was the book like?

books

perfect

voice

high

quality

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As with the Fellowship, this is a really terrific book. Mr. Inglis has the perfect voice for these readings (referring to the whole series). Highly recommend to other fans.

What is the quality ?

books

great

deal

clear

prose

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Even though Sebastian Junger went into a fair amount of detail in describing the day to day routines of an elite group of U.S. Army Infantrymen and subsequent combat operations, I found that in some instances, his narrative in "WAR" sometimes seemed to lack a simple direction.A few hours after I put the book down, I was able to find and read Junger's article: "Into the Valley of Death," with accompanying photos by Tim Hetherington on Vanity Fair magazine's Web site.In "Into the Valley of Death," Junger gave a slightly different perspective of the combat operations that took place in and around Wanat in Afganistan's Korengal Valley during July of 2008. The text was simpler, more to the point. After reading the VF article, I understood a little better what Junger was attempting to explain in "WAR".Hetherington's photos also put the text of Sebastian's "WAR" into a much larger perspective. His portraits of the soldiers Junger so thoughtfully wrote about brought these personalities to life.If at least some of the photos and the article itself could have been transposed into "WAR" - just for simplicity's sake, it would have been a better work. However, I will say that "WAR" was written as a fast read, as journalism, not as an epic novel.For the most part, "WAR" is well-written, well crafted and well thought out. Although much of the material about why soldiers fight, and what differentiates a modern cohesive tactical unit from a troubling debacle has been discussed a litany of times by military historians for decades, it is interesting to see these issues applied to combat operations in Afganistan.I'm sure that at least some of Junger's observations would be taken to task by some of the US Army's unit commanders and senior NCO's. However, it's evident that the author has a great deal of respect for the men he was embedded with for the better part of fifteen months. He makes it clear that the soldier's issue with journalists was one of commitment. I quote Junger:"Vietnam was considered a morally dubious war that was fought by draftees while the rest of the nation was dropping acid and listening to Jimi Hendrix. Afganistan, on the other hand, was being fought by volunteers who more or less respected their commanders and had the gratitude of the vast majority of Americans back home. If you imagined that your job, as a reporter, was to buddy up to the troops and tell the "real" story of how they were dying in a senseless war, you were in for a surprise. The commanders would realize you were operating off a particular kind of cultural programming and would try to change your mind, but the men wouldn't bother. They'd just refuse to talk with you until you left their base.""They" were the men of Second Platoon, Battle Company, Second Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, during combat operations in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley.While Junger was able to maintain his distance from the action in order to preserve his integrity as a journalist, he clearly was able to chronicle the reactions and feelings of the men he was with. That's what makes the text of "WAR" interesting. If you haven't read "A Perfect Storm" or any of his other works, I would describe Junger's writing style as similar to Tom Wolfe's earlier nonfiction, fairly lean.However, while military slang, such as the phrase "Get some," is easily understood, some of the other acronyms and terms used are peculiar to the war in Afganistan. Unfortunately, the glossary and accompanying index must not have been ready for print by the time my advance copy went to press.My only other criticisms has to do with the editing of the text itself: The author evidently had brevity in mind when he used concise language in order to convey some concepts and his experiences. However, much of the text itself could have been broken up into smaller paragraphs. That way the flow of the narrative would have been a little bit easier on the reader.Even so, it's a small sacrifice to make for such good reading.Also - One other thing I's like to know... Where in the hell was the platoon segeant during the stomach slapping incident?

How is Robinson's prose?

books

interesting

write

clear

prose

13007113b039662f4be81364b2c34968

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I enjoyed this book very much. The writing is interesting and detailed. Gripping and painful. Amazing author. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to understand war.

How is Robinson's prose?

books

compelling

book

rivet

story

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Unbroken is a book to be read, and reread and discussed over and over again.Hillenbrand's extremely well researched and massively detailed book tells the story of Louie Zamperini. A man with an interesting personality to begin with, Louie survived ordeals that would have finished most people off. When it looks like tan incident is the worst thing that could happen to him there is a moment of....But wait! That wasn't the worst of it and the story is off telling another terrible event.An Olympic runner in 1936 Louie ended up in the Army Air corp as a bombardier over the Pacific during WWII. When their plane crashed he and 2 other men were in a raft for more than a month. On land at last Louie was captured by the Japanese and held in work camps for the duration of the war. Louie's "bring it on" attitude caused his jailers to hate him even more and his punishment was unbelievable.After being freed Louie faced demons for many years until a chance encounter with Billy Graham helped him turn his life around.I found this book to be compelling, endlessly interesting, and fascinating. I could not stop turning the pages, wanting to see what could possibly happen to Louie next. Everything about the story was interesting and educational while still being extremely readable. I learned about flying a B24, and details of WWII that I had not learned before. I read details of the treatment of POWs that I had not known before.I must ponder why Louie survived when so many others didn't. What part of his upbringing and genetic makeup made him so resilient that he was able to withstand the punishment, thirst, starvation and deprivation that he did?Hillenbrand gives quite a bit of thought to this subject of why the Japanese treated the POWs so badly. There are many reasons to be considered. It has been obvious in years past that people put in power over others can become overwhelmed with the desire to prove themselves to their prisoners, turning into monsters that they themselves could hardly recognize. Something about the Japanese personality made these men fail to understand why the westerners behaved so differently from the Japanese. In many ways the Japanese were simply following orders and were afraid not to do what they were told.This would be an excellent book for students of history to read, and for reading groups to discuss.

How is story?

books

poetic

style

depressing

story

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For good reason, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand landed on many Best of the Year lists in 2010, including on Mark's. I'm not sure I would have picked this up otherwise; I like World War II books as much as the next guy (if the next guy in question also likes World War II books), but this is focused on one man. And it's 500 pages. I wasn't sure that I was ready to commit.I'm so glad that I did. After a few pages, I knew that I would love this book. Unbroken is the story of Louie Zamperini, a hooligan-turned-Olympic runner-turned-pilot-turned-prisoner of war-turned- unbroken and hopeful man. That's a pretty good one-sentence summary of the book, just in case the publisher is looking for a subtitle for the forthcoming paperback version. I liked Louie instantly; he was a troublemaker tough-guy, but found his escape from his California town by running. Introduced to the sport by his brother, Louie runs in high school, college, and then in the 1936 Berlin Olympics where he met Adolph Hitler.His life changed soon after as the story follows Louie into his new career as an AAC bombardier, until he crashes in the Pacific. Louie and two others survive at sea for over forty days without provisions (with a troubling scene about a lice infestation in his newly grown beard). If the story ended here, it would be a powerful journey. However, it does not. Much of the book is his horrid treatment in several prisoner of war camps in Japan. Just when I thought all the evil happened to Louie, there is a new chapter of horror.The title is perfect to describe Zamperini. This man personifies courage, resilience, and hope in ways I have never seen. There were times I gasped aloud to read his ordeals. The squalor and suffering only provide a backdrop to allow Louie's courage and character to shine brightly.I hesitate to say to much to avoid taking away the suspense as you read it, but allow me to say that Louie continues to sink lower into despondency and hopeless until God intervenes. In literature, it's called deux ex machina; in life, it is called redemption.This book also has much to say about the many Japanese atrocities in World War II, whether it is in prison camps, Pearl Harbor, or Nanking:"The Japanese military surrounded the city of Nanking, stranding more than half a million civilians and 90,000 Chinese soldiers. The soldiers surrendered and, assured of their safety, submitted to being bound. Japanese officers then issued a written order: ALL PRISONERS OF WAR ARE TO BE EXECUTED. What followed was a six-week frenzy of killing that defies articulation. Masses of POWs were beheaded, machine-gunned, bayoneted, and burned alive. The Japanese turned on civilians, engaging in killing contests, raping tens of thousands of people, mutilating and crucifying them, and provoking dogs to maul them. Japanese soldiers took pictures of themselves posing alongside hacked-up bodies, severed heads, and women strapped down for rape. The Japanese press ran tallies of the killing contests as if they were baseball scores, praising the heroism of the contestants. Historians estimate that the Japanese military murdered between 200,000 and 430,000 Chinese, including the 90,000 POWs, in what became known as the Rape of Nanking."This gives a more complete picture of the behavior and the attitudes of Japan, and why Hiroshima and Nagasaki were last resorts. Japan was on par of the atrocities committed by Hitler and Germany, and the two countries had more in common during treatment of people during the war than they differed. This concept certainly is not in our modern psyche. It is accepted (and often applauded) to denigrate Germany, but it is labeled as racist if we criticize Japan.In addition to the highlighting of a great man and as a history lesson, Unbroken is simply excellent prose. Hillenbrand has a poetic style of writing even the cruelest events.Examples:He felt as if he would faint, but it wasn't from the exertion. It was from the realization of what he was.One engine, for reasons known only to the plane, was thirstier than the others, so the gauges had to be watched constantlyThere was one perk to life in the barracks. The bathroom was plastered in girlie pinups, a Sistine Chapel of pornography.But it was good to feel oriented, to know that they were drifting toward land somewhere out there, on the far side of the earth's tilt.Dignity is as essential to human life as water, food, and oxygen. The stubborn retention of it, even in the face of extreme physical hardship, can hold a man's soul in his body long past the point at which the body should have surrendered it. The loss of it can carry a man off as surely as thirst, hunger, exposure, and asphyxiation, and with greater cruelty. In places like Kwajalein, degradation could be as lethal as a bullet.The paradox of vengefulness is that it makes men dependent upon those who have harmed them, believing that their release from pain will come only when they make their tormentors suffer.Whether or not you are a fan of war accounts, go read this book. Like me, you will be mesmerized with Louie Zamperini for good reason. He is a man who stands above other men, and his story demands to be told. The more like Zamperini we are, the better the world would be.

Does this story have depressing stuff in it?

books

amazing

ability

stunning

book

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If you can read about horror, this is a book you should read. The ability of humans to endure psychological, physical, and social torture is truly amazing. How any of them survived to live even relatively normal lives after the war is almost unfathomable. The quality of writing is balanced, detailed, and not overly emotional. What a story- that is true. Her comments about the importance of dignity for survival is something we should all think about in our daily lives.

How is the book?

books

fine

write

not good

thing

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The writing was fine....I just don't evet want to read about torture that prolonged again. Hard to get out of your mind.

How is the thing with the plot?

books

straightforward

write

riveting

book

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There is no doubt that the story captured in the book is truly incredible, and the facts are worth learning. But there is a difference between a 5 star story and a 5 star book. The writing was blessedly straightforward, but it often felt like there was room for more nuance.

How fascinating is the book?

books

compelling

book

capable

human

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c1c13dfe283fe36841a0b9bb78ef2265

0007386648

This book was compelling and moving. I could`nt put it down. A rare gem and I can not praise it enough.

Why do humans feel capable?

books

worth to read

story

read worth

story

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0007386648

I just finished this book, reading over half of it just today. It is one of the best stories I've read in a long time. How men can survive in such humiliating, filthy, and cruel conditions is beyond imagination; yet, through it all, Louis Zamperini did survive, and eventually used his experiences to help others. This true story is absolutely worth reading!

How is the story of my friends?

books

how great

book

how good

book

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0007386648

Over 2,000 reviewers have written about how great this book is. And, yet, I'm compelled to write and chime in with the rest of them. This book is great. Laura Hillenbrand is a writer who stuns you. When I read Seabiscuit, I felt like I was the jockey. In this book, for better or for worse, I felt like I was with Louie in the raft, at the prison camp and in the audience during the tent revival that changed his life. I am going through some stressful times right now and this book was just what I needed to give me some much-needed perspective. Thank you Louis Zamperini. Your life continues to be an inspiration.

How hooked will I be on this book?

books

rich

life

deep

appreciation

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...is a lifetime of stories that most of us will never know about. Then a skilled writer like Laura Hillenbrand comes along, hears those stories and the result is "Unbroken".Louie Zamperini's experience as a WWII POW is told in such graphic, harrowing detail there were times I had to put the book down. There were times I wanted to walk away completely but I had to know about the kind of cruelty human beings are capable of and how one extraordinary man survived that experience.In a world where any sane person would have been justified in committing suicide, Zamperini endures. And endures. And endures. Beyond the limits of the imagination.It's been a year since I read "Unbroken" and the story will haunt me the rest of my life.Inside each human being are stories we will never know. Then a gifted writer shapes those experiences into a narrative that leaves its mark on anyone lucky enough to read it.This was not an easy or entertaining story but it was a privilege to read. My life is richer because of the experience.

How is the appreciation?

books

different

taste

straightforward

write

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9cb700a0109c40d639e12dd2b35322f5

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Not sure what to say about books, since everyone has different taste. If it's got 5 stars, I liked it a lot and if not, I didn't like it much.

How is the write?

books

slow

begin

compelling

storyline

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0fd667f60293b464efda7a1314791144

0007442920

Sequels to stand out debuts often struggle to advance the series plot and recapture the magic of the first book. INSURGENT isn't one of those sequels. It's as powerful or even more powerful than it's predecessor. And considering how phenomenal DIVERGENT was, that's no small compliment.One of the most inventive and action packed dystopian series ever, INSURGENT picks up almost immediately after the end of DIVERGENT. The factions that dictate every aspect of society are in danger and all out war seems inevitable. Tris's faction has ben split as too many members have turned traitor. Power hungry Erudite have set their sights on the Divergent, like Tris, systematically rounding them up to kill...and worse.What continues to impress me with the Divergent series is the character arcs. They are magnificent. Tris transformed from the almost Amish-like Abnegation member to a brave and confrontational Dauntless member so convincingly in DIVERGENT, and her transformation in INSURGENT is no less impressive. After the tragic choice she made at the end of DIVERGENT, Tris is plagued with guilt, self recrimination, and shame. She isolates herself even from those she cares about the most. It's heartbreaking to read. And Tris isn't the only one who evolves in the book. Characters who I thought were villains became heroes, and characters who I thought were trustworthy became villains. Shocking doesn't begin to describe it.The beginning of INSURGENT was a little slow and not as easy to jump into as the debut, especially since the worldbuilding isn't really recapped for readers (like me) who could have benefitted from a refresher. But once I got my bearings, and the central conflict was revealed, INSURGENT was as compulsively readable as DIVERGENT. And the revelations at the end were almost overwhelming--in a good way--considering their implications. Bottom line, this is a series not to be missed. The stakes just keep getting higher and I can't wait to dive into the third book in the Divergent series when it comes out in 2013.Sexual Content:Kissing

What kind of storyline does the book contain?

books

not good

book

not good

one

56d4935e42b140d508b28c3ce7abc4c3

e65e723707be373570b38056cc25dd74

e0e98485789a9deb4dfcf68d47e3877f

0007442920

The only reason I ordered the collector's edition was to read "Free Four" which did not disappoint. This book, however, was not as good as Divergent.I liked Divergent more because Tris was goal oriented and very strong. In Insurgent, she was actually kind of annoying. I understand her guilt and grief over the death of Will and her parents, but I feel like if she just would have talked with Tobias or someone else, that might have helped relieve her earlier instead of carrying it the whole story. Maybe that also could have helped her get over her fear of guns. Also, it seemed like her and Tobias got into stupid fights. I just wanted them to stop being angry and get over it.This book wasn't bad, I just wasn't as impressed with it as I was with the first one. The ending was pretty abrupt, but interesting. Also kind of confusing. Not sure if I will get the next one or not.

Was the firstbook or the second one good?

books

fast

pace

great

action

9e9d502cc2b46bec34c70b1a32cfbbd6

081344adabbcc7598d4224ce05b2734a

4aead34788b35478ba049916c1d031e5

0007442920

This book was awesome! To keep up with the first would be hard but Veronica Roth pulled it off! I loved the intensity and the pacing was fast! The story goes so much deeper and you find out so much more about the characters and where they are. I am a fan of the badass Heroine like Katniss and Tris is badass! I love Four he's so sweet and amazing and just her equal! Can't wait to start the next book! Awesome series!

How was the action in the book that you completed reading?

books

much

book

not horrible

book

0ecaf78aa33f9cc4e6ba9c1f3646b215

d07a651e2c3dc340df27f4d595bc1d8e

ea311973fbc2471de6ec6679b89d4fab

0007442920

This book is really for younger readers, but some of the messages for young girls is ridiculously old fashion. The book is too much about a girl with a crush.

How is the quality of the book?

books

good

review

available

sequel

82a91f4e2f1e21d88293661b24865df0

19ef248b3696b3b67a4433842d5d28b8

b1bdab675ea020e41eb78db61827e860

0007442920

Usually when books have really good reviews, I liked it too. So I'm not sure what went wrong with this series. I found them to be so cliche (think Matched, The Maze Runner, etc.) and the writing was not captivating enough. I feel no connection to Tris; she's a weak character and inconsistent in my opinion about when she wants to be moral/good or bad. I'm surprised to learn that this series has been optioned for a film, but hey, if you haven't read like every other dystopian YA novel out there, you may not have much to compare it to.

Does this sequel its available?

books

endless

list

penny worth

book

b12ea65f802fff6aadac5f939a9e936f

a2af174e83d060a0a44e806a60aac6f3

ec61782bfe1af34c9c236d6c7a4e7f7a

0007442920

This second installment of The Divergent Trilogy is mind blowing! You will not want to stop reading it! You get more of Tris trying desperately to do what is right in her world. She's finding out about things she never knew about her parents. Also loyalty, betrayal, more secrets, love, forgiveness....The list is endless! She and Four butt heads along the way to find the truth but in the end, their love stands the test of time. All hail Veronica Roth!

Is the book worth a penny?

books

hard

one

great

one

eab4525a9f4614bb80d881fd1448531f

114f10acf62e398d9a2756245292faef

6842cd137cc308a4c5500da1abc11db2

0007442920

The series takes some very unexpected but not unpleasant twists in the second installment. This one is hard to put down.

Does this one great?

books

high

expectation

more enjoyable

book

cb4af764dc42036ee35a581618c96707

ff77abb6a092a1fd92aec801eebff33b

71f2e8230a628f5e84e1e2944e9064d1

0007442920

I loved the first book so this was a little bit of a let down. It answered some questions from the first book and gave you a few conclusions to some of the story-line that was left hanging. Over all I struggled to re-engage with the characters. The repetition of Tris being immature, running off on tangents with horrifying ramifications and over all being annoying were frustrating. The love/hate relationship got old fast. A lot of filler and setting up for the next book. Had I known where the story was going I would have been satisfied stopping with the first book. I have already bought the third so I will read it but I don't have high expectations for a story that started out so well. I would consider stopping after the first book.

How is the book?

books

consistent

write

dull

moment

4c8002f7993fa784f2cf7634f753c15a

17e6dd92a1468a97fc20a4daab391539

a06d82e559e6ab2c97487ed8c47153ee

0007442920

Setting the Scene – Insurgent starts with a bit of quiet after the storm that had Tobias aka Four and Tris running for their lives in the wake of the Erudite initiated, Dauntless executed massacre in the Abnegation district. Their hope for a little peace and quiet in with the Amity faction is short lived, forcing them to join forces with the FactionIess. Not going to spoil any of the good stuff here but suffice it to say they begin a trek to figure out who they really are and where they all came from. This book won’t really answer those questions – which I’ll talk about in a subsequent review.A Few Thoughts – Like Divergent, Insurgent has a ton of action and some interesting young adult themes on loyalty and interpersonal relationships. Because I’m 42 the latter is a bit of a bore but younger readers might relate to some of the challenges people face in the midst of ethical dilemmas, and balancing loyalty with self-preservation or sacrifice. Not a stand-alone novel at all but one you should read if you liked Divergent because Roth does a great job setting up Allegiant, the third and final book in the main story. Her writing is consistent with the first book and it kept me interested enough to move on to the finale – that’s good enough for 3.8 stars.Tom Clementson (MotleyChronicles.com)Be sure to take a moment and leave your feedback and comments about the book on Amazon and goodreads.

Why do I have a moment dull?

books

as good

book

as great

book

77d7c8ca5370bce91841a2ef03f360ed

627bb9cb4b6ef10b85fd29eb0209d1d3

dfc1355b984f0a338062a02884469acf

0007442920

Insurgent takes off where Divergent ended. We follow Tris, Four, Caleb and many others through this war against the Erudite and the Dauntless traitors. This war gets complicated though and you don't know who to trust. Some people are not who they seem. The romance is there, although hardly. Tris and Four/Tobias have some power struggles throughout this book though luckily there is no love triangle (I'm getting pretty sick of those).I love this book because of the strong female leader-Tris and there are many other strong characters. The choices that Tris has to make are insane and the things that her and her friends go through in this novel are epic.This book was just as good as Divergent. Make sure you have some free time before starting this novel because it is hard to put down.

What book is ?

books

shocking

end

crazy

end

1a925cae90373dd8a6a12fdde701cfcb

a00bd047fe68d8d019da38b285ab0761

017e0642015a7b23efbbfb87154ddabc

0007442920

I LOVE the Divergent series.It's action-packed and suspenseful with an engaging storyline. A true page-turner. The ending of Insurgent is shocking, leaving my jaw dropped and ready for the next book. If you haven't read this series, it's a must read. A cross between The Hunger Games and The Giver. Amazing writing!

How's the end?

books

not strong

book

more

action

8057e0af0fe8075da5f2073299ee336a

6f802e73360f7febb540601216af10d6

9ef2ad96f02e88685b391ddd720be1fb

0007442920

when i read the first book i knew i would have to finish the series. This book was not as strong as the first but still worth the read!

Is the storytelling have a good action?

books

bore

story

not interesting

story

9a85ab29416bb8f7d3459afbd63c0759

580886af4f040a664f2ae242bc648d23

148b8acc9500c05ad04ec063f92f0f63

0007444117

I loved the first 2 books. I couldn't put them down. I could barely get through this one. The story was repetitive and boring. I don't know why Roth decided to take the book the way she did. All I can think is that the up coming movies swayed her decisions.My advice would be to read the first 2 and make up your own ending. This one will only disappoint you.

What story do I tell you?

books

satisfied

fan

not good

one

0f3b126f69e9589ad18c1e5e8738af52

5614b4bf3c66aab709aab271cfd66f16

3bc98e78fca8ecad4755e5a68eec5832

0007444117

I began reading Allegiant with a real sense of nervous anticipation. Even though I had been a big fan of the first two novels in the series, it had been a good while since I had read them. I didn't have the patience to go back and re-read, so off we went. It didn't take long for me to get drawn back into the world of Tobias and Tris, factions, and terrible choices. I had a hard time keeping track of some of the supporting characters, and this was the only thing that made me wish I had taken the time to re-read the first two books.I have no urge to ruin the plot by describing it here. Many fans have been waiting on pins and needles to see what happens and they won't be disappointed. There are surprises, twists and turns, and then even more twists and turns. I was dazzled by the author's plotting skill as she laid out a careful web of deceits and half-truths that are sure to keep readers turning the pages, much as I did, looking for the truths that always seemed to lurking just beneath the surface of what our heroes were being told.This story is told in alternating chapters by both Tris and Tobias. I will admit that I was not a fan of this method. The author did not do a very good job of giving them distinctive voices, often leaving me confused as to who was speaking. I believe this robbed the narrative of some of its energy, leading to a pace that was slow, and an overall tone that was far less suspenseful and dramatic than it should have been.While I admired the author's plotting skill as she introduced so many new elements, I did end up feeling that some were contrived. She slipped into quite a bit of telling instead of showing, and if I hadn't been so interested in where she was going, I might have ended up feeling frustrated pretty early on. As it was, I was captivated by the story and the society, and intrigued by the many ethical questions offered up in the book. The author has a firm grip on the dystopian world she has created and uses it to widely explore questions of equality and free will.I was all set to assign a three star rating to Allegiant until I came to the last eighty pages or so. The drama and emotion that was somewhat lacking in the book, came at me full force in an ending that was brave and exciting and totally unexpected. Fans of the series should be well satisfied by this ending. It's not perfect, however it's a very worthy end for a story that has garnered millions of fans and made us all think about the power of love and a single choice.

How good is book number one?

books

unexpected

end

shocking

end

217076dfc2c1194c7f98a6fb4337b7ec

4c93cb1fe82629ef421dfe115be27315

7998a7e4cfdd2c3eab106d27bec6ee23

0007444117

<b>4/5 HEARTS review from [...]</b><b><u>BEWARE: Spoilery Review!</u></b>On the morning that Allegiant came out, I had a copy of it on-hold at my local Barnes and Noble, but when I woke up at 5 a.m., I just couldn't wait any longer for it, so I set off on a trek that led me to three stores (Meijer, Walmart, and Target) before I finally found it at Target, hours before B&N; would have even opened it. I was 75% of the way through the book by the time I would've been checking out at B&N.;Allegiant made my mind melt. Literally, it just broke me. The ending was so unexpected and I couldn't start or finish any other books for weeks because I was just so hungover. I am now suffering from what I like to call Allegiant-related PTSD which makes me extremely nervous about the final book in any trilogy.But ... now that it's been months since I finished the book, I can honestly say that it was a fulfilling book and one that took a lot of bold choices. The ending was extremely fitting for Tris and her character.It broke me in all kinds of way, it emotionally crippled me, and it is still one of those fictional deaths that I think of every day and my heart just sinks. She's a character I miss. Knowing that her fictional soul isn't still out there in the fictional world hurts my heart.But the book was beautifully written, extremely captivating, well-paced, and left an impression in my mind and footprints in my heart. The ending was brave, just like Tris was, just like Veronica Roth is and encourage her readers to be. I have made my peace with that ending.I gave it a four hearts rating, due only to the fact that I felt like the epilogue was extremely rushed and that there's still just a bit of me that wishes Tris didn't have to die to achieve the ending. But I devoured the book and I would still recommend the entire Divergent experience to other readers.

How was the end?

books

odd

relationship

dead

parent

6cc6c8f6e6b67652418d51ef38e27a58

d78d53a69be841d9edc8be13b61ba728

1d66f29c0771cfb8ef7b78ecf30501f4

0007444117

I really enjoyed Divergent and Insurgent. Unfortunately, Veronica Roth ruined this series with this book. Now, I'm hesitant to recommend this series to others. I think that she wanted to create a trilogy out of a story that would have been better as a 2 book series. As far as Allegiant goes there were several issues:First, the setting is stupid. I see where she was going but it was dumb. I really wish she had gone a different direction with this.Second, Tris and Tobias' relationship has gotten odd. It's the central idea to the plot now, not just a component. Not only that, but its not even a good romance.Third, this book alternates between Tobias and Tris's perspectives. It turns out that those two have the same narration. If it weren't for the title at the beginning of the chapter and talking about the other person, you wouldn't know who the narrator was.Lastly, this book left plot holes everywhere. I'm okay with some and I can live with issues, but so many clear issues are annoying.As others have mentioned, I think Veronica Roth had a responsibility to her readers but she did not live up. What a bummer! But like many of you, I had invested myself into the other two books and decided that I just needed to know how it turned out. But I'd say save your time and read the spoiler blogs.

How is parent?

books

different

tone

bore

one

e5c9f7ebc584bb666125ef09049a76b4

9c6f257446058381d4028acc3be59058

50b7dfad2ac54342fdc8171b5a151dfc

0007444117

I found this finish to the series pretty good, but not really great. I was glad there was an actual explanation as to what happened to cause this situation in the first place. However, I was somewhat disappointed in a few aspects of the story. Most people will be upset at the ending. Not getting the ‘happy ending’ you want tends to do that to most, however I for one think it would not have worked any other way. I was somewhat disheartened to find out they were in an experiment and there was the rest of the world outside the town. Based on many things mentioned in the first two books, I had this as a theory of what they were and I find being able to predict this plot twist a bit of a letdown. I mean, that has been done so many times, I was really hoping I was wrong. That being said, the actual story of how the group gets out of the town (that most of us already knew was Chicago) is very exciting and has a good pace. The conflict of the folks from the town against what they are being told is well done. As the outside reader, you know there is an angle to everything they are being told but see the struggle of Tris & Four trying to figure it out.My major disappointment with this one is the more in the way it was written. I have read several books from dual points of view. In every one of them, you can usually tell which person POV you are reading from. Sorry to say, there were many (and I mean many) times I had to remind myself or figure out from other parts of the page whose POV it was. The tone, word choices, etc. are usually different between characters in some way, especially when you have one male and one female. Different ways of thinking, acting, etc. are one of the ways used to tell the reader about the character. It seems like this was not held to the higher writing standards of the original book. Yes, I know this is for YA readers, however I still expect better of the writer than this.

How is the one?

books

in

character

perfect

thing

fc2b01bcf8b0fad08456d0796cf13038

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3578c2601499665eb63b16e985d67fe9

0007444117

Allegiant brings the Divergent trilogy to a close, and it's full of promise: Tris and Tobias are headed into the outside, toward a new life that they know nothing about. There had been so much action before, culminating in Tris's almost execution; I was glued to the pages while reading the first two books, and was so looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, it's not a particularly thrilling ending to a great series.Don't get me wrong; there are parts to Allegiant that are good, and even clever. I liked the back story given for Tris's mother; it made sense and gave new layers to what happened. There's some action, and it's generally well-written. The character development is solid, if irritating; there's way too much over-thinking and not enough just going with the flow of emotion. However, Allegiant is overly padded with loooooong segments of talking about what might be going on, what is going on, what will be going on, and almost all of it has to do with genetic damage. I have to admit that my eyes began to glaze on the topic after a while because really...who cares? I never did understand who started damaging the genes to begin with, and how the "repair" was taking place. All of it seemed so secondary to the characters and yet it was the main focus of the story. Meanwhile, things are going down back in Chicago that must be rectified immediately and yet it seems as though there's ambivalence about it.My biggest issue with Allegiant, after the overly long segments wherein little seems to happen other than Tris and Tobias fighting and talk of genetic damage, is the dual points of view. I understand why we needed them, but I swear a chapter would change, and with it the point of view, and I would not notice. I'd actually read a few pages into the next chapter before I'd think, "Oh, this is Tris talking now". It's not good when your characters are so inter-changeable, and not in a good way. The voices were the same, and neither offered much in the way of excitement.I know a lot of people are upset over the BIG twist, and rightfully so; I do feel let down by how Roth chose to end her story. It just seemed pointless, even if it was in character for the most part. I think I could have lived with it had I felt it was a necessary sacrifice to the overall story but it just felt wrong on so many levels. Instead of being left with a feeling of completion or understanding, I'm just left empty. Sadly, this ending has soured me for the series and definitely made me unexcited about the upcoming motion picture. I'm just left feeling...damaged.

How is the thing?

books

good

version

angry

people

5d9e69831413d8069244e0f7d05a558f

4f1ac5362076dd41ba523449bab4603c

add34bafa04a6cf248f8efdbb29bf91d

0007444117

The audio version is spectacularly good. I listened to all but the last few chapters, then read those last chapters on an iPad, then listened to them on CD. The narration adds a lot. The story is riveting. It's full of surprises. But the narration really adds another dimension. I enjoyed the first two books, and I wondered if the third could measure up. No need to worry. Just like we are still reading Charles Dickens, in 200 years they will still be reading Allegiant. It's not flawless, but it's awesome.

Why were the people angry at the release of the novel by Martin?

books

horrible

end

bad

end

07b09d5a4911972299bbc17a16fd15c0

7760823badcfd8e314f6d770739269d7

b2ff615b37d9b93690e7db4cc631602e

0007444117

I don't know what to say positive about this book...I was so disappointed in it. It felt like an entirely different author wrote the third book compared to the first and second. The first and second books had more complicated plot lines and it felt like the story was working up to something huge in the third book, like saving-all-of-mankind huge. But this plot line seemed so weak compared to the other two, and the character development was minimal and there wasn't much meaningful action going on.The ending....oh gosh don't get me started on the ending. (SPOILERS) The ending for the third book really ruined the entire series for me. And I LOVED this series! I mean before the third book came out, I read and reread the other two over and over because they were just so good! But this ending was horrible, and not just because a very important character dies, but because I don't feel like they died for a very important cause. No one was going to die, the world wasn't going to come to an end, really I feel like they just died because they wanted to have the final say in what happens. It didn't feel meaningful like when characters were killed off in Harry Potter, it just felt like useless death and then the epilogue talks about how they can't really get on their lives after this person is dead? Okay I'm ranting now but I would just really like to caution anyone thinking about starting this series that if you like happy endings, even somewhat happy endings, you should NOT start reading this series, or just don't read the last book. Please!

How is the end?

books

horrible

book

not time worth

book

24bbd92cd907acec975fb93429fc44bf

0d8e3c7309c70c73857577201b03a320

3a154a45e5343899163f0de58a3c385f

0007444117

I just don't get it. With each book the author is supposed to go and become something amazing and this is far from it. This book was horrible. Not only was the story and concept completely stupid but there are so many spots that I couldn't help but think: "where the hell was the editor?" I can't believe this. I can't believe that I gave the second one three stars and this one only one star. Divergent was so flipping amazing then the next two was crap on top of crap. ***spoiler****** I know everyone is upset that Tris dies but I was happy! Thank god. At least she can't hurt Four anymore, she was a selfish brat and I don't even know how the author went from writing a beautiful character to a whining baby. I am so sad and so disappointed that I wasted hours of my life on this. I'm so...ugh.

Why is time a book?

books

terrible

book

how bad

book

38317f2bf66f44148d074bb8bf702afd

127a6ab18bab76cb0c1638d51b4aff71

f769e7a83285426476a79e6539fb6005

0007444117

Really enjoyed the first book. Tolerated the second. This book was terrible. The author seemed to want to get it over and done with. Plot line was stupid.

How is book?

books

endless

possibility

dead

parent

6cc6c8f6e6b67652418d51ef38e27a58

abe6cf175c9f6fae4b1cb1e1b9916910

7c7204bee952fe7793174cb3b0afbc89

0007444117

This book is definitely the worst of the divergent trilogy, which is surprising because I was extremely critical of the first one.What makes this book so bad? For me, a major part is a shift in how the story is presented. In the first two books it is entirely from Tris' perspective. You would think after reading two books that do not deviate AT ALL throughout, the third book would follow suit. Not the case at all. For whatever reason Roth decides to jump back and forth between Tobias and Tris. This made the story incredibly hard to follow because after a few pages I would forget the chapter switched to Tobias' narrative and wonder why Tris would say, think, or do something totally out of character. I'd flip back to the beginning of the chapter only to realize it switched again, which removes you entirely from the story. Think of it as watching a DVD and you see an actor you recognize but you cannot for the life of you remember his/her name. You decide to stop the movie and check the credits. A few minutes go by and you forget the name, so you check again. Yeah, it gets annoying really quickly!The cliffhanger at the end of the second novel was simply amazing as the possibilities were literally endless. Anything could have been outside of the city walls. Sadly, the truth was much less exciting than many of the possibilities I dreamed up while waiting to read the third book. Roth should have spent more time developing the world outside. Instead, she went the greed route and put out a book before it was fully ready and hoped fans of the earlier two would come flocking to read it. Sadly I fell for it, but I do feel better knowing I borrowed the book from a library and can give it back. Having it in my collection would depress me to no end.

How is parent?

books

wonderful

series

strong

series

3f4d1d34a5d1bd352d0f899f59a5e23a

cf08239a1d23667e1b5db12ffcbf87eb

7dee1c76fbdfd4a2e0a9cdedce26195f

0007444117

This series is wonderful but the ending is sooooooo sad it makes you wanna cry someone told me the ending but I still was surprised :(

How is the series?

books

few

issue

not terrible

book

525ca3a15b1275e22ae9fafa728adb7c

6249aff96ab2884cc30ae8e42c45bef5

09db63790b7d83a5e353a364466fcd5c

0007444117

SPOILER FREE!First, let me say that this was a lot easier to read than ‘Insurgent.’ When reading a series, I usually do not go back and re-read the other novels (‘Harry Potter’ is an exception) because I just don’t have time with my grading load, but I HAD to re-read parts of ‘Divergent’ in order to read ‘Insurgent,’ which I did not like. This is not the case with the final installment.I was able to pick up the novel and read and remember everything from the previous book with no issue.Readers are thrust back into Tris’ Chicago, one full of corruption, one on the brink of total chaos. There is a fight for power as those who prefer a Faction life seem lost in the cracks to those who do not. But this is the least of Tris’ worries.Tris and Tobias reunite and decide it is time for outside intervention. It is time to see what is on the other side of the fence. The consequences are great, and the world discovered sends both Tris and Tobias into a tailspin. The question is, can they survive it—and can they find true meaning within their own lives?Roth really had me with this novel. I read the entire story in one day. I could not put it down. I had to see where she was taking me, and where she was going to leave our beloved Tris and Tobias.If you are a fan of the series, you cannot miss this conclusion to the tale. I do not care what you have read/heard/seen, etc. You have to read and experience it for yourself.With that said, I do have a few issues with the novel. There were several holes in the storytelling that were never answered. But I do have a theory: those holes were just a distraction to where Roth was leading us. While I have those questions, I feel as if I have enough of the story to fill in those holes myself. I just don’t always like to do it.I was so torn about this novel when I finished it. I could not reach out to my fellow readers if they had not yet read it—but I could reach out to the hubby. So, I asked him to read it so we could discuss the ending. He read it. Then he said, “You had me read that book and now we aren’t going to discuss it?!” That man.While I read a story of love and friendship, he re-read ‘Insurgent.’ He felt as if Roth just re-wrote the second novel in a different setting. This is what I want to ask you all: did you feel the same way? I did, and I didn’t at the same time. If that makes sense.But, he and I agreed on the ending—and without spoiling it here, let me just say that we both believe it was not the ending for this novel. I have spoken to several of my students and fellow teachers who have read the novel, and they side with us on this as well.But, I do not regret reading the series. At all. I really enjoy Tris and Tobias as separate characters, but I really enjoy when they are on the page together. Roth has a nice pacing to her storytelling, and while she is not a master at world building, she doesn’t need to. In this series, she shows how easily the world can be torn apart, a world that many of us already live in—in a metaphorical sense.If you are a fan of ‘The Hunger Games’ series but you have yet to pick up the ‘Divergent’ series, this is the perfect time to do it. All three novels are out, you don’t have to wait, you can read all three in a row. Then, come back and tell me what you think. I would love to know.

How is the book?

books

worth to read

series

not good

one

0f3b126f69e9589ad18c1e5e8738af52

9a9c9adba6d8fb9291453f65a7b68657

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0007444117

The series was definitely worth reading . I couldn't put the books down. The characters were not perfect. The story was not predictable.

How good is book number one?

books

more

time

last

word

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24465bd4900b4e0a764e459ca995b0f5

0007444117

I know there are several reviews critiquing the ending of this book but I feel like the ending gave justice to Tris's character. Her story ended on her terms; brave, selfless, and full of love. Although it is very sad, I may have been disappointed if it ended the way all the other books in recent popular media usually do.ETA: Now that I have more time to add to this, I have to agree with other reviewers in saying that it is hard to distinguish who is narrating since it is written so similarly between Tris and Tobias's perspective from chapter to chapter. I would find myself forgetting who was narrating in the middle of a chapter sometimes but I did appreciate getting to hear things from Tobias's point of view. I feel like Tris and Tobias had a really rough break since everything they ended up involved in was crooked and so to hear that the government outside the fence was also corrupt was a bit of a let down to me. However, I do see where the author needed conflict to keep the story interesting. I was entertained throughout the whole book. I also really appreciated grammar and editing in this series. Of the three books, I only noticed one error in grammar (which I believe was in the first book) which is refreshing these days.

How is the word?

books

better

idea

opposite

effect

342bdae8090addcbc11c8074b0a8ab62

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662054fa536793aa14b465ca13fe8646

0007444117

The final book in the Divergent Trilogy left a lot to be desired... That being said, the book wasn't necessarily bad and I feel that most fans of the series will ultimately be at least satisfied with the trilogy's ending. (In other words, it could have been a lot worse.) There's not much I can say about the story without giving too much away; the action and intrigue that comprised the first two books is still present in Allegiant. Also present is the ensuing romance between Tris and Tobias. Despite having the core elements that made up the first two books, there were a few things that I took issue with in Allegiant...For one, this book is told from the perspectives of both Tris AND Tobias. I was initially very excited about this aspect of the book. However, I just feel that this idea was better in theory. The dual perspective was not executed very well. There was no real distinction between the voices of Tris and Tobias. If you were to open to a random page and read it you would not be able to distinguish who was speaking (except for use of pronouns, names, etc.). I feel that Roth should have spent more time developing a clear voice for Tobias instead of using the same writing style she's used for Tris's voice.I was also a little disappointed about what was "beyond the fence." Don't get me wrong, it was interesting and thought-provoking, but... I just expected more! I feel like the explanation for the secrets behind Tris's world were just very bland (for lack of a better word). The previous two books were just so mind-blowing that I expected the same sort of pizzaz from Allegiant, but it just wasn't there.Despite these errors, Allegiant really is a decent ending to the trilogy. Even though it doesn't necessarily end the way you want it to. However, its flaws keep it from entering the realm of 5-star books like its predecessors, Divergent and Insurgent.

How is the effect?

books

strong

feeling

not perfect

thing

0a5f6b541749b607589203fb677f54d5

d99156c0a2a1294133d185529f6011dd

9dca73f42af434272063c5d0bec7680f

0007444117

4.5/5 StarsWow!! I had to wait a day or so to write this review because my head was just spinning when I put the book down (not to mention the fact that I was sobbing and needed time to catch my breath!). I think it really helped that I read all three of these books in a row because I really got to see the full arc of the story and the characters that way (without having to try to remember what it was I loved about the first two books). Plus, this way the series had momentum for me that would have been lost otherwise.The negatives:Failure to communicate.Once again, there were periods in this book where Tris and Tobias had problems based mostly on their failure to communicate. Just when I thought that they were going to really work together and face the world as a team, they would disagree over something and then pretty much not talk to each other - it made me crazy! Tris' lack of compassion also got to me sometimes (for instance, she doesn't seem to understand why Tobias might have strong feelings about his father's sentencing and then, when she does realize it's bothering him, still doesn't bother to talk to him about it). Now, to give Roth some credit, there were parts of the story where Roth did have Tris and Tobias hash out their issues (and where they made good relationship choices) - I just wish I hadn't had to suffer through their lack of communication to get to it. (Although, honestly, the relationship might not have been all that unrealistic - lack of communication is a real issue in lots of relationships!)Some people will HATE the ending.I honestly feel sorry for any author who is ending a hugely popular series like this one because it seems that there is no way to truly satisfy everyone - all these people who are waiting for their story to come to an end and might not agree with how the author does it. This is one of those cases where I can tell you right now that many people are going to hate this ending. Roth doesn't let all of our beloved characters live happily ever after in a world where all their problems have been solved - nowhere even close to that. I list this as a negative because I know many people will see this as a big negative. Most people will either love it or hate it. But I'm actually kind of on Roth's side on this one - see my note below.What I LOVED:I didn't hate the ending.Okay, that's not exactly true. In some ways I hated what happened at the end of the book. But I also felt that it made sense based on who Roth made these characters to be and the type of world they lived in. Was it painful, horrifying and gut-wrenching when certain characters we've come to know and love didn't get their happy ending? Definitely. Was it still amazing? I certainly thought so! I will not be forgetting this book any time soon - I can't stop mulling it over in my mind, and that is a sign of a fantastic story in my opinion!So many questions answered.I LOVED that this book answered all of my questions and made sense of a lot of the holes in logic from the first two books. I mean, I really didn't get why the Divergent were supposed to go out into the outside world and how they were expected to save humanity. And why was it that people in the factions had such strong tendencies toward specific behaviors? (It was explained - there was an actual reason based on genetic experimentation that was done!!) I was honestly desperately worried that the answers I would be given in Allegiant would make no sense, so I sighed a huge sigh of relief when so many things were explained in ways that made sense to me! Yay!!Tobias' struggles.I loved that we got to see half (or so) of this book from Tobias' viewpoint!! I was thrilled to see the world through his eyes and to really be able to see and sympathize with his struggles. Whereas, in the first book (and somewhat in the second), we got to see Tris' vulnerabilities and her struggles with who she was - selfless or brave - in Allegiant we got to see that Tobias, with only four fears, could still be haunted by those fears. In this book, it is Tobias who doubts who he truly is - what makes him who he is. Is it his genes, his upbringing, his choices? He struggles to come to terms with all of that and there are no easy answers. I grew to love Tobias even more in his weaknesses and was that much more behind him when he overcame them!The action.The first half of this book didn't have nearly as much action as Divergent andInsurgent, but I found myself so intrigued by learning about Tris and Tobias' world, that I actually didn't mind much. The second half of the book picked up the action quite a bit and there were enough twists and turns to keep me constantly wondering what would happen next.Allegiant gave us an explosive ending to a thrilling series! While it had a few negatives, this is not a series that I will soon forget and I'm not disappointed. I only hope that the upcoming movie does it justice!(I debated back and forth between 4 and 4.5 stars for this book, but when I compare it to other books that I rated 4 stars, I came to the conclusion that, even with its flaws, I enjoyed this book more than most.) 4.5/5 stars.

How are things at the end of this story?

books

different

circumstance

messy

life

75f0a84925d537dde29d44640d51a655

fafe139f7493684b07bcd68fb1b30e0c

a7a0e794551b29d40a0c76f2885bf45e

0007444117

I feel like I have to start this review with a quick note...I know that a lot of people disliked this book, but I think it's mainly because they're upset at the ending. That's fine that you didn't like the ending because it's now how you thought, but please don't bash Ms. Roth, who is an amazing author. She has complete creative license to do whatever she wants. She can kill off whomever she wants, and write the story how she sees fit. And if this ending was how she imagined this series ending, then it's good enough for me. Was I upset at the ending, yes. Any rational person would be. I cried and cried, and then cried some more. I literally couldn't believe what just happened. But I also expected it in some ways (which I'll get to later in this review). So overall, I don't care if you complain about the ending, but just stop bashing Ms. Roth because there's a HUGE difference, at least to me, between bashing a book and bashing an author.Anyway, I personally thought this book was fantastic. There were a couple of things that I really didn't like, which is why if I could, I would give this 4.5 stars. However, overall, I greatly enjoyed it, and am very sad that this series is over. Let's start with the dual POV first. I loved being able to read from Tobias's perspective (but seriously, who wouldn't). I honestly wanted to read more from his POV then Tris's. Ms. Roth did a very good job at showing us the real Tobias, who is completely separate from Four. He's not as strong as he would have the world believe. Tobias is suffering and unsure. This glimpse into his true character made the book so much more enjoyable for me, and his character much more realistic. War changes people, and I for one am grateful for the inside look. Tris is struggling just as much in some ways. However, she is stronger, and ready to take on whatever may come her way. She thinks things through, but at times acts rashly. Her character was also very realistic to me, and while I didn't like her POV as much as the previous two novels (which I think was largely because of Tobias's being in this story as well), it was still a great look into her mind.This leads me to one of the things that I didn't like. I thought the dual POV was very poorly done. At first, I could easily tell the difference between Tris and Tobias's POV's. However, as the story progressed, it got harder and harder to tell who was actually talking. I found myself going back to the beginning to double check who was supposed to be talking because the voices sounded similar. Usually, you could tell who was who just by the setting that character was in, but when Tris and Tobias are in the same setting, it just got downright confusing. Dual POV is hard to pull off, but I was expecting a bit more from Ms. Roth on this front because I do think she is a great author that has an amazing talent.Next up is the setting and plot. I will agree that this was one of the weaker aspects of this book, however it wasn't that weak. Granted, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the other two, but this is also a completely different book revolving around completely different terms. Chicago is changing after Jeanine's death and Evelyn's rise to power, and this isn't necessarily a good thing. This is a very fast-paced book, but there were times where it was lagging. These parts easily could have been cut out, and the story wouldn't have suffered in the slightest. At the same time, I flew through this book. I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. The circumstances are different in this book, and I think Ms. Roth did an excellent job at pulling everything together. All our questions are answered except one (at least in my mind). We find why this all happened (and why there were factions), we find out about Edith Prior and Tris's mom, we find out what it actually means to be Divergent. Basically, we find out the truth. I know that some people really disliked this portion of the book, but honestly, I feel that what Ms. Roth did made a lot of sense. I think another reason I liked where Ms. Roth took this book is because it speaks to the science person in me. Being a Biology major in college, this whole thing just clicked with me in a way. I don't feel that in anyway was this a cop-out. While it could have been a little bit better researched in some aspects, it still was a interesting and creative direction to take the story.Now onto the ending. First let me talk about this "sex" scene. I interpreted it as they did have sex. I'm not putting this under spoiler because you can go into any review already and find this out. However, it was confusing as heck by what she meant. I guess it's really up to the reader to interpret what they want, but this part of the book could have been done a whole lot better. This also goes for the romance in the book. I know that Ms. Roth put it in to appease readers (especially because of what happens at the end), but I thought a lot of times the romance was out of place, and just didn't fit very well. In my opinion, there was actually too much. The climax of this book blows you away. There's no way to lessen the blow or anything. You will cry and sob and think it's unfair. Should you not read this book solely because of this reason, no. You need to read the book. But just know that the ending will literally shred your heart to little itty bitty pieces, and you'll need at least a 2-3 day recovery period. This being said, I actually completely expected something like this to happen. Never once in this series has it been sunshine and rainbows, and to expect the ending of this book to change anything is silly. This book is about a war, and in war there are many many casualties. Sometimes people who you don't want to die, end up dying, while the people that you can't stand live long and happy lives. But again, this is exactly what happens in war.Ultimately, I thought this book was great, and even though it wasn't as good as the previous two, I still thought it was an amazing end to this series. The title could have been better (I mean I even was coming up with other titles for this book while reading), but don't let other reviews hinder you from enjoying this novel. My best advice is go into this book with an open mind. Don't expect everything to work out perfectly and remember the world that this series takes place in. Our world isn't perfect, so you can' expect the ending to work out perfectly. I can't wait to see what else Ms. Roth writes because I know that she is a great author that has a tremendous talent.

What about the life?

books

time worth

series

worth to read

series

f32868af0156694d5fa7da8afb350c95

f86eb4bd5fe607253503de5ade38f7ec

0ebc9da3905ab566c489f813ca7185ca

0007444117

What a great end to a great series. Such a thought provoking book, and I loved hearing more from Four in this one. The entire Divergent series is well worth your reading time.

How is the series?

books

same

voice

bore

write

02f667433aa903ace7c7b9cff817a0f4

965e31e30a6e008b68cfec88acb57ed4

6dd3f058767ef402a8d2b08d8bd45b8d

0007444117

This book is my least favorite of the trilogy. Tris and Four have the same inner voice to me so it was hard to tell which one was narrating the chapter until I saw a reference to the other. I had a really hard time following the Bureau portion (which is 85% of the book). I thought it was contrived a bit. I like the idea of where Veronica Roth was going with it, but it wasn't fleshed out all that well in terms of the trilogy. It could have been another book altogether. Too many new people were introduced. Four becomes an insecure pansy. Of course, maybe he always was and we just saw him how Tris sees him in the previous books. Being in his head as the narrator of some chapters gave us another side of him. I would like to think he and Tris finally had sex as it was insinuated. Especially since the intimate scenes up till now have been very powerful. VR leaves it to the imagination. I imagine 11 & 12 year olds (hopefully) will think it was more of the same, while the more mature readers will infer more. The ending, although surprising, almost made me not want to read the book. I did and was pleasantly surprised how much I loved it. I cried even though I knew it would end that way. I think I cried more because of the way Four reacted. Worth finishing out the series by reading this book, but don't expect to be blown away like you were with the first two.

How is the write?

books

dull

story

not interesting

story

9a85ab29416bb8f7d3459afbd63c0759

9af986b21e45b5e52639b0f93f22b550

0ec7ae41f0e793e540e1b98eedaf399a

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After Insurgent, the story picks up with Tris in trouble and Evelyn in control of the city. Soon, Tris, Four and some others choose to leave Chicago and pursue the meaning of the Edith Prior video. Most of the remaining story takes place inside a special facility a short drive from Chicago, where we find out what the story is about Chicago and the factions, as well as what it really means to be divergent. Three-quarters of the way into this story, I was very disappointed. It felt like the author was just going through the motions, and frankly, the story was boring and dull--lots of talking and philosophical introspection, but not much plot movement. The last quarter of the book salvaged things for me and raised the story from one star to 3.5. No, like a thousand others, I didn't like the ending, and I didn't think the ending was necessitated in any way by the story arc. It seemed almost as if the author realized the story about to crash and burn, so she tossed in this ending to slap us in the face. HOWEVER, the ending was well done and beautifully written, and it was quite evocative. I thought the writing went from passable and average to excellent and gripping. BUT, I'm only at 3.5 stars because the ending doesn't really fit the overall trilogy IMO. So, for those that want a 'they all lived happily ever after' ending, don't read this book. Stop with Insurgent and think up your own ending. For those of you, who--like Tris--aren't afraid to jump off the roof into the net below, you should read it and experience the pain. I just wish the first part of the book was written nearly as well as the ending. Yo, Tris, you...well, you know what i mean.

What story do I tell you?

books

amazing

voice

not perfect

thing

0a5f6b541749b607589203fb677f54d5

1447c7c2c53f3f0f91875a077edd09d3

d774f24bfee89f75c7fdf1022933c7d7

0007444117

I listened to this book on audible.com. I did not "read" the book so the voices that everyone is complaining about was AMAZING to me as on audio, they were PERFECT. Tris and Tobias were perfect on audio.I really enjoyed this series. When book 3, Allegiant came out, there was CHAOS everywhere. So many people on Facebook were trashing this book. Apparently the book did not go the way they wanted it to. So many people were talking really badly about it, refusing to read it, posting spoilers and just plain being rude.I AM SO GLAD I AVOIDED ALL THE SPOILERS! I am so glad I waited for all the hype to wear off before I listened to this book. I read book 1 and listened to book 2 on audio. I was really looking forward to book 3 and I was not disappointed by book 3. I love how author Veronica Roth ended the series and love how she followed her heart. Even though she may have not appealled to all of her readers, she did what she felt was best for her storyline and her characters.I am not going to go into any detail of the book as I refuse to post any spoilers. I was hanging on every word of this book. I absolutly loved it and to be honest with you, I cried in more than one part of this book. Some of the times were not even parts one would expect!Congrats Author Veronica Roth on an AMAZING series!!!!!

How are things at the end of this story?

books

dull

book

unreadable

book

353916044319b875b0d43a69b13c1cdc

bc8bdf944050f0a04c93337a1ca3de27

6ec1e83f5e4927e188bd4babae540d2f

0007447868

If you begin to read a book and the first two pages are set aside for an apology from the author for writing about secondary characters throughout, you might want to reconsider.It's amazing that even George Martin realized what he was doing was going to frustrate and infuriate readers. It made me wonder what the makers of the television series based on the books are going to do in season four. Good luck, guys.That being said, favorite characters included or not, the book is dull. It has a few moments of flash, but it feels like a place-keeper to me -- Martin just writes about the day-do-day trudgery of life with no payoff at the end. No cliff-hanger. No momentum-turning battle.Just go on with your lives and wait until the next chapter.

How is the book?

books

simple

prose

short

novel

3dd49a6b4dd717349d5cba2861539a36

e886381edd3b88a5b2f2ff051248c3f3

d2110cf87f15527cbf73783f6bc772bb

0020519109

Hemingway delivered his last masterpiece with this book, a cultural phenomenon when first published in the early '50s: in an unprecedented move, Life Magazine published the novella in its entirety,recognizing that Hemingway, the most influential writer of 20th century American literature and then a world-wide celebrity, had delivered a long-awaited masterful story. The Life magazine edition sold more than 5 million copies in a week so this book reached tens of millions of people within days - not many authors can achieve that! And that's before becoming a much beloved story translated into scores of languages. It is fair to say that this book, which won the Pullitzer Prize, reignited the interest and respect for Hemingway as a serious writer and might have been the decisive factor for his Nobel Prize award.It is so disappointing when people say that story is boring and has too much simbolism... if you have experience fishing or sailing or simply appreciating the sea and nature, then the book offers a marvellous account of man AND nature (not man vs. nature). As for the simbolism, don't dwell too much on it. Hemingway himself said that the book is about "an old man, a boy, a fish and the sea", but if the story is told well enough (as it is on this book) it can mean so much more.And the story is indeed so much more, in no small part because of the inherent goodness of the old man. That's how I enjoy and interpret the book: it is a straightforward tale of an old man embracing the struggles and rewards of life with courage, dignity and still full of the human spirit. Santiago is one of the most dignified characters in Literature, and I have to say he is my favorite and a bit of a personal hero... the old fisherman strives to be the best he can be and do the best he can do... he does not complain of his living in poverty, do not blame others for anything. His spirit is big, generous, undefeated. While other Hemingway heroes might have disappointed some people by way of too much machismo, Santiago keeps all the best traits of courage, resilience and non-nonsense survivalism, while displaying more maturity and humility - perhaps reflecting the middle-age wisdom of the author (then is his fifties).Hemingway story-telling skills are at his best here. I am a big fan of his style, particularly in the short-story format, but here he is astounding all the way. yeah, the prose is deceptively simple at first, but if you pay attention we can see the craft of a master. The opening sentence alone is formidable and could only be delivered by a master of the short-story format. Ihe last sentence is also wonderful and pure Hemingway- simple but infinitely deep, and in this story hopeful and bitter-sweet.In between, Hemingway writes with uncanny power,in such a way that you can fully experience what the character is going through: first you see what the old man does, from mundane tasks and spadework to the excitement of the deep-sea hunt and the exhausting struggle, and in the process you start to think the way Santiago thinks and finally you are feeling the way he feels. It is magical if you only give it a try. Granted, it is easier to immerse into this story if you are familiar with the ways of fishing and the ocean, but in any case, when Santiago is alone in the boat looking at the sea creatures or at the night-sky... I guess the recognition of the infinite solitude of human condition, mitigated by the bonding with the life and the world around us, that is truly universal.I am so glad that such a sweet, simple, timeless story became the classic that it is. You have to try this one too!

How was the novel?

books

simple

book

thin

book

a0696d732749d19fea5eb91ec75e210d

ed87c4e36c138ea5a30eaab96f1aef88

da8b39d77b8cbc5c26a03e10ebcc2bf0

0020519109

Hemingway is a great story teller. This is a simple book about an old fisherman who goes out to sea after so many days without a catch. This books is so simple and beautiful. It was Hemingway's last masterpiece.For Whom the Bell Tolls has been one of my favorite books and in my opinion his best. Old Man and the Sea is a great reminder of just how great of a story teller Hemingway was.There's no need going into the plot, just sit back and enjoy this short novel about a man and a fish (i know that doesn't sound exciting, but it's great)

Is it a good book?

books

much more

novel

worth to read

novel

d15ed9e1b2a6365b58a434edc873c9ad

2ca96bf20cac8c45ed6072a50071135c

d5a2caaa0c1c7f28de28a7dc0e447da9

0060194995

Sissy Spacek takes one of the great American southern novels, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee to an even more sublime level by perfectly becoming the narrator of the novel, Scout Finch. Scout is only eight years old and the Great Depression is ongoing in Maycomb, Alabama. Her father, Atticus, is a pivotal man in their town as he is the fairest lawyer in town. Spacek does all the voices of these remarkable characters and they come even more alive for us. The Finches are fortunate in this town as they are making it through the Depression in genteel if not affluent fashion. The town is made of people like the Finches; and then what would be known today as poor white trash; and finally the blacks who still have decades to wait for racial equality to appear. However, small town America provides certain basics in the 1930s. No one starves or is homeless yet vivid inequalities exist. Also, disabilities are kept in your own home, shuttered up so that other people can't see your differences. Boo Radley is one of these different, disabled people and Scout is fascinated by him as the Radleys live on her street. Boo will come to intersect with a terrible legal injustice which occurs in the town, a rape trial with a black man as the defendant and a poor white trash girl as the accuser. Atticus Finch is the black man's lawyer. But this novel is about so much more than a trial. Lee and Spacek nail the universal frailties and strengths of all of us as human beings in her novel. Those haven't changed one iota between the Great Depression and present day. I enjoyed the movie and the novel when I was a kid and I did not revisit the work until recently as this audiobook. It was a wonderful way to experience it all again in a new medium. If anyone who resists reading needs to learn this book for school, this audio version could be the perfect solution.

How is the novel?

books

little

choice

important

thing

132cfe2f30d6cf4b04209e13d0d22ae1

7d68f2a27396fa349b7d879d7e6a4c73

2d56694a28c0837295ce7820993ea83b

0060392452

The double standard of Political Correctness may have some validity insofar as it is a response to past injustices, mostly of the racial variety, but for Michael Moore to title his book "Stupid White Men" leaves him open, in my view, to as much criticism as I would rightly receive had I written a book called "Dumbellionite Negroes". The easy put-down of Moore is to say something like, "It takes one to know one," but in all fairness, Moore is not stupid. Furthermore, conservatives such as myself love to tout the "marketplace of ideas," because it is in this free discourse of Democracy where we succeed, whether it be talk radio, best selling books, Fox News, the rising tide of country music vs. Hollywood's recent failures, or the simple fact that Republicans now dominate the White House, the Congress, the Senate, governorships and state legislatures. We must begrudgingly accept the fact, however, that Moore is the exception to this rule. He succeeds. He is rich. He is popular. Therefore, to dispute him requires some intellectuial honesty.In the bad old days, the bigots might call Moore a "traitor to his race." More appropriately, he might be considered a traitor to his class, because his arguments seem based on a refutation of the middle class system that many of us strongly believe makes America great, and we assume it is this "class" from which Moore emerges from. What we think makes America great is something Moore thinks is lousy. Does this make him anti-American and unpatriotic? Again, to say so is the easy way out.The best way to dispute Moore is not to put him down, but to make an honest argument on behalf of America. To put things in sports terms, think of him as a guy who grows up in New York City and hates the Yankees. He has access to all the information about how the Yankees are the greatest dynasty in sports history, and is surrounded by admirers and fanatics of the team, yet he chooses to hate what represents him.Moore emerges from what I call the "Emma Goldman school of anarchy." In the old days, guys like Moore would be dismissed as Communists and Socialists. Now that Communism has been defeated, most people do not even remember much about the ideology responsible for the murder of 100 million human beings in roughly 72 years. Calling somebody a Communist has little effect any more. So the Moore's of this world can no longer find comfort in Moscow. They no longer carry posters of Chairman Mao. What they are left with is a vague hatred for the winners, the powerful, the champions of history. In essence, the winners of history are America and Christianity. Anarchism, as espoused by Emma Goldman during World War I, is a mindset that never really goes away. In a free country it is free to be voiced, and Moore voices it.As for America's role in the world, we have little choice but to lead. America is the most powerful empire in the history of Mankind. What some call the "shifting sands" under our power is in fact our most legitimate strength, which is Democracy. The barbs, complaints and open criticisms of America are our greatest accompolishments, the most obvious examples of how we do it better and cleaner than any previous power. Imagine, for instance, a U.N. demanding an investigation into the Roman Empire's crucifixion of the Rabbi Christ; or demands on the floor of the U.N. for Britain to leave India circa 1890.Which brings us back to Michael Moore. Moore has access to all the information that tells anybody willing to accede to the slightest version of Truth that America is the greatest nation ever conceived by God, yet he chooses only to criticize it. In the end, his criticisms make the U.S. stronger, because the fact that he is wrong yet still free as a bird to publicly be wrong becomes known to all, thus giving America greater legitimacy through a constant "trial by fire." Still, Moore deserves some judgment. What it comes down to is that he says things that are not true, while surely he possesses enough education and access to Truth to know they are not true. There is a word for this, and the fact that this word applies to Moore is knowledge we possess.

How are the things?

books

fascinating

concept

brilliant

concept

e291a98f7689c5b0df9fc13191929d4d

8598d8a80a18637ccabf8e2ea9ecbbf0

bc85ad2cdb94d2d34103b1907359b00f

0060558121

I'm new to Neil Gaiman, having only read "Good Omens" before, about four years ago. With "American Gods" I might become inspired to truly dive into this author's rich body of work. This book has a very creative treatise. Old pagan gods still live on as destitute characters in the real world, as long as a few isolated pockets of people still venerate them. Meanwhile, really old gods that are completely forgotten by humanity have disappeared into oblivion. The major religions couldn't even obliterate these decrepit old pagan gods for good, but the real gods of modern America may finally do it - the harsh gods of money and technology. The straight man in the novel is a hapless ex-con named Shadow, who eventually realizes that the bizarre characters he keeps running into are those decaying pagan gods who need his help in their struggle. Shadow also eventually bumbles into the realization that these gods are allying themselves with him for a greater purpose. The concepts behind this book are indeed fascinating and highly creative. Unfortunately the book must be docked one star because the action peters out towards the end, and the anti-climax takes way too long wrapping up a bunch of boring subplots. But still, Neil Gaiman is clearly one of the modern masters of innovative, speculative fiction.

What is the concept of the book?

books

interesting

idea

creative

idea

81f2ebb852aab6a873ee2ab6d1b47649

f341ea3696d8e306ff1bd7414c858646

3948e2a303a9fa7d54c9728dc1fd6ec7

0060558121

That is all I can say. It was well written and very vivid. Gaiman has some interesting ideas on Gods.

What can you say about the idea?

books

not compelling

story

many

word

0952a6ad7da249a6101a8846dd5e84d8

d5a82bcab296c8c1a1027cfe5631a8c3

1fa710c37cac3232dc6fa09231076575

0060558121

I really enjoy Neil Gaiman. I even enjoyed this book. Unfortunately, I found no reason to complete it - I abandoned about two-thirds of the way through. How to reconcile those? Well, the situation in the book and Neil's imagination are fascinating. The main character is mildly interesting. But the story is not compelling. I knew we were heading somewhere, but I just didn't care. Glad I read what I read, didn't feel need to find out how things resolved.

How is word?

books

compelling

premise

creative

idea

81f2ebb852aab6a873ee2ab6d1b47649

62aecef4a5036b0ec7cfe7b271ee54e6

7336b111b788122ea7d0d5859daca4b0

0060558121

I was born in Wisconsin and spent every summer there until I was about 16. Many of the roadside attractions were favorite stops on the way up or on the way back home to Kansas. I vividly remember the House on the Rock on one such visit.Growing up in Kansas the "geographical center" of the USA in Smith County was another familiar day trip.From Chicago to Mt. Rushmore I have visited most of the places in the book and that made the story more interesting.The premise of the story is original and compelling, a nice mix of mythology and magic from all around the world. It is the classic American melting pot told from a different point of view.

What can you say about the idea?

books

uncanny

ability

serious

book

a5bd58e9610eaf4aeabd4b9828156e27

ca7b5ce9eb977e4e589b2f66dbbf240b

58c051a93007420cba6bd7a5860688d5

0060573775

Slaughterhouse Five was the beginning of Vonnegut's black humor, train-of-thought writing.His ability to jump from one time and event to another is uncanny, and his perception of life and people unique. Here are our favorite science-fiction writer, Kilgore Trout, and the wealthy and lonely Eliot Rosewater. And more. Vonnegut's characters reappear in his works and give us new insight into our own turbulent and confusing lives.

How many pages have this book?

books

mislead

title

interesting

topic

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536aaec5d4b46492c3e7f4443a50a4f9

d40334d1543a41aea001b11ac799dcb3

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Each chapter of Freakonomics is prefaced with a laudatory excerpt from a magazine article, selling us on the idea that Steven Levitt is an economic genius. This is bolstered by the book's subtitle: "A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything." Despite the outward appearance of some rebellious, glamorous edge, this bold claim hardly seems appropriate given the book's tone. It's rather going out on a limb to describe Steven Levitt as a "rogue economist" simply because he entertains the idea of studying sumo wrestlers under the umbrella of economics. In my opinion, this is not a totally zany idea, as the issue he studies clearly falls under game theory, itself a social science that applies heavily to business and the economy. Anyway, as far as I can tell, Levitt uses his skill to assess social constructs, and the underlying changes that produced them. Is this, as the book would suggest, being a "rogue economist?" I guess, if your only criteria for distributing the "rogue" label relies on the reassignment of focus (social instead of financial processes) -- not the employment of independent or non-mainstream theories.In addition, the title "Freakonomics" is also misleading. You might get the impression, before reading it, that because of the title, "Freakonomics" boldly enters uncharted territory in economic theory, using groundbreaking new methodology to shine an ultraviolet light on the seemy underbelly of modern life. Well, sort of. It shows us some interesting things, but I'd hardly call it a revelatory or groundbreaking methodology. Levitt is probably a gifted guy with stats, but when you boil it down he simply takes data, applies a standard statistical theory to it, and extracts findings. Not to shortchange him, but the results aren't "freaky" in any way. I think it would be fair to say that most other accomplished staticians would come to the same conclusions he does, given the same data. What Levitt has going for him is the subject matter he's interested in, which may be fortuitous for us as readers, but it seems preposterous to suggest that the science itself is any more wacky or freaky, which is what the title seems to be suggesting.My girlfriend accuses me of being overly sensitive to these points, and feels that I'm overlooking the content based on a feeling that I've somehow been lied to with regards to the title. Is this an accurate assessment? Well, I did fork out $25 for this book, so naturally, when I'm told that a "rogue economist" (ooh, how exciting!) is going to tell me about the "hidden side of everything," based on a mysterious and tantalizing scientific phenomenon described as "freakonomics" I naturally expect something different than this. Not to say that what I got wasn't good, it just wasn't as engaging or revelatory as what I would have expected, and maybe more to the point, it did not help me build any economic intuitions. There was little to nothing in this book that I could use in any fashion in my life, aside from very specific statistics that are really only useful as trivia. The idea of there being a secret, hither-to-unknown concept called "freakonomics" that was the silent engine of the economic cosmos dissolved to dust the second I reached the last page. There simply was no theory that I might apply to my daily life somehow. No tidbits of economic, psychological, or behavioral knowledge that could somehow, in some way, be useful in an applied setting, which was extremely disappointing.As entertaining and as full of fun, interesting information as it is, Freakonomics felt surprisingly skimpy on meaningful content. It's a good-- if short-- read, and it more than likely contains information that I'll find myself reciting to friends and pondering over, but I can't help but walk away feeling like it's a half-finished book. By its own admission, there is no unifying theme to the chapters, and no particular purpose to its order. There's a sense of pointlessness and lack of cohesion that makes the book crumble under the weight of its own lofty pretensions-- or at least the ones put on it by the publisher's marketing department.

Which topic is more interesting?

books

lovely

book

simple

word

c689cde666560d162ba178294f9fb5d9

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ce1093a15e5605291ed65d775502af24

0060775858

This is a classic story to have in a stack of bedtime books.Pros:Not a lot of words, and children don't get boredHas items you can look for in the next pageGreat rhythm while reading, the story flows from page to pageA good wind down book at the end of the day.Cons:None!This book is absolutely lovely and our little one loves to have this read to her again and again. Even if it isn't night time this book became a daytime favorite. I point to the animals and different things around the room. This is a great addition to have to a little ones library!

How quality is the word on story?

books

positive

impact

outdated

book

0ea3587160fdd04062e64d3979d570ba

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a9f93fdda9380f287b04157ee8982a61

0060794410

Before you read this, know that I'm biased. I've lived too long, read too many books and article and experienced too much in business. Any time I read that someone has the answer for all companies, I cringe. If there is anything I've learned in business is that every business is different. In business solutions, one size does not fit all. Whenever someone says that they have a simple answer for business, I recoil. Another thing I've learned is that business is a complex problem. And, complex problems deserve being respected for their complexity. Solutions to complex problems may be elegant, but they are rarely simple.In addition to the above, my problem with this book is its premise and research methodology. The basis of all the work that went into this book is the "Ratio of Cumulative Stock Returns to General Market". While this is certainly an important variable, it is not the complete measure of a company's greatness. It may or may not even be an indicator.First, stockholders are only one of the many stakeholders that a company has. As an extreme example, consider a fast growing, highly profitable company that's raping the environment. A great company must have a positive economic impact on its customers and honor the trust that a customer places in the company by purchasing goods and services. A great company must respect the individuals its employees, its suppliers and its strategic partners. A great company must also balance its financial performance in stock market with the development of its people, technology, industry and country. And, among many other things, a great company must be ethical and honor the trust given to them by the people in allowing them to incorporate.Lastly, I have a problem with any book about great companies that does not deal with innovation and creativity. Many of the examples described are innovations; it just doesn't call them that. The book seems to studiously avoid the use of creativity, strategy and innovation as those words were forbidden.The chapters in the book include:Good is the Enemy of GreatLevel 5 LeadershipFirst Who...The WhatConfront the Brutal Facts (Yet Never Lose Faith)The Hedgehog Concept (Simplicity within Three Circles)A Culture of DisciplineTechnology AcceleratorsThe Flywheel and the Doom LoopFrom Good to great to built to LastThe book is written well and easy to understand. It was designed that way. Millions of copies have been sold, so maybe I'm wrong. I have been a time or two in my life. But, I did have problems with The Search for Excellence. Remember that book...?Jim Collins is co-author of Built to Last, a national bestseller for over five years with a million copies in print. A student of enduring great companies, he serves as a teacher to leaders throughout the corporate and social sectors. Formally a faculty member at Stanford University Graduate School of Business, where he received the Distinguished Teaching Award, Jim now works from his management research laboratory in Boulder, Colorado.

How is the book?

books

simple

concept

simple

message

1bf16f29795df60e0e2bab5e8ac7dc6f

8da18513d81d2cf5a6ccf42a12392b35

53c7a003de89602b8a6d143268c9c426

0060794410

The best thing about this book is: it is so simple to read and understand, and hence easy to remember. The concepts laid down are so simple, and yet sometimes surprising. Mr. Collins did not complicate the findings, and use very simple terms and stories to illustrate his findings. Since the results are driven from detail researches, it adds certain credibility to the overall framework. Ignoring the notes of the researches, the book only has +200 pages. This is a must read of even the most busiest executives.

Is the story have a good message?

books

small

child

not worth to live

life

aa7dd16a0c82c017af9a95214f79986b

ac928e0c0d43c3c542adaad4d71b8e41

fd0c1f9225e2b6e60bd9796a3099cd1c

0060838582

My husband and I have been weaning ourselves from fast food for a long time. Mostly it's because I've discovered home-cooked food and how much more filling it is than eating out all the time and another reason is that we have two small children ~~ we want them to eat nutritious meals before getting hooked on fast food. Another reason is that when we were kids, we were taken to McDonald's as a special treat ~~ it was a big deal to eat out then.I wish I hadn't read this book because I took my sons to McDonald's the other night to celebrate their first Christmas program ever ~~ and throughout my meal, I kept having visions of what this author was telling in his book. I probably won't stop eating at fast food restaurants, but I won't be a big time consumer in the future.I have never read Upton Sinclair's book ~~ but would like to eventually since Schlosser shared a few pieces from that book. I am honestly appalled by the meat packing plants and their lack of concern. I am appalled by what animals eat ~~ and what is being processed into our food. I am appalled but not surprised.Schlosser writes a very thorough study on how fast food (namely McDonald's but there are others) have changed the economy ~~ not for good either ~~ and how it has a long-reaching impact on everyone's lives today. He writes of the meat-packing plants, diseases that have been discovered and the unsanitary practices ~~ things behind the scene that most people don't realize. There are a lot of politics involved in the whole process of what goes in our food and our animals ~~ and while others might find this book bashing the whole fast food industry, I didn't. I found it interesting and disturbing how it changed the whole economic landscape of our country. Schlosser has written positive things about different companies or executives ~~ but mainly, he writes passionately and in some cases, dispassionately, about this whole epidemic of fast food eaters.Like I mentioned, I won't stop eating some fast food, but this book has disturbed me enough to start thinking of changing my eating habits ~~ mine and my family's. I highly recommend reading this book just for the sheer volume of facts and history behind the food industry. It's better to be informed. Not only is it informative, it is interesting. This is your food and should be an impartial issue, but it's not. And that is just the beginning of a very informative read.12-9-05

How is life?

books

different

life

happy

one

1cf566105be759a7806f93c640973066

1b4f146a98d7e604e5aaa8b0375b4c05

414266a0597a9e9250874363c52ee5b1

0060850523

Amazingly shocking and mind-blowing! Masterpiece that you won't forget for a long time! Very futuristic look at the utopian society, technologies and lifestyle. This book really blow me away! It immediately became my favorite novel I've ever read.Brave New World takes us to a very far future, even though it was written about 80 year ago. Aldous Huxley really made a fantastic work, which I was so much surprised and amazed to read. This book got my attention from the start and I couldn't put it away till the end. Life and society are much different in Brave New World. They live by different mindset, values, purpose and meaning than we do in today world (or it just might look like so from the first sight). Everything is based on the idea that everyone belongs to everyone else and happiness is the main priority which should be gotten right now.First of all, people are born artificially and divided into the groups. There are 5 castes in New World's society: alpha, beta, gamma, delta and epsilon. You might understand that alphas are the highest and epsilons are the lowest caste. The main beauty of that is that all society lives in peace and happiness and that is achieved by shaping mindset from the embryo. So everybody is happy at their positions and never thinks about any other opportunities. Artificial drug helps everyone always be happy despite any bad situations. There are no relationships, families or any other factors that might disturb the order. There it is vulgar and unethical to have only one partner.Such life might seem very amoral for many people, but as I said before it just seems different and unacceptable for our world. As I wrote in my previous review about 1984's, it's just a mask, matrix. Look deeper and you will see that our society is not much different. Starting from marriages, most people do that and it's almost never permanent not even including cheats on partners (I mean that cheating is end of the marriage already). Agree? You should. Furthermore, let's take castes. In our world most people think that they have a choice. The true is they don't. Yes, actually everyone has a choice, theoretically, but practically not. Just take an example of riches's children becoming rich and broke's children becoming broke. It's not because of any other conditions or circumstances, but the programming parent's give to their children. So here we have a choice, but everything starts from teacher giving right lessons to the student. So, if you have a successful mindset, you will pass it on through many generations and will get alphas. If not, you will get epsilon generations. I don't want to be mean, just trying to get your attention that everything is possible you just need to start from yourself and there is no time for laziness or any excuses. Let's take one more aspect from the book, like "I want now and here to get and be happy". What can you say about our society? It's mostly the same. Most people do something small or worthless now to satisfy some needs not thinking much about the result in the future. I hear a lot "I want this now, I need this now" and something really important and meaningful or valuable they delay for a lifetime. The typical culture of consumerism and "fast food" (fast life). And I don't mean that it's bad, I mean that everything could be used in a good way and in a bad way. You choose!One more interesting aspect for me is the governance of the society in New World. There should always be a cowboy to supervise the herd. The role of the cowboy in this book goes to world governors. There are just couple of them who supervise all the world. They are the creators of everything and the interesting part of it, that in order to become one of them you should get out of the rat race! But before that you have to realize that there is a rat race. One of them told his story, that when he realized there is more in life, had a choice to go to the island or to train and become one of the world's governors. And the island is the place for people who want to create, explore and escape from the society they are in. All of this is just one more example to see that our world is the same. Most people are so busy with their day-to-day routines that they never realize there must be more in this life. I must say WAKE UP!!!Lastly I would like to look over technologies operating in the New World. It really surprised me that the author who wrote this book in 1931 had so futuristic vision. Mass production cloning, sleep learning, flying cars, artificial drugs with no bad feeling really surprised me.So are you alpha or epsilon? But the main question in not "what" you are, it's who you are willing to become!

How is one?

books

simple

reason

last

word

09ddbf14e42f1a9f9f842103d1ad7726

1558f4a58238fde42e6ca014957ae6da

c353c0b36d5451c29b1c945d8a3d28a8

0060889578

The reason I do like this book is simple: the best economics is all about practical theory and applications, the original economists were trying to solve very simple problem such as how to keep people from abusing the common, is there enough food to go around, etc.But, there are several problems with his book:The writing style/prose editing suggest readers with a short attention span, every time I get started on a topic it switches to another topic (the chapters have several subtopics and points seamlessly intermixed). The author's self-awareness of their success from the 1st book is painfully aware in this one, the sequel. For those in the sciences it is well known that a thesis is only as good as the data collected; and much of the authors data is from small sample sizes they go on the claim as irrefutable law (most contentious is the abortion and the crime rate correlation from the 1st book), which makes their hypothesis always...questionable; and for those critical of the Freakonimics series is their main argument against them.In the end the book does what they probably intend, makes economics a philosophy relevant for the masses again. This book presents people with material for conversation and debate after dinner with friends and family. No longer something for government committees and corporations board of directors, economics is back to its practical roots. Bit these books are just that, not necessarily critical study but contrary based investigation of some interesting and important questions, insisting that dialogue and further inquiry of the selected subject matters occur.

How is the word?

books

good

action

nonstop

action

f8654c776d46abb6a17f1d70fe4e63d9

e5ee1d37c626d13eec08b426fc0e2ca1

96b7cc82e00321e813f8f4f838e497c6

0061231401

this was a great read I thought the suspense and action was good. I like James Rollins way of keeping you reading right to the end.

Does its contains a lot of action?

books

interesting

life

many

story

61c7a4dbe808b109d36585b94baf167b

8c29ffbdf9fccdad386e1d541ea9d6e4

e473507b7fcdffae6ca6b6759e3997ab

0061257095

Well written. I most always like a book when it includes the word wife. The lives of married women is most always interesting

Is this story about military?

books

hard

work

rare

gift

cca932581d418079245f3f352f4b57dc

35e0435a2a7f7060a007159b1597b141

36b0f7e4b0e01d0b6b2db827b5d1b09f

0061374229

In a remote part of Wisconsin, Gar Sawtelle, his wife Trudy and their young son, muteEdgar makes a living breeding and training dogs. Edgar has developed a unique special relationship with Almondine, one of the family dogs; the pair communicates in a way that his parents are unable to do with their son.The family is contented although the work with the canines is hard. When Gar's brother charming brother Claude comes home the family dynamics change but not in a positive manner. Soon after his arrival Gar dies and the silent Edgar is unable to call for help. He is filled with remorse and guilt making his grief even more difficult. However, he soon believes his father was murdered by his uncle who has spent an exorbitant amount of time with his mom. Fearing he may be next, Edgar flees accompanied by his best friends Almondine and two other dogs.Hamlet is brought into modern day Wisconsin as readers feel the destiny of tragedy will occur from the moment Claude arrives and after that happens, a sense of a second calamity once Edgar concludes his uncle killed his father to eliminate the sole barrier to his mother. Readers will be spellbound by David Wrobleweski's retelling of the classic as the key cast comes alive especially the mute Edgar who readers get to know by his thoughts and his communication with Almondine (sort of in some ways like the Ghost). This is a fascinating winner, but at 566 pages set aside some time.Harriet Klausner

What is gift?

books

quirky

sense

witty

book

e49883a3812ecc4e8a67ce9c8dcf80ea

ed8c242dda0d312a0cc3ac97ece32cdf

864c14d6fad8e73d1673d18f2b9ea983

0061438596

Any of you who have become acquainted with Moore's novels know that he has a quirky sense of life in general, but "Lamb" takes the cake. As the little known "true story" of Jesus' missing years (from 2-30), his best friend Biff tells what actually happened during the missing years--quirky, irreverent, yet tender, this is a terrific novel.

How is the quality of book ?

books

easy

life

different

situation

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b0f3a8f74a764516d9b213f599c0ee42

2e0d65c5dc4b1bb16a66ba997c7f2be9

0061583251

The book is divided into 12 months of tackling different aspects of happiness and developing the disciplines to develop more satisfaction and peace in life. The book is not fast paced, but introspective and thought provoking. What if small, insignificant changes could create significant boosts in overall happiness? It is worth a read and your own experimentation over time. I suggest reading it a bit at a time so you can try some of the things she suggests. There is an underlying theme that life is pretty easy for her to start with, but that could be said about most of us!

Does the situation change later?

books

unique

ability

empty

life

1202b6778bbef41c15c48d0467f14679

4e10282ce9ad4d23dd191fd6dbd68e71

7a904f9cd10d9a98e4029d57abfa7cf6

0061726826

Despite having nearly everything going for it, Delirium rarely engaged me as a reader. And yet, I am going to rate this a strong 4 stars because I can see why this series has appealed to so many. Author Oliver has a unique ability to write about common people, giving them personality and life. For once, a story about love isn't soppy or cheesy. And the reader really does want to root for the characters and see them together in the end.Story: Lena lives in a part of America where emotions, specifically love, have been controlled through a surgical procedure. It was done to keep society peaceful and placid and stop the 'delirium' - the love 'disease'. But when she meets Alex, a boy supposedly 'cured', everything changes. Suddenly, Lena doesn't want to get the procedure done on her 18th birthday. But in this America, choice isn't an option and she will lose all she feels for Alex forever if she goes in on her birthday.Delirium is a slow burn story with most of the action near the end. It's a girl-meets-boy story, a little Romeo and Juliet in a world that doesn't allow romance. But the angst of forbidden love isn't the story so much as Lena awakening from torpidity into emotion. Since the story is all first person POV, we see Lena's change unfold organically through her interactions with Alex.Side characters aren't left bereft and given as much personality as our protagonists. From best friend Hana to Lena's adopted family (her mother committed suicide due to the love 'disease'), each person is distinct and doesn't fall into the cardboard character cliche. All the same, Alex was a bit too good for my taste, lacking in nuance and enough quirks to distinguish him beyond idealized love interest.So why did Delirium fail to engage me personally? I think it has to do with having read the Shatter Me series first. Both series deal with angsty emotion but I preferred the more full on emotion of Shatter Me rather than the slow burn of Delirium. It seems a shame to even compare the two books; honestly, as much as I loved Shatter me, it definitely was not as well written as Delirium. The strength of Delirium is Oliver's writing and characters.As with most YA dystopian, the premise is pretty bonkers and doesn't hold up to close scrutiny (I felt the same way about Oliver's Panic setting). But Delirium is all about the awakening of a normal girl and a sweet love story.I listened to the Audible version of this story and the narrator was one of the best I've heard. She lives and breaths the story, not just reads it.

Does his life empty?

books

lyrical

prose

beautiful

style

105f77b22e385a2847bc4b664139dc13

6c713643553322895de289603a9e7172

60bfea8c5a4be5f70f2fb8bd93d8eeff

0061726826

*reviewed my MM's (Katie) -Warning: while reading this book you may experience severe reactions to amor deliria nervosa, also known as falling in love, something that's "cured" aka banned in Delirium's society. Side effects may include sleepless nights while reading Delirium, the inability to concentrate on anything else but reading this book, nervousness over what's going to happen to Lena & Alex, having your heart ripped out, sighing, finding yourself sitting on the edge of your seat, kissing your book, running out to pre-order PANDEMONIUM, petting the new beautiful cover, telling all your friends to go pick up this book, and of course falling helplessly in love with the brilliant, and breathtakingly beautiful writing of Lauren Oliver.Can you imagine living in a society where LOVE is a disease?! I seriously loved the way Lauren created a fascinating society that "cures" love. Yes it may seem hilarious, but when you read DELIRIUM it totally makes sense. Lauren's writing is just awesome! It's richly detailed, it's poetic, captivating and I love that she really makes me think. Lauren is truly a gifted writer and I swear she could write a story about the most outlandish thing and make it credible. Here's a taste of Lauren's beautiful prose, which is also one of my favorite quotes from DELIRIUM:Sometimes I feel like if you just watch things, just sit still and let the world exist in front of you- sometimes I swear that just for a second time freezes and the world pauses in it's tilt. Just for a second. And if you somehow found a way to live in that second, then you would live forever. - pg 153This is one of the many reasons why I adored Lena, the story's main protagonist. She's insightful and I admired the way she fights to believe in something she's grown up being taught vs something that's right in front of her face telling her otherwise. I love a character who has a quest for finding the truth, no matter how heartbreaking that truth can be and how much they'll have to sacrifice in order to get it. Alex is a character I immediately loved. He challenges everything that Lena has been taught. I love the way in which he makes her think and helps her open her eyes to the truth around her. I of course loved the way their relationship developed over the course of the book.I'm surprised at how much I loved this book considering there isn't a lot of action, there's no paranormal characters and the characters aren't as in-depth as I usually like them. What a beautiful change of pace this book is for me! This is a book that completely snuck up on me and swept me off my feet with it's beautiful writing style, romantic story line, and it's well developed characters. Oh Lauren Oliver the things you did to my heart in this book..... Luckily my heart won't be ripped out for long as I'm off to drown my broken heart in PANDEMONIUM. Seriously, if you haven't already go PICK UP DELIRIUM! You'll enjoy every moment experiencing the side effects of amor deliria nervosa while reading Lena's story. There is very mild language in this book.** Reviewed by Sophie for Mundie Moms-Love. Stories, poems, films, songs have been created in an attempt to explain the concept. But imagine growing up in the United States where love didn't exist. I saw you blink slowly as you read that last sentence. What if there was a cure for love? I know what you're thinking -- no thanks, I don't want it. But what if the government made you take it when you turned eighteen? There would be less divorce, less violence, less reliance upon pharmaceuticals, less addiction. You get the idea.Lauren creates such a world and introduces us to her protagonist, Lena, who is just a few months from taking the cure. In these last weeks, she thinks a lot about what life will be like for her after the cure. All around her, we see the effects of cured family members and friends. They're happy with their lives and go on with their daily activities with a predicatble rhythm. But is this what Lena wants? As Lena and her best friend, Hana, begin to question some of the government teachings and rules, the reader discovers how far the government has gone to eradicate the concept, feeling and existence of love.I have to admit to sitting back and admiring the absolute plausibility of such a concept. The excerpts of government approved literature at the start of each chapter set the tone for what Lena and Hana have learned all of their lives. As a reader, you can't help feeling sympathetic for them. This level of propoganda is all they know. It is their truth. And then the reality of the horror unfolds as you find out what happens to those who do fall in love and are caught.I'm a huge fan of well-written dystopian stories and Lauren has penned one that rings true and shakes our most sacred belief system. To top it off, her prose is so lyrical, at times, that yes, I paused to text KatieB and even call her to read a few sentences out loud. I am thrilled that this will be a trilogy and that the movie rights have been optioned.If you enjoy a love story where love is truly forbidden, pick up DELIRIUM on February 1st. You will realize that a unifying, maddening and unpredictable concept like love will remain even when threatened. It'll be that loose thread in a tightly woven fabric and the temptation to pull it will be overwhelming. So what would happen if you did fall in love in such a society? I know, I'm still thinking about it.A quick aside for those Mundie Moms who will ask me -- but is there romance? I will confess that there is a multiple-page Kissy Scene that I may have read more than once. And there is...Alex. Mundie Moms, trust me, you will want to meet him.

How is the quality of style?

books

beautiful

write

beautiful

writing style

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I've been iffy about reading Delirium since I've seen the book on amazon. I wasn't as crazy about Lauren Oliver's first book and I wasn't sure I would like this one as much. Well, I'm still on the fence. It's a good premise and idea, but the execution of the story isn't as good.The story follows Lena as she waits to be cured of love, or deliria. But before she is cured, she meets Alex and ends up falling in love. The very thing she swore she would never do. Now they have to find a way to survive against the government because the punishment for going against the government is death. It's the first book in a trilogy.The whole fact that it's love that the government is trying to destroy is different and awesome. Finally, something different. Finally, something that's not the same as everything else. The writing as well is beautiful. Lauren has a talent for writing beautifully. But that's about it. Writing beautifully won't help you write a good book.-There was NO world building here. Yes, it's in Portland, but that doesn't mean everyone knows what it looks like. This is also a dystopia, which is important to have a proper world building. I mean, it can be the same city, but how would we know if it looks the same or not? Is it the same it is now? Is it different? Do houses look the same? What? What does it look like? The thing is, in EVERY book, there should be proper world building because need to know where you are and not just told where you are.Example, you can have a current story set in New York City, but unless you describe what's going on, how is someone in Russia who has never been to America or seen New York going to know that it's New York City?I've never been to Portland, so I have no idea what it looks like. Even more when the government is going to take over and declare love as a disease. Is it going to look like every other city? Different? How? Because Lauren fails to describe anything, I have no idea what anything looks like in this story. So if it became a movie, I wouldn't know if that's how I imagined everything because I don't know what to imagine.-It drags on endlessly. I understand the MC, Lena, feeling a certain way and it taking her a lot longer to think otherwise, to actually think about going against the government. Even more with how her mother was, how her mother was treated. Lena longs for this cure to feel normal and to not have the looks, the talk about her anymore. So, discovering that this love is okay to feel and that the government lied to her, is a big step and it doesn't come easy. If it was just a page or two, I'd wonder how deep she is. But it takes time for her.However, the whole book was just so long and took too much time. Honestly, at least half of the stuff in there could have been taken out. It dragged on and had no real development for the story. In fact, there wasn't much excitement or development in the story until the very end. I didn't feel like I was reading a dystopia, I felt like I was reading a romance that wasn't supposed to happen.-The romance was the same old cheesy, looks first, no depth love. I love how it wasn't the same way they met. It was different and it seemed like it would work. But then... Lauren did the same thing as everyone else and made it all on looks. Without really knowing someone, they can't wait to start kissing each other, though that's a capital offense. Though I am glad she hasn't added a love triangle, at least not yet. Please don't do that Lauren. I will really hate you even more and refuse to read anything else of yours.If you don't believe me on the looks part, read what Alex said about Lena. He mentions he saw her and fell in love with her right away. Because she was so awake, even though she wants to conform to everything more than anyone else. How in the world is conformity awake when the person running next to you who wants to rebel and IS rebelling NOT awake? Answer me that! Again, it's all based on looks.-There was no real struggle, no real antagonist. It's a series. A trilogy. It needs something. There was no real strong struggle against Lena. Nothing to make this stand out. The thing with trilogies, is that you not only need to build things up and start to show the antagonist, but you also need to show the struggle starting. Need to have it where each book of the trilogy can stand on its own. But with this, it can't. It *needs* the rest of the series to stand up. Because there wasn't a real struggle at all in here, it lacks the depth it needs to stand alone.-Oh my gosh, the government is so stupid! Apparently, it's perfectly normal for TEENAGERS to break curfew, have tons of parties, drink and dance even though they aren't supposed to, met up with people in random houses, and whatever else they do. Um... really? If this was such a strong controlling government, as it was appeared to be, there wouldn't have been ANY of these things.-Would have loved it if the parts where Lena was brave didn't have a few pages of monologue about how brave she's going to be. -_- Yeah, you're doing something that isn't safe. Thank you for spending an hour explaining that. Next time, please just do it and not tell us. It makes us think you're stupider and less brave than you claim you are.-A problem with many writers, too many adverbs. >.> I understand a few here and there, but Lauren just had too many. Too too many adverbs. Adverbs are the tool of a lazy write. You don't show as much with adverbs. You tell more so. That's what ended up happening here a few times.Overall, it wasn't the greatest. The idea was better than the execution. The writing was beautiful, I loved the idea, and I want to know what happens to Alex will make me want to read the next one. However, I will be borrowing from the library again for that one instead of buying it. Not feeling motivated to buy it.If Lauren learns how to write better and knows it more than just "beautiful words", then the series might not be so bad. But as it stands, it's not all that good. You want a better dystopia, read Hunger Games or Uglies. (Speaking of which, Delirium reminds me of Uglies so much...) It's not a bad read, but it's not as good as the hype claims it to be either. Overall, a 2.5 star review.

How is it writing style ?

books

sweet

romance

sweet

relationship

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The plot of the The Body Finder definitely caught me off guard, but in a good way. Violet's ability is something that I have never read about before, and I found it very fascinating. I admired her strength and how she embraced her gift. It seemed so overwhelming to me, and I was impressed with her maturity and how well she handled things. The romance between her and Jay was sweet. It was such a cute best friends to girlfriend/boyfriend story. I liked how Jay tried so hard to understand and support her even though she didn't always make the best decisions.The suspense element in this book was well done, and I found myself flying through the pages to see what would happen. It was disturbing to read the chapters from the killer's perspective, yet they definitely added to the story and piqued my curiosity about how and where Violet was going to find him. Throughout the book I was sometimes reminded that Violet was just a teenager as she didn't always think things through or plan ahead well. Nevertheless, I am interested to see where Derting will take Violet's character and her ability in subsequent books.

How is the relationship?

books

fantastic

chemistry

feisty

heroine

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c4eb65af173554942c173609134480bc

006178320X

I'm a massive fan of Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series and I enjoyed the spin off stories about Spade and Mencheres but Vlad has always been a favourite of mine so I had high hopes for the first book in his series. I'm so pleased to say that Once Burned didn't disappoint, Vlad has found a worthy heroine in Leila and the story contains the great mix of romance and action that any Jeaniene Frost fan will already know to expect. Although this story fits into the overall Night Huntress time line after One Grave at a Time I would actually say that this series can be used as a starting point even if you haven't read any of the other books. Personally I would recommend reading them in order though because Cat and Bones will always be one of my favourite fictional couples and you don't want to miss out on meeting them.Once Burned is narrated by new character Leila, a human woman with some very interesting abilities. When she was a teen Leila suffered a severe electric shock after touching a power line and ever since then her body has held onto an electrical charge that shocks anyone who she touches. Along with conducting electricity Leila also developed the power to touch an object and get a glimpse into the lives of people connected to it. Leila is aware that vampires exist, in fact her only friend is a vampire who is able to survive the effects of Leila's electric shocks without permanent damage but she has done her best to stay off the radar of anything supernatural. Unfortunately for her she hasn't succeeded and she is kidnapped by a group of vampires who want to use her ability to track down Vlad and ambush him. Leila is left with only 2 choices, she either helps the vampires who she knows are planning to kill her or she warns Vlad of their plans and hopes that he will help her.Vlad is sexy, arrogant and scary as hell - he didn't inspire the legend of Dracula for no reason after all! His fierce reputation has been earned and he doesn't flinch away from dealing out harsh punishments when they are needed. As much as he is prepared to be brutal to his enemies he does it because he cares about the people who are under his protection. He wants his enemies to know that he will stop at nothing to keep his people safe and if anyone crosses him or those he considers his then they won't live long but they'll still suffer enough to make them regret it. Vlad has spent hundreds of years ruling with an iron fist but he obviously has the respect of the people in his line and they know that as long as they don't betray him he will give them anything they need. Although he is incredibly pushy and arrogant he does have a softer side that Leila is only just starting to uncover and I want to see more of that side to him.Leila's abilities make it very difficult for her to be around people so she has become quite a loner but because Vlad is immune to her power she finally has the option of being close to someone. The chemistry between them is fantastic but I really liked the fact that they are both wary of building a relationship and are taking things slowly. Things are definitely moving in the right direction for them but I'm glad their story hasn't been crammed into one book and that we're going to spend more time with the pair. Vlad and Leila don't quite manage to beat Bones and Cat to become my favourite couple in the series but they are definitely a fun pair to spend time with and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them.As with the rest of Jeaniene Frost's books Once Burned is a great read full of action, romance, hot sex, humour and great side characters. It was nice to see a brief appearance from Cat & Bones but I'm glad that their presence didn't overwhelm the story and take away from the main couple. This is Vlad and Leila's book and too much of the other characters would have spoilt that. There is a bit of a cliffhanger ending to this one so I'm glad I waited until the release of Twice Tempted before reading it and I can't wait to get started on the next book.

How is the heroine?

books

fantastic

idea

new

concept

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GRAVEMINDER is the adult debut for YA Paranormal queen Melissa Marr, a very slow building gothic/horror mystery, almost like the movie The Village. There is a small, quaint town populated with mysterious characters most of whom seem to be in on a Big Secret: the dead don't always stay dead. A legacy, passed down from generation to generation, binds two families to the town in order to magically protect the rest.The main idea in GRAVEMINDER is fantastic with a big nod to the Hades and Persephone myth. But Marr takes it a step further and creates her own very unique folklore by imagining two complimentary roles: The Graveminder and the Undertaker. Both mythologies work well and really serve to inject the story with a fresh yet seemingly historical context. It was easily my favorite thing about the book.I did get impatient with the pace and the fact that Rebekkah and Bryan had only one conversation that they just repeated throughout the book (Him: Admit you love me! Her: I can't, I'm still hung up on my sisters/your ex girlfriend's death). It made their relationship feel very stale to me. We learn throughout the story exactly what brought them together and then drove them apart, but unfortunately, it felt more like an obligatory romantic obstacle rather that a real emotional feat that I could invest in, and given their situation, it could have been.Another miss for me was the `shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D.' It was kinda cheesy and felt almost like a different story. There was all this build up about the mystery and the town curse that when that part of it was revealed, I was disappointed. It didn't have the same gothic horror vibe as the rest of the story and I couldn't wait to get back to Claysville. Fortunately, that's what happened and the story finished strong.Overall, GRAVEMINDER is a big departure for Melissa Marr that is mostly successful. The gothic mystery along with Marr's easy writing style hooked me and pulled me into to this cursed town, but the romance was repetitive and the reveal was a bit of a let down. Marr fans will want to check it out as well as anyone who enjoys small town mysteries with a supernatural twist. So what's next for this world? GRAVEMINDER has already been optioned for a television show by Ken Olin (Alias and Brothers & Sisters), and Melissa has confirmed that she's working on a sequel.Sexual Content:Vague references to rape. A scene of sensuality.

Can you tell me the concept of this book?

books

different

thing

tough

book

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0061950726

A wonderful but heart-wrenching story about orphans and the people who took them in. Thank goodness that things are different today. The book was a real reflection on the goodness in some people and the evil in others.

How was the book?

books

good

way

rushed

end

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157631dbf4f04b88ff73ccf4770c3bee

beffc852403d2c6f05c5ffa6585884a9

0061950726

Orphan Train was a very well researched and written book. The way she blended the two woman lives was very good. I found that the story line was very interesting.... How ever I could not see the need for the profanity, it spoiled a wonderful story .

How is the end?

books

meaningful

book

fictional

story

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0061950726

I have a friend who was actually an orphan and on an orphan train, so this book is meaningful to me. I think the writing and the content is very good.

What is the story like?

books

more interesting

story

strong

story

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91a9a63cec264aeddf6104a0a92892ae

0061950726

One orphan's story was far more interesting than the other's. The end of this book felt rushed. But I enjoyed it enough.

How is story?

books

fantastic

story

perfect

balance

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0061950726

I had never heard anything about orphan trains prior to this book. The story is fantastic and well written, if a little rosey at the end, but don't we all need a feel good book some times?

Does this have a good balance of enjoyment?

books

heartbreaking

part

wrenching

story

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0061950726

Our whole book club enjoyed this book. Many of us did not know about the real orphan trains of America's past, and this book brought that to light. I enjoyed how the author switched back and forth between the modern day story and that of the past. Parts of the story were heartbreaking, but it was well written.

How is the story?

books

great

concept

not bad

write

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My favorite thing about BUMPED was the concept. In the not-too-distant future, a virus has destroyed fertility in adults, so the wombs of teen girls ignite bidding wars, getting pregnant is encouraged and glamorized, contraception of any kind is forbidden. Even though it's squeegy, I could actually see this occurring, burdoning young fertile ones to give their all for their country, for the world. Unfortunately, the concept is the only thing the story had going for it, while there are so many possibilities and nuances in that scenario that are never explored. I don't understand how books that are all concept and no substance are all the rage. As with WAKE, this novel is fairly popular and well-received, but I just don't get it.BUMPED starts off very telly, with alternating, talky viewpoints that bounce between twin sisters, Melody, the sardonic, cold one, and Harmony, the hyper-religious one, as they introduce us to their dystopian world and contrasting ideologies.Separated at birth, they're acquainting for the first time. Harmony is ecstatic about finding her sister, and Melody is beyond annoyed at her presence. After 20 or thirty pages, you finally get some scenes with dialogue, but everything is still kept sparse with very little description and hardly any sensory impressions that it makes it difficult to SEE or experience this world. The faintest strokes are drawn on every page for two unlikeable, thinly drawn characters. One can see how their different environments have shaped their dispositions, but knowing that doesn't help make them relatable. You never get to really sink into their shoes, feel what they feel and identify. At least I didn't. I didn't feel angry, hurt, sad, gleeful, just blah.In addition to sketchy characters, BUMPED also had no plot. "For Seriously!" It's just a window into this teen-preggo world. And the problem with a book without a plot is it has no hook, climax or stakes. It didn't go far, have a purpose or build to anything substantial. The characters did have decisions to make in the end, and they both softened up somewhat about five chapters from the end, but it was way too late to feel vested.The most likeable character in the book is Zen. As with the story WAKE, I liked the random male friend the most. If these MC's didn't have weird names, they'd be totally forgotten, like, tomorrow, and I have photographic memory.Melody, groomed to be the perfect rental space, is under contract to "bump" with a stud, and not totally thrilled about her obligation. In contrast, Harmony is not only determined to have a baby rightly through marriage, while enshrined in veils, gloves, long dresses, and more man-made traditions than scriptural ones, she hopes to convert her sister into doing the same. Even though Harmony is the pushy one, at least she's sweet in the beginning, so I softened to her first, but they were both extremely obnoxious within their sturdy mindsets. I think if they'd been given many more layers and the story more complexity, scope and structure, it would've been a more enjoyable read. I also liked seeing a religious character in a book, but she was taken so far over the top into cultish territory that it made her passion just as flawed as her distortions.BUMPED did have a great concept, and it will definitely stir up plenty of conversation on ethics, it just never lived up to its potential.

How is it the write?

books

interesting

interaction

interesting

back story

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3.5 StarsIn the sequel to Delirium, Lena is stronger than ever before, and ready to start loving again.Lena has spent several months in the Wilds. Months learning how to grow stronger and how to survive. And now she is ready to walk among the "Zombies" once again. On a special mission, Lena has to keep tabs on a pro-Cure group that is fighting to have the Cure required starting at a younger age. This organization is not the only thing that catches Lena's eye, she also can't seem to stay away from the founder's son, Julian.Hm. I wanted to like this book. I wanted to love this book. But....I don't. Like Delirium, there isn't a lot of action but a lot happens. Lena grows into her own person and soon she is ready to infiltrate New York under a new guise. The story is told from the past and the present until the past meets up with the present. This allows the reader to watch Lena's transformation.I was disappointed that none of the characters from Delirium were present in this book, I really wanted to see Lena's reaction to them after she discovered the true meaning of love. The characters that we are introduced to are just as strong and interesting though. We first meet the ever strong Raven who really pushes Lena to be all that she can be-and more. Their interactions were interesting and endearing; I think Raven was my favorite secondary character in this book. She is so head strong but also so vulnerable with the most heart-wrenching story.Now.....I have to address something that I wish I could ignore. Julian. He is the poster child for the pro-Cure group Lena is trying to destroy from the inside. As fate would have it, they fall in love and their relationship starts to mirror that of Alex and Lena. Now because I know and love Alex I cannot accept the possibility of another boy who can hold a light to him. Because Alex and perfect. And the story seems to hint at a future love triangle which...I could definitely do without. So that's really all I have to say. It's upsetting to write about.The writing is akin to poetry. Oliver describes everything beautifully and romantically. Lena's first person point of view helps show her progression into a strong and independent woman who is taking the role of her first love.Pandemonium is not what I was expecting but Oliver never fails to create a beautiful story. I am curious to see how this will all end.

How interesting is the back story ?

books

unique

take

mysterious

book

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I think the author accomplished what she set out to do in this novel, which is why I leaned toward the possibility of giving it four stars. It's light and fun, adventurous and mysterious. Comparing it to more serious YA novels isn't fair. It's not meant to be deep I think, even when it comes to characterization. And speaking of characterization, I give props to the author for making me actually like Evie even though she is all perky and pink and sparkly--so totally *not* the kind of person I can relate to. Also, the take on paranormals was unique, and there were some clever twists in the story.That said, there were times the whole perky/pink/sparkly personality of Evie went overboard for me. There were too many oh-so-perfect moments, and of course the ever-present YA fiction insta-love (although I admit it was handled better than in a lot of YA books out there). And even though I didn't expect too much depth, I did find myself a little annoyed with the lack of emotion in certain places. Just ratcheting it up *a little* would have helped. Anyway, all in all, I ended up leaning more toward three stars.Still, I enjoyed the book. The writing was pretty good, and I'd recommend it as a sit-by-the-pool kind of read (something just for fun, in other words).

What can you say about the book?

books

hysterical

book

hilarious

book

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I laughed, I cried, I fell in love with Sam Halpern and his son, the author. I had been following the quotes on facebook for months so I expected this book to be funny. What I didn't expect was for Justin Halpern to be just as brilliantly funny as his dad and to write about their relationship so beautifully. This book is hysterical but it's also touching and wise. I particularly appreciated Sam's words to his son in the last chapter about listening to what people tell you. And apparently the book just hit #1 on the NY Times bestsellers list!!...It gives me hope for humanity that this book is attracting such a huge audience.CONGRATULATIONS JUSTIN!!!! PLEEEEEASE KEEP WRITING!

Where can I purchase good comedy book ?

books

great

sense

smart

book

bb11b0e06c0584833a5a127c373a1a1d

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0061992704

I'm not a laugh out loud kinda person, more of a chuckler. I have a great sense of humor but it's a bit narrow, admittedly. I read in bed a lot. My husband actually kicked me out of the bedroom because I kept waking him up while I was reading this book. The guys dad is insane and insanely funny.

How is book?

books

exciting

thing

tense

thing

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Well, I've been waiting for this book for quite some time and I'm very pleased with how Ms. Hand ended the series. The book is fast-paced and wastes no time giving a recap of Hallowed. I would definitely recommend reading Radiant, the e-novella first if you haven't already. It's not completely necessary, but it definitely sheds some light on certain key events in the book. I was impressed by how much the author packed into this book. All of the unresolved conflicts are finished up quite nicely. I only have a couple complaints. For one thing, I wouldn't have minded a little more Tucker. Even just one more quality scene would've made the book more complete for me. Also, the ending was predictable and a little cliche. When I was getting to the end and things were looking exciting I was half-hoping Cynthia Hand would do something daring and leave us with a fulfilling, but slightly-less-than-happy ending. But alas, another feel-good but ultimately forgettable ending. That being said, I was satisfied with how everything was wrapped up, and I thought the whole angel mythology part of the book was better executed than in the first two. I have no idea what Cynthia Hand's future plans are, but I'll definitely keep reading her wonderful writing.

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There are a million and one paranormal romances out there. What makes a particular book stand out from the crowded genre of overdone supernatural creatures and trite romances? I don't think there is one answer for this. I think it depends upon what each reader looks for in a book. What I do know, is that Die For Me has now leaped to the top of the list of post-Twilight paranormal romances (excepting epic books like Vampire Academy and The Mortal Instruments). If you could write out a formula for what I look for in a paranormal romance book, Die For Me would be sitting next to the equal symbol.What exactly does Die For Me have going for it?1. Setting: Oooh...Paris. I've only spent 3 days in Paris, but I definitely want to spend more. The Paris in Die For Me is both mysterious and romantic. You have peaceful cafes (as long as nothing is falling from the sky), parks, the Seine, ornate architecture, dark clubs, dangerous catacombs - the contradiction of dark and light that is Paris.2. Writing: I like books that are well-written. No surprise there. Who would say anything otherwise? As nice as it is to read books of literary quality, for paranormal romance, I'm looking for a balance. I like books that have richly described settings, characters, and mythology backgrounds, but the descriptions of which don't drag the book down. Die For Me does this perfectly. I got a strong impression of Kate and Vincent's world, but the writing was smooth and easy to read. I could lose myself in the plot instead of focusing on the intricacies of the prose.3. Pacing: This is a subset of writing, but I thought it merited its own discussion. So often paranormals take forever to get going and then have heart-stopping action that has you flipping pages to get to the end. This isn't a bad thing, but often it feels like a chore. Like having to lick a Tootsie Pop a million times until you finally get to the candy. Die For Me had great pacing. It took awhile for the paranormal element to unfold, but the beginning plot and character development were interesting enough that I never felt like I was trudging through the novel. It got very tense toward the end, but wasn't such a page-turner that I wasn't able to slow down and enjoy myself. Well done.4. Paranormal Element: There are only so many supernatural creatures to choose from if you're going to stick to traditional legends. Vampires, werewolves, demons, fairies, angels, shape-shifters, ghosts, zombies. Die For Me borrows from traditional paranormal elements, but manages to be unique. The revenants are not ghosts nor are they zombies. They are creatures who are immortal yet die and die again. I've never read anything like it. So refreshing to read something new.5. Romance: Die For Me does have the other-worldly romance that I often dislike in YA novels. They don't fall instantly in love, but there is an immediate connection. I still fell in love with Kate and Vincent romance. The book occurs over a long enough time span that they actually have time to go on a few dates before being ready to die for each other. Vincent is such a good guy. A mixture of reserve, bravery, kindness, intelligence, and passion that fits my formula for a romantic hero. And good looks of course.6. Supporting Characters: This is the big one for me. It's what really made Die For Me shine. The story isn't just about Kate and Vincent. There are numerous supporting characters all of whom have well-described, distinct personalities and play important roles in the story. Vincent's fellow revenants are not blood relatives, but they are a family for all intents and purposes. I loved funny Ambrose, boastful Jules, Alice Cullen-like Charlotte, nervous Gaspard, prickly Charles, patriarch Jean-Baptiste, and motherly Jeanne. I felt like a book could easily be written about each character. Much like the Cullens. Of course, you also have Kate's family: Georgia, Mamie, and Papy, but the revenant family was the what I most enjoyed.Die For Me is not a perfect book. You could argue the romance is nothing new (although I liked it). I also thought it was odd that Kate was grieving her parents' deaths at the beginning of the book, but that theme practically disappeared as the book went on. No problem...no book is flawless. Die For Me had everything I want in a paranormal and for that reason, I can't recommend it enough.Rating: 5 / 5

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