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clear

voice

fresh

voice

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This is one of those books where the author has created unique characters whose individual voices are so clear you can practically hear them as you read. I read that NPR reviewed this book as the most important book of fiction since To Kill A Mockingbird. I'm not sure about that, but I do agree that you WILL want to own this one and read it over and over again. I've been surprised at how many different people with different reading styles have absolutely loved this book. I would say that's what makes a book a classic - being able to reach across all kinds of cultural, educational and economic lines.You will not be disappointed!

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strong

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easy to get

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0141039280

"Help" is a perfect name for this book. As you read it you will realize why and it will blow you away. I agree with the readers that from the very beginning this book grabs you and does not let go. After I finished the story I re-read it to study the minute nuances because it is such a haunting tale. It is a story about relationships in the south at the beginning of the civil rights movement. Not just relationships between white women and their black help, but also about relationships between white women and their husbands, white women with each other, white women and their mothers from another generation, black women and each other, black women and the white children they raised and so much more. To only have seen the one relationship between white women vs the black help is to have missed out on many of the lessons taught within these pages.The plot of the story is about a young white woman, Miss Skeeter, who realizes that to fulfill her dream of becoming a writer, she must dig deeper within herself and write about what matters to her. She decides to write a book about the relationships between white women and their black female helpers as a way to better understand the love she felt for her own helper, Constantine who had abandoned her under mysterious circumstances. With clandestine meetings with her best friends' helpers she is able to interview a dozen other black women employed by white families and learns of stories both good and bad. I admire the author for not writing in graphic detail any sort of absolute acts of injustice or inhumanity such as rape and police brutality, which of course did frequently take place in those times. It is in the consistent subtle mistreatment which causes the most harm and it is also the small kind gestures that have the strongest ability to heal one's soul and shine the brightest.Regardless of whether or not you think the writing is bad, this is a story that needs to be told. To think about who the President of the United States is today emphasizes just how important this story is. The story reminds us of where we were and the kind of progress and transformation this nation has made that would've made the characters of this book paralyzed with shock. Some with joy and some with horror. Recognizing this progress gives even more hope to the leaps and bounds possible for our children's future. The accessibility of this story outweighs any criticism I have for the actual writing and character development. There were times that I found the book to be predictable as another reviewer mentioned, but that is where the importance lies, in the remembering and not in the discovery. After all, this is historical fiction. This book opens up a dialogue that many of us are no longer having but desperately need. The evidence of this point is illustrated by the number of those who gave it 1 star vs those who gave it 5.Needless to say, I highly recommend this book.

How is the book?

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outstanding

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intelligent

write

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This was a really tough book to get through. I only did because I thought the writing was outstanding. Tolz is a literary virtuoso. There are great positives in this book, from the overall originality of the novel; to the very moving and powerful climax; to an extraordinarily original and intricate plot; through Tolz's writing. But there are also aspects that irritate and almost made me give up halfway. These are:- the characters are impossible to like. This applies to Martin and Jasper Dean, both of whom are just too wierd and eccentric and self-important to care about. The review on the cover page comparing this novel to " A Confederacy of Dunces" does "Confederacy..." a disservice: Ignatius O Reilly is also wierd and eccentric and self important but he was comic and pathetic in a way that the Deans never manage to be. By the way, its not easy to like much any of the secondary characters either...- some plot twists are hard to handle, eg. Anouk's transformation from hippy into "one of the richest women in Australia";- while the book had a hugely entertaining first 100 or so pages and equally excellent final 100 pages, the middle was boring at times, irratating at others (where it seems Tolz wants to show he's read every book on philosophy ever written). The one exception here is the part involving bullying and suicides at Jasper's school, which is really really emotionally devastating - enough so to make one persist through the book in search of more of the same power (which does finally happen).3 stars therefore for exceptional power and excellent writing, versus some (rather lengthy) deeply irritating sections and unsympathetic characters. But I'm very curious to see what Tolz will come up with next

How is the write?

books

relevant

book

clear

point

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This book is relevant, but very depressing. Some of the situations are similar to current events and concerns - both national and world-wide. But life in the Orwellian future is lonely, depressing and frightening.

How is it point ?

books

much

hope

important

relationship

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Anyone who read George Orwell's classic 1984 when they were younger and didn't enjoy it, needs to give it another read. I understood its freightening warning much better when I read it as an older more mature person.I just saw a show on MSNBC the other night about real "Big Brother" technology that is in use today. Some cities in England are using stratigicly placed surveillance cameras that can actually automatically focus in on suspicious looking characters and run a picture of their face against a database of known criminals. Another example of "Big Brother" technology is electronic toll collection systems that allow the "authorities" to track your whereabouts.Certainly, doublespeak is often used in politics and to shape public opinion today. Bombing innocent civilians and causing widespread destruction is now the meaningless term "collateral damage". The "Defense Department" is more of an offensive international policing agency that is ready, willing, and able to wreak havoc on any country which is diagreeable to the United States. Nuclear missles are dubiously named "peacekeepers".IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH is America today. How many people in America actually educate themselves about the issues of the day and about the real nature of the politicians running for office? It's pretty obvious to anyone who has bothered to educate themselves that many politicians often don't practice what they preach. People are too quick to just accept sound bites as facts, and don't bother to educate themselves regarding the issues of the day.The only way we can prevent a totalitarian regime like George Orwell described in 1984 from becomming a reality is for every person to be vigilant about protecting their rights and the rights of others, and for people to constantly question things and educate themselves. Unfortantely, I don't have much hope that people will actually prevent George Orwell's nightmare vision from becoming a reality. We're closer than most people realize. 1984 is here!

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books

terrifying

book

lucid

write

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This book is incredible and terrifying, it is well-written and the topic is highly salient to our time. This is about more than communism, but about humanity. If you have read We, by Yvegeny Zamyatin, you really must read 1984. (I, for some reason, read them in that order) I would say that 1984 is the superior. Erich Fromm's afterword is worthwhile, additionally, it is quite short and readable.

How did you learn to write?

books

compelling

idea

simple

premise

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0141188936

It's amazing to see that, almost 45 years after its publication, "Atlas Shrugged" still has the power to invoke such violent extremes of response (just take a look at the posted reviews below to see what I mean). Rather than disappearing into obscurity, this book seems to be gaining more and more relevance as we move into the 21st century...the Microsoft trial could have sprung directly from its pages!To me, the most interesting thing about her works is not their message (although it's an extrememly powerful message); rather, it is the way she is able to make her readers examine their deeply-held beliefs. Love her or hate her, one thing remains universally true: Exposure to Ayn Rand's ideas will change the way you view the world. I've never met anyone who remeins completely unaffected by what she has to say.The real challenge in reading Ayn Rand is to form your own conclusions...her ideas are so compelling that it is easy for many to be swept along unquestioning by them, hence the charge that Objectivism is a "cult"...for some, it has been. For others, she can produce such violent revulsion that the result is knee-jerk opposition, without giving her ideas the serious consideration they deserve. Are you intellectually strong enough to read this book and form your own defensible conclusions? Get it and find out.No, this is not light reading. But I defy anyone to produce a book containing ideas of this weight, that are presented in a more entertaining manner than this one. Along with her other book "The Fountainhead", this book remains one of the most influential of our century (and its influence is stronger today than ever, as evidenced by the prominence of one of Rand's greatest supporters, Alan Greenspan). Read the book and make up your own mind, if you can!

What is the new premise?

books

unrealistic

plot

ridiculous

story

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I came across Atlas Shrugged here on Amazon while looking for something else entirely. I read some of the reviews. Many people loved this book, and some people absolutely hated it. There was a real conflict going on. The one star reviews sighted an overly lengthy tomb that was preachy and highly opinionated with poorly drawn and poorly developed characters, unrealistic dialogue and confusing descriptions. The 5 star reviews touted amazing characters, poetic descriptions and ground breaking philosophy. But, it was the comments to the 5 star and 1 star reviews that got me interested. I read a comment on a one star review that the commenter thought the one star review was unwarranted and the reviewer needed to read some in-depth analytical books addressing this book and its author's philosophies - then re-read and try the review again (and that the second time around couldn't possibly be a low rating). Well, any book that needs other books to explain it and make it understandable and worthwhile does not sound like a good book at all in my opinion. Other commenter on the 1 star reviews basically said that the reviewers (and anyone who would rate this book low) were a bunch of closed minded sheep that COULD not or WOULD not understand the monumental, brand new philosophy in this book. Well, when anyone says that the reason a book is not liked is because of stupidity, ignorance or willful disregard, it makes me wonder - about both the book and the commenter. On the other side, the comments on some of the 5 star reviews accused those reviewers of being brainwashed cult followers. Overall, I was interested enough to read the sample on my Kindle. I wanted to know what all the controversy was about. I was pretty underwhelmed, and I have to say, I agree more with the 1 star reviewers than the 5 star. It was not well written, it was unrealistic in many ways, not believable at all, and was way too long. I was not fired up in either way. I do not vehemently hate it, nor did I absolutely despise it. I was pretty unimpressed, both with the writing itself and the concepts therein.As I said, the book is not well written. Many of the reviewers did comment on this, and the response from those who loved the book were often that English was author's second language so cut her some slack. I do not agree that that is an acceptable reason nor is it even a good excuse. A good editor or even a proof reader, even a few willing friends, could have cleaned it up. There is no reason why a book should be published like this. A few examples follow. Verb tense. Often the verb tense was inappropriate, especially when switching between past memory to current time. At one point, a character was thinking about an oak tree from his child hood (in past tense) and then this sentence "He stood there for a while, making no sound, then he walked back to the house." Now, of course, after a moment of thought and a quick re-read, I figured out that he was still remembering a memory and not actually looking for a moment and walking back to the house NOW, but when there are multiple instances of verb tense mix ups throughout, it makes for a very confusing, jarring read. There are also many places were the wrong form of a verb or adjective is used, such as singular versus plural. An example: "It was as if normal existence were (should be was rather than were) a photograph." And "-not more than every fourth one of the stores was (should be were) out of business; its (should be their) windows dark." A proof reader or editor would have easily corrected this. Also, there were sudden point of view changes without indication or warning, one moment we are in one character's head, with their thoughts and feelings, and then we are suddenly in the head of another, then back again. Then, there is Rearden's name. He's referred to both as Hank and as Henry. Again, I figured it out, but there were a few pages where people were talking to "Henry" and I was thinking, did someone else walk in? I read back and forth, trying to find where it was explained that Hank was Henry, and couldn't find it. Earlier in the book, people would suddenly speak up that hadn't been initially described as being in the scene, so it wasn't unprecedented to have new characters show up without introduction.In addition, the sentence structure was rather cumbersome and confusing at times. Sentences are very long, repetitive and strung together with commas and semicolons. Example: "The notes flowed up, they spoke of rising and they were rising itself, they were the essence and form of upward motion, they seemed to embody every human act and thought that had ascent as its motive." Or "But from the sunset far at the end of the street, yellow glints caught his eyes, and the eyes looked straight at Eddie . . ." So, were the yellow glints at the end of the street and did the glints catch his attention? Because, if they did, how can he look at Eddie at the same time he's looking at the glints? Were they supposed to be caught IN his eyes? I think so. Or ". . . not an active fire, but a dying one which it is too late to stop." This sentence indicates that it's too late to stop the fire, which doesn't make sense because the fire is dying. But I think what it is actually trying to say is that it is the dying of the fire that is too late to stop. There were instances of this thoughout the book, and it made reading it difficult because I found myself re-reading and re-reading, before I got it. You can't just read through this book non-stop with images and experiences running through your head, because the words keep getting in the way.I don't know about all readers, but I would guess many of them would be thrown off balance and just plain confused by the writing of this book. I was. I had a writing teacher once who gave some of the best advice I've ever gotten, "You want readers to read your story not the words of your story. You want them to read without seeing the words. If they are seeing the words or worse, being confused and tripped up by them, then you have failed." That was certainly true for me reading this book. It was only a string of words without imagery that envoked no feeling.Onto the characters. I too found them to be unrealistic, contradictory, and poorly drawn. There were only a few types of people in this book, those portrayed as stupid, selfish (wanting things only for their own gratification) and charitable beyond any rational reason and those portrayed as cold, emotionless and selfish (wanting things only to feed their vision). I would agree with the other reviewers who said the dialogue was preachy, contrived and unrealistic. Example: "Of what importance is an individual in the titanic collective achievement of our industrial age?" or "little slum children", "it's purely non-commercial", and "selfish greed for profit is a thing of the past.", or this great big long, incongruous statement, "I'm not going to requisition a new typewriter. The new ones are made of tin. When the old ones go, that will be the end of typewriting. There was an accident in the subway this morning, their brakes wouldn't work. You ought to go home, Eddie, turn on the radio and listen to a good dance band. Forget it, boy. Trouble with you is you never had a hobby. Somebody stole the electric light bulbs from off the staircase, down where I live. I've got a pain in my chest. Couldn't get any cough drops this morning, the drugstore on our corner went bankrupt last week. The Texas-Western Railroad went bankrupt last month. They closed the Queensborough Bridge yesterday for temporary repairs. Oh well, what's the use? Who is John Galt?" Who says things like this? Nobody! People don't talk like that. They give speeches with that kind of language, maybe, but not talk to each other like that in everyday conversations.I found no new concepts in this book. The individual versus the whole, society versus industry, ect . . . Rand did not discover something new and reveal it in this book. Nor was her restated concepts portrayed in any realistic setting. The man who runs the train company is whining in response to urging to use a big, established, good quality supplier because the small company (low quality and long lead times that cost them months of time and money) should be given a chance. Or defending a failing venture in an undeveloped country because - shouldn't those countries have help and have modern facilities too? And he's telling his more efficient, hardworking and profit minded hardnosed co-owner sister that she doesn't understand or care about the human element . . . well, as far as business is concerned, of course she doesn't! And to portray any leader of a business as this man is silly. I work in a manufacturing field, and I can tell you, a vendor that provides high cost, low quality parts and is constantly blowing delivery dates is dropped. Same with business ventures, if something isn't making a profit, it goes. And what's this whole resistance to using the new type of metal? "but - but no ones used this new type of metal before . . ." Once again, businesses are always looking for the newest tech, the newest discoveries and inventions to make themselves bigger and better and give them an edge and make them money. This whole business set up in this book just seriously annoyed me. No business runs like that, it couldn't, and rendering one as such, even to make a point, just rang false for me. In the book, sentiment, affection, charity were portrayed as weak, negative emotions that none of the obviously strong, truly successful, hero characters had, even towards their families. The strong heros were condescending, arrogant and bitter.I did read the forward, which had some comments on Rand, as well as some explanations of her characters and the parts they played. Again, if I have to have things spelled out before hand and be TOLD (because it's apparently not clear enough in the book itself) what something ACTUALLY means (because my own ability to drawn my own conclusions must be faulty or my willful ignorance might make me ignore logic and reason) then I suspect there is something lacking in the book itself, either in the nuts and bolts of the writing or in the characters or plot. I found all that to be true in this instance. The actual structure of the writing was confusing and repetitive as well as contradictory, and both the characters and the plot were unrealistic, unrelatable, inhuman and also contradictory. Clarity, concise and realistic dialogue, sympathetic characters, believable plot/people/motivations/actions were all lacking. As a story, it is not something I want to read. As a philosophy, it was nothing new or groundbreaking, that I need to read, and certainly don't want to if its not well written.Quote from Rand: "I seem to be both a theoretical philosopher and a fiction writer. But it is the last that interests me most; the first is only a means to the last . . ." Well, this book is not evidence that supports this statement. It is the exact opposite, in my opinion. This fiction book was not a vehicle for her philosophy. Her philosophy was a vehicle for this book. That was evident to me in the preachy speeches of the characters and the unrealistic mold every scene was shoved into. She did not use her fiction to tell about a philosophy but rather used her philosophy to tell a story. Everything was drawn and built to fit that philosophy.Quote from Rand: ". . . creating a new, original abstraction and translating it through new, original means. This, as far as I know, is only ME - my kind of fiction writing . . . May God forgive me if this is mistaken as conceit. As near as I can now see it, it isn't . . ." Well, I saw nothing new or original in the philosophy and certainly nothing new in this book, and to think it is, to judge one's own work as such, sounds conceited to me. And, in reading Rand's other statements in the forward, she certainly left me with an impression she is an elitist, arrogant, condescending and bitter woman, just like the heroes she created. I will definitely not be paying the high Kindle price to read the rest of this book.This all makes me sad, in a way. There were moments and certain descriptions that were like breathtaking snatches of sunlight and left me thinking - wow, this woman could have been a great novelist. With a little editing, a little less soap box preaching, a grounding in realistic, believable settings and characters, she could have written a tremendous book. There is talent here, but its warped and lost in the extrusion through her narrow and bent mold.

How good is the story?

books

clear

point

deep

understanding

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0141188936

The main problem with Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged is that its central protagonists, the bold, brash "industrial titans" such as Hank Rearden and John Galt whom the book glorifies, are figments of Rand's imagination that did not really exist in American history (nor in the history of any other nation). Those who truly invent the things that move human civilization forward are usually quiet, reserved, maybe even a little shy, and they usually do not fare as well in a highly capitalistic, highly individualistic system such as the American system as they would in another system. Indeed, those from history whom capitalist boosters often claim as "industrial Atlases" would have gone nowhere without these sorts of people.Take, for instance, Steve Jobs and Dennis Ritchie. Both of them died within about a week of one another. Upon their deaths, Jobs was hailed by many as a multi-billionaire tech titan, whereas Ritchie was viewed as a nobody. However, the only true part of that view of the two men was that Jobs was a multi-billionaire whereas Ritchie wasn't. In reality, Ritchie, with his C language which Jobs' Apple empire depended upon, was the titan whose shoulders Jobs (and so many others) stood upon. And yet it was Jobs who collected the cash.An even better example is Edwin Drake and John D. Rockefeller. Everybody knows the latter as the famous oil tycoon, and almost nobody knows the former, but the former is who actually invented the modern process of oil drilling, and without whom Rockefeller's vast fortune (as well as those of other oil tycoons) would have been impossible. So it is clear that Drake (who was quiet, reserved, and did not fit well into capitalist society) was the true titan, whereas Rockefeller and his fellow oil tycoons were merely the businessmen who collected the resulting money.I could go on and on with more examples, but my point should be clear by now that Rand's contention that rich capitalist businessmen are to thank for the benefits of civilization is just nonsense.However, despite this major problem with the book, it cannot be denied that there is a certain core of truth to Atlas Shrugged in that there is a certain portion of the population in the Western world, which I would even venture to say constitutes a majority of said population, that simply fails to realize that the money tree has died and that the gravy train has run out. This includes of course lazy traditional welfare recipients, but also recipients of various forms of "middle-class welfare" (such as university professors in various non-fields such as "black studies", "queer studies", and "women's studies"), and corporate welfare recipients (such as Orrin Boyle in the book, and various firms such as AIG and GM, and various banks such as Citigroup, in real life). When the ongoing economic crisis began in 2008, all these people responded not by tightening their belts, not by having a serious discussion about solving the problem, but by demanding more bread and circuses than ever before, and by electing politicians to government who promised to deliver all of that. Then, in order to supply what these people had demanded, Western politicians borrowed more than ever before against government credit, leading directly to the next phase of the crisis: the government debt crisis. In places like Detroit and Greece, the government debt crisis has now started to "come to a head". The former has decided to declare bankruptcy, whereas the latter has decided to become a ward of the EU. What will be truly interesting is what happens when the "rescuers" of places like Detroit and Greece, governments such as the German, French, and U.S. governments, invariably run out of credit themselves. Who will rescue the "rescuers" at that point? The answer is no-one. There will be absolute chaos, far worse than what we have seen in Detroit and Greece so far, just as Rand predicted in her book.Although I have to penalize the book's final rating somewhat for Rand's foolish claim throughout it that we ought to thank capitalist businessmen for the conveniences of civilization, Rand's prophetic predictions of the current crisis of the West (as well as the reasons for it) compel me to give Atlas Shrugged 3 out of 5 stars.

How are the deep understanding?

books

available

book

better

other

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Ayn Rand is among the most popular writers in America and if she - the atheist apostle of selfishness - reflects the values of many Americans, then the country is in real trouble. Like so many others, when I was 17 I was enthralled with The Fountainhad. Wasn't this about being true to youself, integrity and courage? There were certainly a lot of moochers around who cut corners,sponged on others, broke the law when they could, and often prospered,like the heroes of Wall Street. What really woke me up was reading Rand's "For the New Intellectual." I decided to read it as carefully, rationally and critically as I could. To my surprise Rand was utimately basing all her arguments on axioms. In other words assumptions. There was no proof! It didn't take me long to withdraw from Rand's spell and to realize how heartless, unworkable and ruinous her philosophy was. The famous economist Joseph Schumpeter (who had views similar to Hayek, a hero of conservatives), once had Rand to dinner with several friends. After Rand spouted on economics for a while he said, "Shut up Ayn. You don't know what you are talking about." At the end of Rand's life there was almost no one in her good graces and she was suffering from depression and gobbling amphetamines. She insisted smoking was not injurous even though she had to have an operation for lung cancer, paid for by Medicare. Her lifelong husband, who had been a Hollywood extra when she met him and who never achieved anything, ended up as a semi-alcoholic who told a friend "I'd leave her if I could." So two stars and I only give it two stars becaue I admire a poor Jewish girl from St Petersburg coming to this country in her early-20s and making such a spectacular career $$$uccess. Ayn Rand is important because of the millions she has influenced, mostly idealistic young people. But if you fall under her spell, and want to be honest with yourself, you need to read at least one book critical of her ideas. There are books by Jeff Walker, Scott Ryan and Albert Ellis, whose book is available as a free download. There are also two new biographies of Rand that have no ax to grind. Rand has gotten a free ride from serious criticism for almost half a century. Big mistake, for she is one of the shapers of today's America. So if you want to read 1,100 plus pages of small print about people who do not know what the word love means, who think rape is the beginning of love and altruism is immoral, , a book filled with wooden characters, clunky dialogue, that does not take place in any real, human, workable society, but in la la land, this is the book.

How is agatha christie's other novels?

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unique

story

original

storyline

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I had seen a few advance reviews for "Beautiful Creatures" by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl, all of which raved about the novel, so I went into it with pretty high expectations. On top of that, it's one of the few books ever to be selected as a "Heather's Pick" at Chapters/Indigo (Canadian Barnes & Noble basically). This discovery, again, amped up my hopes. And I was not disappointed!The main character of "Beautiful Creatures" is Ethan Wate - 16-year-old basketball stud from Gatlin, a town in the deep South. A year before the novel begins, Ethan's mother passes away and since then, his life has changed immensely. His father writes all night and sleeps all day, so Ethan sees him about once a week, which leaves Amma, their housekeeper, to care for him. Along with the changes in his home life, Ethan has begun to have strange dreams, ones with a mysterious girl in the rain and when he wakes up, he is usually soaking wet, his hands caked with mud.Then one day, the girl from his dreams shows up at school. Her name is Lena Duchannes and she is the niece of Macon Ravenwood, the town shut-in, automatically making her a social outcast. However, despite the best efforts of Ethan and his popular friends, he cannot deny that he is drawn to her. Eventually, Ethan gives in and when he does, he and Lena begin a magical journey that he could have never predicted. I don't want to give too much of the plot away since the suspense about what is happening is one of the best parts! However, I will say that you won't expect the "supernatural" twist in this novel.Despite the fact that the main characters are even younger than my youngest sibling, I still really enjoyed and connected to the story. The characters don't seem 16, which makes this way easier for 20-somethings to read. "Beautiful Creatures" is also very well-written - just enough description to give you a good idea of the setting and lush, Southern atmosphere. There is nothing that I hate more than over description in a book (you know - a whole page describing a blade of grass). There is none of that here. Actually, I think one of the reasons that I like teen books in general is that they tend to stay away from tons of adjectives and just get to the grit of the story.Another problem I've had with supernatural teen fiction lately has been the "Twilight"-syndrome. There are SO many books out there that have taken the basic bones of the Twilight novel and then slotted in another supernatural being (werewolves, angels, etc). I HATE THAT! "Beautiful Creatures" DOES NOT do that, thankfully. It has a unique story, which, unfortunately, is a rarity in teen fiction these days.I'm going to recommend "Beautiful Creatures" by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl to any fan of teen fiction or supernatural fiction, OR people who are fans of a combination of the two, such as Twilight, Shiver, etc. The unique story and supernatural suspense will keep anyone interested and reading away hours at a time. Enjoy!

How is the storyline?

books

nice

style

lively

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I have really enjoyed this book. It hooked me in from the beginning and I can't wait to read the next in the series. Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl have a nice easy style of writing so it makes a lovely story, yet its full of imagination. There are many loose ends which I'm assuming will be continued in the next installments of the series.

What do you think about the write?

books

strong

story

strong

story line

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3.5 stars.So what hasn't been said about Beautiful Creatures? It's a pretty popular book, and one that I've been wanting to read for awhile now. I really like the writing style, the flow, and the beautiful, lush descriptions of the South. I think the story is strong and equally as compelling. The characters are fierce and unique. It gets compared to Twilight and True Blood, and I can see why some people would say that.Something I didn't like about the story, though, is the mention of 'slutty' clothing and how that immediately correlates to those girls getting pregnant later on. I did a major eye roll in those mentioned parts. Actually, when I was younger, I used to wear shorty shorts and tank tops and I was still a virgin. So this connection between clothing and sexuality is bizarre and outdated to me. (There's nothing wrong with being sexually active. I'll keep repeating this message every time I see it pop up in a book.)Also, the ending felt a little forced to me, like there were so many things going on in a limited amount of time. Besides these two things, I really enjoyed the novel and will definitely check out the movie coming out next month, as well as the rest of the series.

What is the story line?

books

great

relationship

perfect

balance

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I wasn't immediately sucked in to this story. It took me awhile to get a grasp on the main character, Ethan. The story also throws alot at you in the beginning, and I was trying to sort it all out. But once I got a feel for this world, I was dragged in. There were so many great Characters in this story. The Character development was spot on.This story is told in Ethan's point of view. Once I did get a good idea of who Ethan is, his point of view became one of my favorite parts. So many books in the YA world, especially in the supernatural romance genre, are told in a girl's point of view. The change was refreshing. Ethan is a good kid with a good head on his shoulders. While he is part of the "popular crowd", he is different than the rest of the popular kids in town. He thrives for more than what his small town can give him.Ethan's family was interesting to read about. Ethan's caretaker, Amma, was a cool chick. She is a very superstitious older lady that has many secrets hidden behind her fried chicken and lemon meringue pie. Ethan's dad was a shut in that hasn't gotten over the loss of his wife. I felt bad for Ethan. It was almost as if he lost both parents. I was glad he had Amma. Ethan's three great Aunts were hysterical, crazy old ladies that often had me cracking up.I loved Lena. Even though she wants to fit in and have friends at school, she can't pretend to be something she is not. She likes answering teachers questions and likes her assigned reading. If the world was right, girls like her would be the popular ones. I love how she has her own style. Lena carries alot of weight on her shoulders for a fifteen year old girl. She doesn't fully understand her powers yet and is terrified of what might happen when she turns sixteen. Lena lives with her uncle Macon in the very old family house(was house was totally awesome by the way). Even though I didn't know whether Macon was good or not in the beginning, I liked him right away for his dry sense of humor.The relationship between Ethan and Lena was great. They were so sweet together. Even though they have such a strong pull together with all the supernatural things happening to them (Trying not to give spoilers), the romance was gradual. I loved how the roles were switched from the norm in this story. Instead of the supernatural boy moving into a new town and meet mortal girl, you have exactly the opposite.This book reminded me of what it's like in a small town. You really got a good painting for what this town looks like. I could picture it in my head so easily. There were a few parts I had a hard time reading because of some of the small minded town's people. There was more than once that I wanted Lena to go full out Carrie on some of them. So much happened in the ending. It was completely epic, impossible to stop reading. I was left with alot of questions that I am dying to find out.I loved this story so much and I really wanted to give it a whole five stars. But I couldn't for one reason. The age of the highschool kids bothered me. These kids are supposed to be fifteen and sixteen, yet they are the school's popular crowd. They are the head cheerleaders and lead basketball players. It was almost like the older grades didn't exist. I could have fallen for it if this was a large school. But I know in small towns with small schools, the different grades are more mixed.But in the end I really loved this original story. It had romance, magic, suspense, everything I want in a story. Both authors truly showed their talent in this fantastic debut. I will definitely be getting the sequel the day it comes out.4.5 stars!

Does this have a good balance of enjoyment?

books

different

character

much well

story

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0141326085

The characters were different. There was a bit of mystery, a bit of the supernatural, a bit of magic. The ending leaves you wanting more and leaves the story open for another book.

How was the story?

books

complicated

thing

about to change

life

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Emaline is very happy with her life. She works at her grandmother's beach resort and has a steady boyfriend, Luke, who is described as "hot" without a shirt. Her job involves making sure everyone has a comfortable stay and she has made no plans for the future, not because she fears anything but just seems to take life as it rolls by day after day. But that's about to change quite a bit - life is change at certain stages whether one wants it or not, and the essence of this story is how one embraces, fights, or flies from it.When Emaline is taking a VIP package of wine and fruit to one of the more luxurious resort areas, she meets a summer intern named Theo, who is working with a snooty director on a documentary film about a famous painter who lives like a regular guy and really doesn't want the hype. Add to the mixture that Emaline's absent father all of a sudden shows up exhibiting interest in his daughter's education and college application process. At first she is cautious, then enthused, and later shocked by his on again, off again presence. She and Luke start to fight, have some misunderstandings, a betrayal and then a break-up. But as upset as she is initially, she begins to realize the future may not have as many predictable scenarios as she had hoped.Forced to turn down a Columbia University acceptance, she decides to go to a local college but she's not so sure that Luke will be part of that future picture. Maybe she should change her plans totally. But things get complicated when a relationship with Theo starts to grow and her father moves into the area, bringing her half-brother Benji along, who comes to worship the ground Emaline walks on. Mom and Grandma are not so sure about all these changes!This is a tough, tender novel full of shifts in points of view about certain people. The characters are presented with all their best assets and toughest, weakest flaws. Unlike other books where characters paint black and white caricatures, Emaline learns to deal with whatever comes moment to moment. Love is a changing phenomena as well and passion is something to follow with all of one's being! Readers will love this very real, smart and sassy character and the story threading and weaving its way around her town of Colby, a place built on sand that is far more solid than one could dream! Very nicely done, Sarah Dessen! More please!

What about life ?

books

strange

character

strange

story

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There are so many things that can be said about this book. It's funny, ridiculous, weird, confusing, and VERY much on drugs. I'm sorry... Did you just ask me to eat a mushroom? The many drug references, however, are extremely amusing, and add to the story very much.Alice is asleep and dreaming up a crazy world. The characters she meets are all eccentric, strange, and frightfully funny. Whether we're thinking of the Mad Hatter, the rabbit, or the Queen of Hearts herself, this book is truly a child's happy adventures through a completely ridiculous fictional land (unless you are firm in your belief that this book is completely about drugs, but even then it's still funny and ridiculous).Even though this book is known as a children's book, it is hilarious to all who read it. Enjoy! I just hope you remember to breathe while gasping with laughter.

How do you like the story?

books

genuine

love

real

write

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The three words that best describe this book are short, sweet, and beautiful. If I Stay takes place in Oregon, where a dusting of snow can close schools and cause car crashes--which is exactly what happens within the first twenty pages of the book. Mia's--the main character's--body is gravely injured, and she finds herself detached from it. Mia watches as her body is loaded into the ambulance. She sees herself in the hospital bed and watches her family and friends visit her and wonder if she will live.At one point, Mia hears one of the nurses speak to her grandparents:"You might think that the doctors or nurses or all this is running theshow," she [the nurse] says, gesturing at the wall of medical equipment."Nuh-uh. She's running the show ..."Shortly after, Mia realizes that the nurse is right: She decides whether she stays or goes, lives or dies. If I Stay follows Mia through her memories and thoughts as she makes this difficult decision.I really enjoyed If I Stay. It's gentle, quiet, and even funny. The prose is clean and descriptive, and I had no problem suspending my disbelief as I watched Mia wander around outside her body; If I Stay is a wonderful balance of reality and magical realism.Mia is a dedicated cellist, her father used to be in a band, and her boyfriend, Adam, is a guitarist in an up-and-coming band. Music and the love of it permeate the novel. Moreover, the cast of characters, from the major to the minor, is fantastic, real, and vivid. Their relationships with one another are fully drawn; Mia's relationship with her family is warm and loving, and the love between Mia and Adam is genuine. I'm also a big fan of Mia's best friend, Kim. Some of my favorite scenes, however, involved Mia's parents, and If I Stay is as much about them as it is about her as they change their lives for their kids.If I Stay has its PG-13 moments as far as Mia and Adam are concerned, but these are handled with class: there are no overly descriptive scenes of love. Any crude language is used realistically, and there is no swearing for the sake of swearing. Mia is not terribly religious, and her musings are handled with grace.While lacking in constant suspense and occasionally slow-moving, If I Stay is worth the short time it takes to read this slim book. Although I didn't always feel an intense emotional connection with Mia, tears stung my eyes on more than one occasion. My recommendation? Take the journey with Mia as she grapples with love of music and Adam, family and friends; life and death and all the philosophical questions in between. You won't be sorry you did.

How does the author of the book write?

books

sharp

dialogue

fun

write

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Words cannot explain my crazy love for Anna and the French Kiss. The story is simple: girl gets shipped off to boarding school in France, makes new friend, meets a hot guy, and falls in lust with him. But there is so much more to it. The characters become real in the course of the 372 pages, as does the incredible Paris setting. I've never been to Paris myself, but after reading this, it's as if I've seen the sights, smelled the city, and tasted the food. Stephanie Perkins brings that much life to Anna's Paris.And to Anna as well. This is one girl I could not only relate to, but who I wholeheartedly loved. I adore Anna. She's funny, insecure, hilarious, flawed, angry, happy, sad, hormonal (obviously, as I list her emotions here...), and a teen girl. She's a character that could easily be any girl I pass on the street. Oh, and I love her. I love Étienne St. Clair too, because I couldn't leave him out. He's as realistic as Anna, with is insecurities, his sweet gestures, and stupid actions. And his British accent and all-around gorgeousness. That's the reason that Anna and the French Kiss is so easy to enjoy (not the gorgeousness, but a plus!); it's the characters. The characters, both big and small - no offense to the short Étienne - are developed so thoroughly that they all leap off the page.The relationships between Anna and Étienne, between Étienne and Josh, between Anna and Meredith (I could go on, but I'll stop) all evolve throughout the book. Perkins' witty humor comes out on every page and the dialogue is sharp and quick. The book is cute, I can't lie about that, but it's not 'ooey-gooey, poke-out-your-eyeballs' cute. This is `melt into a puddle, I-want-to-live-in-you-forever,' kind of cute. It's a love story that doesn't just focus on the love. There's tension between Anna and Étienne - and it's some yummy tension - but they start as friends and build from there. Not only that, but the two of them have issues outside of their little `I like you, do you like me?' bubble.Anna and the French Kiss is impossible to dislike, unless you are soulless and possibly a kitty murderer. It's sweet and real and fantastically written, with a cast of characters that you'll want to meet, know, and be BFFs with. I smiled a lot while reading it; one of those cheesy grins of pure joy. I read it one sitting because I couldn't put it down, even though I wanted to. Much like a meal in Paris, Anna and the French Kiss is a book to be savored, but is still so easily devoured. As I read the last line, I let out a sigh of pure bliss. A sigh!? That alone should make you pick this book up. Right now. What are you waiting for? GO.

How was the write?

books

interesting

friend

sharp

dialogue

b01f8ece4979b323db7dc6ffa6190def

ccbb9f26900cfd6bda2b8a55d9e39d28

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As a francophile, I was automatically attracted to the cover and the title of the book. However, I had resisted picking it up or even reading the sample I finally downloaded onto my Kindle because both the book cover and the title left me with the impression that this would be a fluffy read with Paris as the back-drop. Boy, was I wrong. After reading the sample, it was clear that the main character (Anna) was not only hilarious, but also had an intelligent and strong voice that rings true for someone who is 17. Although you knew who the main love interest would be, Etienne St. Clair, it was clear that there were some real challenges that the characters needed to work through. And, I also enjoyed the fact that they had a basis for a romance through their friendship that seemed to naturally evolve throughout the book. I also liked that the friends that Anna surrounds herself with are interesting and not just one-dimensional.I won't summarize the book given the other reviews provided, but I will say that how the author builds this relationship makes the ending so much more rewarding. And, of course, being a francophile who was reading this while I was in Paris just made me love the city even more. If I get a chance to go back, I might just have to (re-)visit some of the places mentioned in the book!

What is the dialogue of the mantel about?

books

able to see

reader

satisfied

reader

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976f37957a5f0f509f3e33a46e2ecfe2

0142419400

Anna and the French Kiss is nothing short of amazing. Honestly, I was a little afraid to read it because nearly everyone has loved it. I am not usually one for the sugary sweet teen romance books and I was afraid that's what Anna would be.While there were definitely those cutesy moments, they were never unrealistic. A lot of teen rom-com books place so much stock in the "romance" portion of the book that the characters suffer. What I loved about this book is that the characters stood for themselves. Anna is incredibly well-rounded and extremely easy to relate to. I saw so much of myself in her character and I think a lot of girls will see themselves in her too. She is in a word - real. Anna is insecure and overwhelmed by the sprawling city of Paris. She doesn't speak French, so she refuses to order anything complicated at meal time. She is intimidated by her classmates and she feels like she doesn't belong. She also has so many quirky little traits that really bring her to life. She wants to be a film critic and has a huge passion for old movies. She is a little goofy and is an extremely caring person. which is what really gets her into trouble.Almost immediately after Anna arrives in Paris she falls for one of her new friends, St. Clair. I mean, who wouldn't? Perkins went all out with this heartthrob. Our heroine never stood a chance. He's devastatingly handsome and excruciatingly charming. Oh and did I mention he has a British accent? He's also quirky and caring and extremely down-to-earth. I just have one question... where can I find one?Anyways, unfortunately for Anna, St. Clair is taken. Because she is a good Southern girl, Anna decides the best plan of action is to hide her feelings for him. As the book and their friendship progress , Anna does a lot of maturing. I love when we see characters grow up throughout the story and Anna really comes into her own. She isn't perfect by any means - she makes plenty of mistakes along the way. But that's what makes her so relatable, you cannot help but cheer her on as the story unfolds.The plot line reminded me a lot of those old romantic comedies where the characters are always misunderstanding one another. I am assuming this was done on purpose, since Anna is obsessed with those old movies. Much like the romantic comedies, it's almost painful for the reader because it is obvious how perfect Anna and St. Clair are for one another.Like I said before, there are a number of "cutesy" moments peppered throughout the novel. Please don't be put off by this, because they are done so well. Perkins has such a talent for understated charm - all of the Anna/ St. Clair moments are almost downplayed. It's not a book full of hot make out scenes and tons of heat; it takes much more of a realistic approach. Because of this the reader is able to see how well the characters actually mesh together. Their relationship is an actual relationship - they have discussions, they tease one another and they take care of one another.Anna and the French Kiss was a remarkable debut. Perkins' set the bar so high with this one - I can only hope that her next book is half as good. Anna's story is honest, heartwarming and endearing. She is easy to relate to and St. Clair is the perfect match for her. if you haven't read this book yet, you NEED to. No excuses , go find a copy right now. I don't care if you have to beg, borrow or steal it from someone (well, don't steal) but you simply must read it!

How do you think the reader felt?

books

great

world building

unique

world

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(spoilers)Another solid entry into the "dystopian series aimed at youth" field.I thought the world building was great. It was interesting how things seemed alright but eventually got creepier, as opposed to dystopian fiction that makes the evil obvious from the outset.I thought their genetic engineering was good enough to consistently lead to death at 80. A lot of dystopian fiction includes obvious (to the reader) euthanasia. I was surprised by the 'poison' spoiler, but it make sense considering the general "worse than it seems" theme.It's interesting how she didn't get really get into the rebellion stage of the story but still set it up clearly.

How was the world created?

books

more complicated

life

big

part

1f2ac6cb60e1880eba453f60d99b19d8

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189deaa6d54358c90682487b2d827bd0

0142422010

Lola is quirky, colorful, and the type of girl who wears what she loves, no matter everyone else's opinions of her elaborate and amazing costumes. Lola's also the kind of girl who accidentally voices her feelings out loud when she's upset, and acts younger than her age because that's the easy way out of life's pesky problems. When a family from Lola's past moves back in next door, Lola's love life (and life, in general) becomes a bit more complicated. While Lola is noAnna, she is incredibly endearing in the way that you remember your high school days and all the silly decisions you and your friends made when it came to love, life, and everything else. LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR is sweet, sad, humorous, and so much more than you might expect at first glance.HIGHLIGHTS: Cricket. So sweet, and I loved seeing his personality shine through the awkward moments. Family is at the heart of Lola and the Boy Next Door, and it's great to have a protagonist's parents take an active interest in their child's life (Lola's dads, Andy and Nathan, were amazing characters). Overall, Perkins excelled in creating an authentic bunch of characters with their own unique quirks.LOWLIGHTS: Lola could be a little too immature. I wanted to shake some sense into her whenever she was being an idiot. Honestly, I think I would have enjoyed this more back when I was in high school - I might have found Lola a bit more tolerable. This book was good, but Perkins' debut novel was much better.NOTE: Anna & St. Clair fromANNA AND THE FRENCH KISSmake multiple appearances in this story, and are just as awesome as ever.

Which part do you prefer?

books

more complicated

life

big

role

5c1a11cfc889f9d19c4124554f3364da

baac3ca647d9ea890c935999c8918d00

0346889afeb5219f9c8bba9a3bde5e5b

0142422010

Lola is quirky, colorful, and the type of girl who wears what she loves, no matter everyone else's opinions of her elaborate and amazing costumes. Lola's also the kind of girl who accidentally voices her feelings out loud when she's upset, and acts younger than her age because that's the easy way out of life's pesky problems. When a family from Lola's past moves back in next door, Lola's love life (and life, in general) becomes a bit more complicated. While Lola is noAnna, she is incredibly endearing in the way that you remember your high school days and all the silly decisions you and your friends made when it came to love, life, and everything else. LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR is sweet, sad, humorous, and so much more than you might expect at first glance.HIGHLIGHTS: Cricket. So sweet, and I loved seeing his personality shine through the awkward moments. Family is at the heart of Lola and the Boy Next Door, and it's great to have a protagonist's parents take an active interest in their child's life (Lola's dads, Andy and Nathan, were amazing characters). Overall, Perkins excelled in creating an authentic bunch of characters with their own unique quirks.LOWLIGHTS: Lola could be a little too immature. I wanted to shake some sense into her whenever she was being an idiot. Honestly, I think I would have enjoyed this more back when I was in high school - I might have found Lola a bit more tolerable. This book was good, but Perkins' debut novel was much better.NOTE: Anna & St. Clair fromANNA AND THE FRENCH KISSmake multiple appearances in this story, and are just as awesome as ever.

Is it role ?

books

real

dialogue

realistic

relationship

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2b11cda4515e7119a4631cf56d5059fd

0142422010

I didn't think it was possible, but Stephanie Perkins managed to make me love Lola and the Boy Next Door even more than Anna and the French Kiss. Another home run for the Queen of Contemporary Young Adult Romances.Lola was not your average girl. She saw every day as a chance to reinvent herself, with wigs and costumes; she marched to her own drummer and if you didn't like it, tough noogies. She lived with her too-good-to-be-true dads and dated an older "bad boy." Everything was going pretty dandy for Lola until her old neighbors moved back into the house next door.I loved Lola's dads - they let her just be herself and were there when she needed them. They were kind (to each other and to her) and thoughtful and just quirky enough. Her boyfriend, Max, was a few years older, and this was mentioned several times, in an effort to make their relationship almost... naughty. I didn't think the age difference was that big a deal.The neighbors, the Bells, included twins Calliope and Cricket. Calliope was a talented figure skater whose family had moved back to town to advance her career. She was spoiled and selfish, and not a likable character at all. Cricket, well he's one of my favorite book boyfriends ever. He was sweet and nerdy and made of pure awesome.Most of the novel was spent building up the horrible thing that Cricket did to Lola before the Bells moved away, and once we found out what he did, it was a huge letdown. Honestly, it was no big deal at all, and I thought she overreacted quite a bit. The dialogue was fun and real; Lola really had a tendency to say what she was thinking, which led to some amusing situations.The setting of the novel was so well described, I felt like I was right there in San Francisco with the characters. Everything was so lush and descriptive, I loved it. For fans of Anna and the French Kiss, we are treated to a few scenes with Anna and Etienne in Lola. They are just as in love, and Anna provides a sounding board when Lola needs someone to talk out her issues.There were a few clichés, and some predictable bits, but they were few and far between. The quirky and fun nature of the book more than made up for those few drawbacks.

How is the relationship?

books

intelligent

book

sick

people

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I must say how surprised I am right off the bat. Those who tell you not to judge a book by it's cover are completely wrong here. The beautiful but simplistic and rugged art work are the visual story behind Legend. The story makes sense. Yeah, all stories should make sense and for the most part most that I have read do but this story deserves special praise in that department. Cliff hangers are great, leaving mysterious little sub plots is interesting, not giving total explanations can be intriguing but most authors screw it up.Most authors, especially dystopian authors, leave too many little holes and if you step back for a second and look at all of the unknowns, even good books look like Swiss cheese sometimes. Legend doesn't fall for that old trick. There are at least five subplots that could be exemplified but as the end draws near, most of them are sealed off. Just enough questions are left to leave you wanting the sequel.This is the best ten dollars that I have spent in a long time. The book is exciting, gripping, and intelligent. I will buy the sequel ASAP and I would suggest that you follow in my footsteps.

What is the health status of people?

books

excellent

research

thorough

research

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Ken Follett is a master story teller and again I could not put the book down. Highly recommended read as he has a knack of bringing you into each family without being confused. His research is excellent.

What is the research?

books

own

personality

more complicated

thing

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For some reason, seeing this book on amazon didn't appeal to me for the longest time. I read the description, but the book cover I think was stopping me from reading it. I know, I know, never judge a book by the cover. But the male and female faces about to kiss made me think of a young adult romance and I just didn't want to read that. But, this book isn't that at all.It is very much a murder mystery sort of book with a twist. And there are a lot of twists in this book. I thought it was very creative and different from other books. The closest series I can think this book come close to is Inside Out.The book starts out with Amy and her family getting cryogenically frozen and put in morgue like boxes on a spaceship that will be traveling 300 years to get to a new planet similar to Earth. But then Amy, for some reason, is awoken 50 years to early. She finds herself stuck on the spaceship with people very different than she is used to and one of them is a murderer.The main characters are very different, and each one has their own personalities and traits. You really get to feel for the characters in the novel and they are not one dimensional at all. The dystopian is like one I haven't ever read before either, it is very new and refreshing.The ending ends without a cliff hanger and a lot of loose ends at the beginning of the book are mostly tied up. There is a second book and a third coming out next year.

How things are like?

books

fine

write

fill

story

6cec2c820a3a1d6e903d44bf7ba12231

66ad4989abe1652e217ae6e1827a2849

c04b96cb7ffd993854e610da9abade16

0142429112

Um...I can't say I'm sorry to have read it, but I also can't say I enjoyed it all that much either. I know this one was really popular, so I was probably just a poor match for the book. But I didn't care for it.There were a lot of things included that did nothing to move the story along. For example, the main characters rowed, ran, did yoga, rode horses, played chess, billiards and scrabble, ate elaborate dinners, had tea/coffee and tasted expensive wines. On their own none of these would be problematic. But each was described in minute detail, often more than once. So all together it really slowed the plot down.There was a lot of talking about things, but very little doing. Seriously, the characters discussed everything, told each-other every little secret of their species and confided their secrets with ease. But they actually did very little...unless you count the jaunty horse rides and agonisingly well thought out dinners. Then in the end they established some elaborate plan that never materialised. Nope, it's apparently the next book. Um, yeah, how unsatisfying is that? Other than the bad guys, no one seemed to actually have any volition of their own. They responded to immediate threats and then settled right back into the humdrum again.I also wasn't particularly fond of Diana or Matthew. Diana was supposed to be this strong-willed, self-aware, successful woman. But she just flailed around hopelessly, fainted regularly, took orders and, starting about halfway through the book, seemed to be put to bed about a hundred times. Sometimes it felt like she never even made it out of bed before being manhandled back into it 'for her own good'. This left her feeling very child-like to me.Similarly, Matthew was supposed to be the big alpha dog vampire but he just seemed shy and awkward around Diane, got beat up more when he attempted to protect her and did yoga. There's nothing wrong with yoga of course, but it does kind of run counter to the big bad vampire persona he was supposed to have. All-in-all did didn't come across as the man he was described as being.Lastly, the romance seemed to come out of nowhere. It wasn't quite insta-love, but it wasn't far off. Even worse, once it settled in Diane and Matthew were saccharine sweet. Their dedication to one another was admirable, but I can only take so many heartfelt declarations of adoration and I generally like to know what such passion is based on. The whole latter 1/3 of the book just seemed to be one impassioned 'I love you' after another. The words might change for varieties sake, but the intent never did.I did enjoy the underlying themes of acceptance and self actualisation. I thought the writing itself was fine and some of the side characters (Marcus and Hamish especially) were fun. I'm not claiming it isn't a good book. I just didn't enjoy it personally.

Why not fill the story of your life?

books

inspire

book

personal

story

d62258227d6d14da60f443e1adc3bf3c

50a52b29a90b93ad64449b67e695d5d2

e471f9da2e3ea69fa95f9987252030ae

0143038419

The author who's just been through a messay divorce, embarks on her spiritual, international journey in search of...she's not sure. She just knows she wants to move, to be somewhere else.I had heard that the book was inspiring, which was true. I was unprepared for the fact it was also pretty funny. The author is able to turn a phrase, and I'd put her among the ranks of the funniest female writers, almost approaching Nora Rphron or a Fran Lebowitz.I do feel the criticisms that the author comes across as self serving are true. I wish the author had turned less of the focus on herself. Nevertheless, if you enjoy free form essay writing, basically a forgotten art, check this book out.Another excellent book of humorous essays is Race You To The Fountain of Youth, which had me rolling on the floor.Race You to the Fountain of Youth: I'm Not Dead Yet (But parts of me are going fast)"Eat, Pray, Love" is truly an interesting collection of essays and was fresh and different.

How is it the story?

books

concise

write

lucid

write

fbc9b62e1fd4e731c67bba7de88bc4ff

61651a6de98448c5a266eaf038ac9af7

d9b4d15efd002f77be20b8a8bc056bfa

0143112708

I worked in commercial power for several years and until I read this book I still didn't know how electricity got from the power plant to the outlet in my shop to power my drill. Or why water actually comes out of the tap when I turn on the sink faucet. It's these myriads of questions that we take for granted that this book answers. Imagine these questions in reference to a city - New York City - and you've got a fascinating book..The book covers every phase of public works including transit, power, communications, and clean-up. While the focus is on massive public works it's not just a book about technology but it personalizes the people who do all these jobs such as the engineers who climb the antennas on the Empire State Building for maintenance. The graphics are excellent and are a real aid in understanding how the systems work. The writing is clear and concise and very readable. After reading the book I have a new respect for the people who keep this largely invisible infrastructure running. Good reading.

Can I write you a letter?

books

precise

write

concise

write

4f63b98c46ed62f714838a216c90fcac

109e98880b6609f77e0e849279f3de08

84037c76616272e08d83b785e1af37a7

0143116177

Mr. Ferguson has undertaken to tackle some pretty weighty subjects and yet made them thoroughly interesting and easy to understand. He is a joy to read as his writing is clear, precise and informative - all at same time. I recommend him to one and all!

How is the write on the book ?

books

likeable

none

likable

none

96da200da06550f5cb495c1b1dad5d1c

04617a1a650fdc90464e1e396a20ad7e

c394408af76512690dfde2edde328165

0143123238

While I enjoyed the plot of this book, it did kind of drag in places. None of the characters were very likeable.

What dou yu see about none?

books

terrific

book

exceptional

book

baadb165c5a196140e89774d367ad6c9

181a59f5c7b04004931717105ab0b912

19aea496ba554a1064862ddeaf8b1df2

0143124544

Just get this book and read it - it is wonderful on all cylinders. Everything good you have ever read about this is true. I am not a raver if popular books but this book is terrific. I only wish that I had read it when it first came out.

How is the quality of the book?

books

interesting

description

interesting

detail

92990a16b27dea09cc3c6369e9172b6e

572394434465344eca94a179b5e89c30

8d63e672345395150e8e3cf22ad52978

0143142372

This book is very good at the beginning, and I couldn't put it down when I first started reading it. The descriptions of medieval life and mystery at the beginning are very interesting. Here are the problems that caused me to give this book two stars instead of the four it could have easily gotten:This is a very long book, and I get the feeling that the author had to come up with filler to meet some length goal he had. There is a lot of redundancy in the book, where he explains technical details about things like masonry repeatedly. Also, there seem to be random, graphic sex scenes which become more and more frequent in the latter half of the book. Most of them added nothing to the plot, and I'm not sure if they were simply filler, a marketing ploy, or a result of the author just wanting to write about sex. I couldn't finish the book because the last hundred or two pages got too boring and started to resemble a harlequin soft-core porn novel. It's as if he ran out of fresh ideas when the book neared completion and started to substitute real content with sex scenes.There are also some problems with the characters. The main character at the beginning, for instance; the author makes it very clear that this man is deeply in love with his wife, and when she dies, he's crushed-- but then has sex with a woman he just met less than 24 hours after burying his wife. It doesn't make sense when you drastically change a character's values like that, and again, it seems as though the author was overeager to write about sex. It's a trend I've noticed in a lot of books these days. Also (and you'll see what I mean if you read the book), some of the other characters are introduced as truly good people, and then do some truly reprehensible things and have no regrets about it. It doesn't make sense. There's no consistency to most of the characters in this book. In fact, my favorite characters were the villains, because I could at least count on them to be consistently villainous, whereas I never knew what the "good" characters were going to do next.Two out of five. Not worth your money.

How is the detail?

books

detail

description

important

detail

30360e6898dcb9aa996aa04fa41d7edb

aa71131ef56871f599746a48ff7f5fd8

602450050302fdd3de50fb9af97763a7

0143145010

... I'm not specifically an anti-nuke person, I believe that they were the only way in the cold war of avoiding an unaffordable conventional arms race - but you can't match a totalitarian regime like the soviets were in conventional arms without shifting to a total-war economy, so the first-strike principle made sense. But wow - to read the number of accidents that have happened, and the number of times we've got away by sheer chance from having these weapons detonate on our own territory or on that of friendly nations is frightening. And that's with the resources of a first world country, let alone what would happen in some of the third world places that have them. This stuff is really scary, and the lies and cover ups from our own military are absolutely disgraceful, particularly when it came to civilian-environmental contamination, as well as the way they treated people who helped out in the main Damascus incident. Everyone should be aware of the downsides and dangers of even routine handling of these things, especially the nations that see their possession as ways to get seats at "The big boys table" when it comes to international negotiations. The technical descriptions are well detailed, along with the political and historical decisions taken at different times and why. I heard about this book on NPR and thoroughly enjoyed it. I still think on the balance it's useful to have a few of them around, but under much more careful supervision than our armed forces have displayed in the past.

Does this have a lot of important details?

books

trite

story

awkward

write

e59d531f177f665e25a326ef5de22ec8

be891193bc349449cc07f7fc75e06f4a

3508947e384d8a283959c89ec843368b

0143170090

Okay, okay, so I tend to be one of those people who doesn't read the hot, bestselling "must-read" books until everyone else on the planet has, but sometimes there's a good reason for that--and this book is a prime example of that. After finishing this book, I can only shake my head in amazement at its popularity.There's no reason to get into a "loved it/hated it" war with fans of the book. Instead, I'd like to give an honest blow-by-blow description for those who haven't read the book yet but are considering it. The book begins with about 100 pages devoted to intrigue in the world of Swedish financial publications...zzz...huh? What? Oh, I'm sorry. I fell asleep just typing that sentence, so imagine how bored I was while slogging through those dreary chapters. The book does begin to get interesting afterward, when an old man hires our intrepid main character to investigate the disappearance of his beloved relative, who vanished from an island years before in a sort of a "locked room" type mystery.During the investigation, our intrepid main character comes across a series of old murders that could be linked to the disappearance of the old man's relative. Was she the victim of a serial killer? Did she vanish because she knew too much? These plot twists make the book much more exciting--for a while. Unfortunately, though, the mystery behind the disappearance of the girl is laughably un-mysterious, and the story of the serial killer is trite, worn-out, and needed far more explanation in order to be really interesting. For instance--and I don't feel a spoiler alert is necessary here--the killer performs some strange rituals during the killings, but the reasons behind these are never explained. Once the killer is revealed, the only explanation seems to be that the killer was a nut job who did crazy things.So, in conclusion--tired plot, poorly-executed mystery, too many boring chapters about Swedish financial publications, and about 300 pages too many in general (I'm starting to think there's a dire shortage of editors in Sweden). My advice? Read at your own risk--but keep plenty of strong coffee at hand. You'll need it.

What were they based on to write this book?

books

great

novel

good

reader

c193785abcc596a162a8705365bd5db7

36e99ea15d85eda05bff6d49bebbfec0

1b1f77e9a5385c594d393a5e084305de

0143170090

This novel was very much unexpectedly great. It was not just good, it was great. I do not normally read the book descriptions or the back of a book when I buy them. When you do that you have expectations of how you think a novel will be and when you read the description and it is not the way you thought it would be, it is kind of a let down. I also did not read the description on this book either, but seeing how everyone was raving about how good this book was I decided to read it. I don't know what kind of book I thought this would be, but it was exceedingly better than I thought it was going to be. The mystery in this novel was very captivating and held my interest so much so that I had a hard time putting this book down. It was a little boring in the beginning because it talked a lot about big time company businesses and how this journalist got in trouble for writting about them in a magazine. So, when I started this novel I said to myself "people are loving THIS?" However, after the first two chapters it got very interesting. I also was unsure if I wanted to read this story and get attached to it because the ending of the story is gone, but I can asure you that at least in the first book the story does not leave you hanging. I thought that you wouldn't find out the ending to any problem or mystery in this book because there was more to follow. I can not wait to read the next book!The only advice I can give to anyone about to purchase this book, is that this novel is based in Sweden and is a foreign novel. I know that many of you probably assumed that, but that would have been a nice little bit of information that I would have liked to know. It really doesn't matter that it was based in Sweden or that it is a foreign based novel because it was still great and had nothing to do with how good or not the novel is, but it was just unexpected. The other thing that I would have liked to know is that there is very strong sexual violence in this novel. Again this does not make the novel bad in my eyes, but for others that don't like reading novels with things like that in it, I would advise you not to read this novel. There are very few parts of sexual violence in this novel, but the few parts are hard to read. However, it does make you have even stronger emotions for this novel and the characters.Hope you love it as much as I did. Great read!The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

How is the reader?

books

interesting

thing

interesting

relationship

7fccd31146ee2fc7e55b22a20d1629b2

4e30f194369ba6949d594edc3aa184df

f09a8aa8d000e3917cbe000f29fd03d2

0143170090

I drive a long way to and from work each day, so I am always on the look out for good books on tape. I had heard the hype about the "Millenium Trilogy" from Entertainment Weekly, and I bought the CD's. Being unabridged, I will admit that you have to plod through a bit for about the first CD before things become interesting and the litany of Swedish names can be difficult to keep up with, but if you can put up with that little bit - then it will all be worth it! The reader is very skilled and the book is a great whodonit. Considering this was Mr. Larsson's first novel, it was an incredible debut. The tragic death of Stieg Larsson leaves us wondering "what could have been?" since he clearly improves with each page. I highly recommend this book, it may be the weakest of the three, but they are all quite good. RIP Stieg Larsson.

How is the relationship?

books

romantic

relationship

real

depth

2d81875425f7704c702ec0f8b6f64334

bf130be50c6adb58ce7deb17b1dab45e

201edeae332a3717680abdbfd796afd1

0143170090

Let me start by giving a bit of a disclaimer: I rarely read fiction, at least contemporary fiction. Modern fiction tends to be very formulaic within its specific genre, and there are simply too many mediocre novels out there to sort through. After hearing the great notices though, I elected to make an exception for "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo," Stieg Larsson's blockbuster bestseller set in small town Sweden. I had read over and over what a page turner the book was, but I have to admit despite Larsson's obvious talent, the book is slow, particularly the first 200 pages or so. I don't know whether translation issues were major factors here, but the book clearly assumes some understanding of Swedish culture, and some names and terms quickly became confusing and distracting. The first (but not only) prominent example is the use of the word "gaol." It is clearly a jail of some sort, but does it have a specialized meaning as a certain type of institution? If so it should be translated better, if not it should be translated as "jail," which is how my dictionary simply defined it.While the pacing is often ponderous, it really seemed to need editing. An astonishing amount of minutiae is included in the book, and much could have been excised to make the book move faster and flow better. Sometimes authors skillfully draw out intertwined plot elements to heighten suspense, and while Larsson does that to some extent later in the book, much of the text reads as simple trivia that's more in the way of the plot than complementing it. The story concerns Mikael Blomkvist, a disgraced journalist convicted of libel and his unlikely alliance with the emotionally bankrupt and antisocial Lisbeth Salander, the tattooed girl of the title. The book is in large part a character study: unfortunately I found the character of Lisbeth to be more interesting but far less detailed than Mikael. Lisbeth has a credibility-straining gift with computers but no ability for normal human interactions, while Mikael came across as needlessly promiscuous, unlikeable, and cold, making this a book with characters that were somewhat interesting, but that I couldn't really care about. I found some of the plot elements utterly predictable and wooden. It was, for instance, a given that the two leads would eventually have a romantic relationship, yet it when it finally happens it's as ugly, impersonal, and forced as you could imagine.Other plot elements bothered me: it's not impossible to hire a disgraced reporter to undertake a cold case investigation from 1966, but is that really a more reasonable choice than hiring an actual detective with law enforcement experience? The novel depends on your thinking so. That this pursuit takes the book into very unseemly dark regions of the human psyche is beyond doubt, and I found some of the details needlessly gruesome. (I particularly dislike violence directed toward children or animals.) The book is unfocused in the sense that it has both the murder investigation and evil corporation plots working around each other, and they are not as complimentary as I expected them to be. In this case the homicide is much more gripping material, while the corporate villainy angle simply serves as a distracting background to provide motivation to the characters.In the end, the book is a modest example of contemporary fiction, though substantially less satisfying than I expected. There is no question that Larsson was a very smart writer with a good grasp of character and general plot outline, but the extraordinary amount of exposition about trivialities, the extremely trying religious components, and the forced feeling associated with the confluence of Mikael and Lisbeth, made me frankly have a hard time caring much about the protagonists and their tribulations. The book is somewhat turgidly paced, but on balance is conceptually still at least average for contemporary popular fiction, though I didn't find it to be especially distinguished from thousands of other novels vying for your attention.

How was the depth?

books

bore

page

more interesting

book

27e03f9413692874c8e0f6020d9cbeb8

234e94615a73541f8cbfad5b0831439e

baacbabd3f18dd68a5010a22a2eba6c2

0143170090

I admit it. I was drawn in by the multitude of fabulous reviews, and ordered the book, expecting a literary treat. I also admit that I am reviewing a book I never finished. I could not do it. I am a voracious reader, freelance writer, and former teacher of composition. I know a good book when I read it. This did not even come close. It's ultimate sin was BOREDOM. The first 50 pages were tedious, boring, and uninteresting. I slogged through another 50 pages, and gave up. The characters were unlikeable and annoying. The author's attempt at writing a thriller that would draw you in and hook you fell flat. I had no interest in finding out what happened to which tediously tiresome character. Do not waste your money on this one. I am actually returning the book to Amazon with a strong rebuke concerning their intense marketing of this disaster.

When the book is more interesting?

books

worth to read

book

aware

reader

db07b60ea94c1faca2e6b22c4cc99a80

607d1fd395440b74d78c82b57dc5ab72

164edae788ba96cc6486640ef9dfb5cf

0143170090

There are very few novels where the movie is better and this is one of them. Although the author creates one of the most interesting characters ever in Lisbeth, he bogs down the story with multiple plot lines. The main plot , which the movie focuses on is well paced and interesting but the secondary plot of the journalist's battle against an evil corporate CEO is useless and the movie appropriately cuts most of this out. Unfortunately 1/4th of the novel involves this uninteresting storyl line including the end. The main plot is solved with about 150 pages left only to revisit the journalist's revenge against the CEO.With that said, this book is worth reading for the character Lisbeth Salander alone. It gives a more insight into this dark but intelligent person. I only wish the WHOLE story was about her only!

What objective opinion does the reader give to this story?

books

engaging

book

enthralling

book

7cc340866fafa0f5a3472a283b349263

591c8a7151802856828bf2bbcf98ece2

37f922950c801c0f91bf6397b694ac7d

0143170090

The story is a mystery novel. The main character, Mikael Blomkvist, is a journalist who was hired by a rich old man to take another look at the disturbing disappearance of a family member. A second main character, Lisbeth Salander, is a computer hacker with lots of *personal* issues due to its own sad life story. Being misunderstood from young age, and exploited in later parts of her life, she has very little trust in about basically everything that society has to offer: the authorities, work colleagues, and consequently has almost no friends to relay on. However, being highly intelligent, she manages to get through life in very original ways.As expected in the genre, the books starts by jumping from Mikael story line, to Lisbeth's plot, and eventually both stories intersect and a joint story-line emerges. Two things that I've noted while reading: First, in contrast to many similar novels that usually takes several background chapters before they become interesting, this books is very engaging from the first pages. This is probably due to Lisbeth, who is a very original and interesting character. Second, the flow and pace of the book is great: it starts interesting, and half way through you simply cannot put it down as you want to see what happens next. Lisbeth's character is very interesting, and it is especially intriguing to learn her way of thinking about different issues, and her biased, yet logical view of reality.Great fun, read and enjoy. By the way, I know there is a (Hollywood) movie around the corner for the book. However, I think that in this case I recommend reading the book before watching the movie, as I'm not sure that a movie script can make a good case of presenting Lisbeth's unique thought process.

How is the story in the book?

books

slow

plot

bit slow

book

f1b6c8de7ac97e7a68abfc5332d72371

a5c946cc4bceab638bebbe68d1183c11

57bc7abb9c9c84388e9c7620a0ddbc39

0143170090

This book did not meet the expectations I had for it. The characters were difficult to identify with, the plot was too slow and drawn-out. There were spots in the middle where I was skipping around just to see if there was anything to look forward to. I struggled to finish it, and wasn't even all that satisfied with the ending once I finally got there. Many other mystery/thrillers surpass this book in terms of plot and character development. I wouldn't waste my time with this one, but there are obviously plenty of readers who've enjoyed it too, so buy it if you dare, but don't say no one warned you!

How good is the book?

books

interesting

mystery

great

mystery

db5829f53a10f748f2a1fbcd3fbedfe2

90f7d5e289ed41669eeff3c6727a114c

4675f8649f8a0fc03b22fb665f67db65

0143170090

This is a book I almost gave up. I listened to it on audio, and a few hours in I felt like I was still listening to background and set-up and was anxious for the story to get started. Thankfully, once it got rolling it was a snowball I couldn't stop. Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander are very interesting characters... very alike in some ways, polar opposites in others. I spent a great deal of time wondering how their stories would be tied together, and I wasn't disappointed when they eventually were. The mystery of Harriet's disappearance was also very interesting, and the whole story is nothing you would ever expect when the investigation begins. I just had a couple of problems with it... the author tends to refer to everyone by their last name, which is much harder for me to follow. For some reason, I just don't remember last names as well as first names, so every time someone was mentioned that we hadn't heard of in a while, I had to think for a minute about who they were talking about. Also, there's a bit of a loose end with the Harriet investigation that I was expecting to be tied up that never was. I was expecting a small twist that never came.Overall, I quite enjoyed this and look forward to reading the next two (assuming the third makes it through translation to English). The ending to this one was sad in a way I didn't expect, and I'm anxious to see what it means for Blomkvist and Salander. If you start reading this and struggle a bit through the beginning, just stick it out... It gets so much better!

How is the mystery like?

books

predictable

mystery

good

mystery

17308322d9e36f1ee79ea725804f4eec

d60535d148e0c73ffb4a7105b9eb0bf0

f665a53cca8195f5b57b198efaf3e266

0143170090

So, I finally get around to reading this INTERNATIONAL PHENOMENON. Where to begin? Hm... Well, first of all, it's really poorly written. The writing style is trite at best, often choppy, full of unenlightened cliches, red herrings and loose ends that never get tied. As far as the plot is concerned, the mystery is fairly predictable, and the plot "twists" utterly unoriginal, except to say some of them are just DISGUSTING for the sake of being disgusting. People make a big ado about how the female protagonist is such an "original creation" and a heroine of post-modern feminism, blah blah. No. Lisbeth Salander appears to be just one of Larsson's (many) ways to exploit and glorify rape and female brutalization. By the way, the book's title in the original Swedish is "Men Who Hate Women." That's right, even the original title sucks. At some point, Lisbeth decided to sleep with the OTHER (utterly unimaginative) main character (who smells oddly of Larsson himself, and yet is apparently a walking aphrodisiac) only to first lament in the mirror the fact that she allegedly has no boobs. Seriously: a heroine for the ages??? Also, what's with all the product placement in this novel? Was Larsson getting kick-backs from Apple? I guess we'll never know now...Watch the Swedish film instead, which is much better than the book, seeing as it's free of Larsson's crappy writing and many of his pointless "plot details" (most of which involve everyone having sex with the Larsson stand-in anyways).

How did you find the mystery?

books

little

interest

time worth

book

8a9efc80d07a274b474b78030c289452

836b165e36d457a3eeac87232213edcc

5b8799a55be4e39e43182a09de02abcb

0143170090

When my dad read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo a while back, every time I walked by him he looked up (or didn't, because he was so insanely engrossed in the novel) and said, "Natanya, you HAVE TO READ THIS." Although I knew that I would not be as blown away by it as he was (my dad spends most of his time reading emails, not novels, and he's a computer geek), I knew I had to see whether the novel lived up to the hype. And now that I've read it, I can say that the majority of it did. The real meat of the story--the main mystery--is quite the thrill ride, and I found it pretty impossible to guess who the "culprit" was until the end. I loved Salander and her various methods of getting information or making things work to her advantage. Blomkvist was a little blah at times, but that didn't really hinder the novel very much--he provided a pretty good contrast to Salander's unpredictability.However, the mystery is framed by this financial libel disaster that Blomkist got himself into, and, consequently, I found the beginning and end of the novel to be very boring. While I was largely able to ignore Larsson's often excessive amount of detail for the bulk of the book (some of which became relevant later, others which were really not necessary), I had to force myself through the first 75 pages or so of detail and financial crap that was relevant to Blomkvist's life, but entirely irrelevant to the rest of the book. I suppose it is better that Larsson fleshed out the context rather than just throwing it in as a wimpy reasoning for why Blomkvist could spend a year on this mystery, but, honestly, I have little interest in the financial world.But, while this boring frame (and maybe it was just boring to me) made the novel a bit less enjoyable, the bulk of it is much more applicable to a college age girl (at times terrifyingly so), and is also far more graphic, shocking, gruesome, and totally gripping. As a warning, though, it does get pretty gross at times, and I had a hard time falling asleep a couple nights after reading this. So you may not want to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo right before going to sleep, but if you like mysteries or thrillers, or are just looking for a hold-onto-your-pants ride of a novel, do read it.

Is it book ?

books

good

chance

little more

book

3430db8a2a6b0986f35195e86402dc2a

9a070e569953c5709cce2c5d1340fbfd

eea86ac07c82299c04e850042bc525ed

0143170090

As said before the synopsis has been reviewed on enough here, I will just write about my personal impressions. As well as a couple of counter arguments that were mentioned the in negative critical reviews.Our girl with the dragon tattoo is anything but a one dimensional character. She is very complex with her own demons driving her. She has as extreme anti-social personality disorder with tendencies bordering on psychopathy. But with some very important personal traits that exclude her from being a true sociopath. She does have empathy towards others like her that have been abused or misused as well as a driven need for vengeance towards those that have forsaken the trust that may have been invested in them. But she does have a learned (as opposed to a inherently ingrained) sense of what is right and wrong. She is NOT a peripheral character. The novel goes back and forth between her perspective and that of an investagative reporter that she finally hooks up with about half way into the book. Even thought the book spends more time with him in that first half, it is her portions, though, that really grab your attention. When I finished the book, I had a hard time starting my next one as I kept thinking back to "The Girl" and hoping the best for her. I will be reading the other two books in this series.As far as being a slow read, maybe a little in the beginning, but this is not some mindless Dan Brownesque page turner though. It is a well thought out story with some really involving characterizations, you will know these people and have a good chance (if you are paying attention) to come up with some good ideas as to the solution. There is also a totally essential genealogy chart at the beginning of the book to help you keep track of the players. You will be referring to it often so you might as well bookmark it.I enjoyed this book beyond just a temporarily entertainment. I will be thinking about it for some time.===Don Freeman[...]

How was the book?

books

tedious

book

short

attention span

1f6bb6fcc0d58c1adfd0effa90f1b1e1

7d6d599b8bf4e3cf7bb51c5752d781f3

291921dab5b6622cc48f170c7458e730

0143170090

More of a story about a crime drama than a crime drama itself, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" follows a journalist sucked into a strange proposition to discover the secrets behind a decades-old suspected murder that took place in the middle of a highly dysfunctional family gathering.The book is set in Sweden and for an American reader, the Swedish proper nouns (towns/people) were a bit tough to follow, particularly in the context of trying to keep details straight for what I thought was a crime drama. It turns out those details aren't terribly necessary to the story (whose over-detailed nature seems to be a subject of some criticism), so just reading through casually was a better idea.For my taste, the book was a bit long and tedious in the first half, although it definitely picked up towards the middle and was quite exciting through the conclusion.Be warned that the subject matter contains some violence, including rape, incest, and battery of women. It isn't overly graphic, but the subject matter could definitely be disturbing for some.All in all it was an interesting read. I'd recommend reading it as a story rather than a crime drama, in as much as tracking all of the details and trying to solve the crime as a reader was a detriment to the first bit of the book for me. But reading it casually provided an interesting story with plenty of excitement towards the end.

How is the attention span?

books

tight

plot

tight

write

9bcba06666395bae5dd3bc21eb863c90

47b27c892fbd3c2bc47dff20866ec1d6

f8d4d57b6d87b0c98e5d3113165c8cca

0143170090

I'll jump on the bandwagon here - this is a very good read. The writing is a bituneven, but it has a pretty tight and intricate plot. It's one of those books thatwill keep you up at night. It could have been somewhat shorter however. I'dbe giving things away if I was specific, but the book would have been the betterfor being 2/3 its size.

How is it write?

books

important

story

not easy to read

book

93c6345fe9ecbb3c32af9e269f19b2ba

7c9ebfd2767f0aebae883dc72f5b8043

bbea6b4473caacbd375c56e2e779054d

0143170090

I was noticing various books of the trilogy in people's hands wherever I went and kept seeing it mentioned in articles getting good reviews...so I decided to try it myself.It has its good points and bad.The bad is, the book doesn't just grab you in. It is a slow start, and I mean SLOW. The first 50 pages or so Mikael is recalling the conversation that started the libel judgment against him. While I understand that the story is important to the book and it's ending, it was an excruciating chapter that took me days to get through. Once that was over, the story still moved along snail paced, going back between the lives of Mikael and Lisbeth (the girl with the dragon tattoo) separately.I continued to struggle until page 218 of 590, when something finally happened that was different and got me page turning. After that, the book seemed to take off and from then on I didn't struggle and in 2 days I had the rest read.The good....it really is a good story, once it gets going. I figured the mystery before the book told me, but it was a good journey all the same. The characters Mikael and Lisbeth are good, especially when they are together, which isn't until beyond the halfway point. In that regard, I felt the description of the book was a little misleading. But once they are working together, it becomes a really good story and the pace really picks up.In all, if you can get through the uneventful first 200 pages, the rest is worth the time.

How is the book?

books

similar

name

flawed

hero

a5b859e9d88d67c0d62a3b2f053f26be

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df67d48f170a56fc7ade13e127c302f0

0143170090

***POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT***I should know better than to read "best sellers". Did I really force myself to read all 465 pages of this?I had heard that the beginning was slow - that's an understatement. The first 150 pages were so boring and completely unnecessary but I plodded on because it's supposed to get better, right?WRONGThere were way too many unnecessary details about things that don't matter and about things that were already unnecessarily described two chapters ago! Trying to keep all the characters straight(who all seemed to have similar names that start with "B") was impossible so I gave up. And it didn't help that the author kept switching between calling characters by their first names and then their last namesThis books was way over the top with very graphic, descriptive torture and rape scenes. I had to put it down a few times because I couldn't handle anymore. The attack on Salander was completely irrelevant and is was never mentioned again and you don't see her having any effects from it at all. And seriously, a torture chamber? Come on! That was just so off the wall! But on the other hand, you could read chapters and chapters of dull descriptions where nothing at all happens.I was definitely annoyed with the resolution of Harriet's disappearance. It seemed that Larsson concocted so many possibilities throughout that book that at the end, he scrapped them all and took the easy way out.Oh and wait, after the Harriet storyline was resolved there's still 100 pages of the Wennerstrom storyline. Does anybody really care about that anymore??? Hmmmm, would I rather read about a murder or some financial gangster that you never see just hear about through cryptic, dull musings of Blomkvist and Salander.I'm very happy to return this book to the library and feel sorry for whoever picks it up to read after me.

What is hero?

books

better

half

intelligent

write

9be0b9366f58a0fa6bd6902de0702529

9ac0962013b250645a4852acc4e0abd5

1fcd514208c7d51142b68ba35aa15f1d

0143170090

I assumed I would like this book given all I had heard about it. So I wanted to like it. I am only 26% of the way through because unlike the books I typically try to read, it's just so boring that I am never motivated to go out of my way to find time to keep reading it. This is the first time , I've reviewed something without finishing it, but my point is a good book should draw you in right away and command your interest. The only reason I keep going on this one is because of its reputation and I keep waiting for it to get interesting. At 26% of the way through the title character has only had a very minor role. But I get the gist and despite the buzz I don't consider her that interesting or original. And the main character is downright boring. I suppose we're supposed to be drawn in by the fact that his life is upside down and he's facing prison, but he seems so oddly unaffected by it that why should we be? At the equivalent of over 120 pages in, NOTHING has happened. Absolutely nothing. At a certain point, who cares if it gets suddenly good later. It already failed. I wonder what the people who like this book typical read. Perhaps to an "Oprah" book-of-the-month reader this might be interesting. But to anyone reasonably well read in mysteries or thrillers, this is third rate at best.UPDATE: Eventually finished the book. The second half was better, but it doesn't change my opinion that it was incredibly boring in the first half. With the exception of Lizbeth (the "girl" of the title, who is a minor character until the second half of this book), none of the characters are fleshed out, believable or interesting. She is very interesting if not quite as original as the reputation of the book suggests. Fortunately she is more of the focus in the subsequent book which started out much better as a result.

Can you write your opinion about this man?

books

long

chapter

bit long

book

6a93728b8578362cf386b0aa2eb1e045

f05202fd8f4021f3435e8d987fd807a5

fd69aeb472c834780587703d1251ced9

0143170090

I've seen these books in the store and was very reluctant to try it and when I did the first chapter was quite long and plainly put just down right boring it was kind of difficult with all the swedish names and places to get attached to the book but I decided to stick with it... and I'm so glad that I did once it started to pick up I could not put the book down I finished it in a couple of days and I already have The Girl who Played with Fire.

How long is this book to read?

books

intriguing

plot

strong

character development

3339f436e6b60efc75462b553ce6fbb5

49a1a8bf7b5fea965bd9a61b9e5c6935

45e1c579c369a9aeca1ee2058b1d1c90

0143170090

Angelica PennettaMr. SlaterEnglish 910 December 2010The Girl With The Dragon TattooThe Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was the type of book that took awhile to get into but in the end was worth the wait because of the "on edge" feeling you got throughout almost the whole book; I highly recommend that anyone who loves a good mystery reads this book.The plot was very intriguing; once you think you have it all figured out there is still the doubt that you are wrong and knowing this book you probably are. It seems as if every time you think Salander and Blomvist have the case solved, they find a new piece of evidence that puts a whole new twist on the story. The book starts out in detail about how Mikael Blomvist, a professional journalist, is being convicted for libel but then takes a sudden turn when he is asked by Henrik Vanger, a member of one of the wealthiest family's in Sweden, to help investigate the disappearance of his niece, Harriet Vanger. Lisbeth Salander, a 24 year old rebellion who, let's just say, is a big fan of piercings, tattoos, and intense crime solving, eventually joins Blomvist in the search for Harriet. Step by step, as Salander and Blomvist continue their research they creep a little closer each day to finding out the truth about the Vanger family. As you get closer to the end, you'll find yourself getting ready to jump out of your skin; its one of those endings that slaps you right in the face. When it comes to the ending, you wont disappointed.The highly detailed characterization and conflict was what made this book such a fascinating thriller. When reading the description of Lisbeth Salander, not only does her striking appearance catch your attention but the way her personality is portrayed gives you the perfect imagery. It's not only the physical description of the characters that pulls you in, it's the way everything is played out and crafted so carefully. The conflict was the most important part of this book, in my opinion just because there was conflict after conflict that Salander and Blomvist then had to try and solve. This book is filled from beginning to end with a roller coaster of suspenseful conflict and thrill.Henrik Vanger searched for his niece for 40 years, when everyone gave up and he was all on his own, Blomvist and Salander were the only ones willing to help. By this act of generosity as portrayed in the book, I think the author was trying to make a point to the reader. The point trying to be made could have been anything from meaning do things happen for a reason to if you never give up you may be surprised at what you may find, either way it's a good read. Blomvist takes part in helping Salander find the real her, he helps her realize what she needs to do to be happy while at the same time trying to make everyone else happy.Overall, I loved this book! It was definitely the type of book that was constantly grabbing you and pulling you in; it had me jumping from page to page just to see what was going to happen next. If you're into mind boggling mysteries that make you think, this the book for you! It never stops making you wonder. I would definitely recommend reading this book, but I have to warn you, once you get started you can't stop!Work CitedStieg, Larsson. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. New York: Vintage Books, 2009.

How is character development?

books

strong

opinion

better

reader

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fed2c8fc3c71606c4d431ed41bf4c1c7

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0143170090

Note: I'm trying to write this as a review of the entire Millennium trilogy, broken into three parts. For those who are wondering how the trilogy should be read, my opinion is to read them in order and back-to-back. Although Larsson does a fine job of re-introducing recurring characters, it helps to know their back story; and back-to-back because Larsson's cast of character is HUGE. I've written up a list of characters for the trilogy, which you are free to use and distribute as you wish ([...]). I also made a more condensed version ([...]) that removes all the minor or non-recurring characters. If you do read this trilogy and you're unfamiliar with Sweden (as I am), you might want a map of Sweden on hand or have Google Maps handy. It's not necessary, but it did help me picture things better in my head. This is especially true of the latter two books, which explores Sweden a lot more. Google Maps is especially great for this because you can use Street View for many of the locations.THE MILLENNIUM TRILOGY (Part 1 of 3)The Girl With the Dragon TattooI heard of this book years ago from my mom. She had read it in Chinese, and I believe it had came out in Chinese before English. Since my mom has recommended me some dubious books in the past, I was wary of reading it. Then I saw "Stieg Larsson" and "Dragon Tattoo" popping up all over the place, and decided to go for it. I'm somewhat glad that I didn't pick this book up till now because that's allowed me to read the trilogy back-to-back. While that isn't necessary, it certainly makes it easier to keep track of things.DRAGON TATTOO reads like a "whodunit" mystery, and reminded me of the movie "Gosford Park." The protagonist is Mikael Blomvist, the gutsy financial reporter from Millennium magazine, who, in the beginning of the novel, has just lost a libel case against Wennerström, a businessman he had been investigating. As he ponders his fate for the near future, he gets a visit from a lawyer representing Henrik Vanger, a former mogul, who wants him to write a biography of his family. This writing job, however, is really just a pretext to allow Blomvist to do some investigation into a dark history of the family.Then there's Lisbeth Salander, the girl with the dragon tattoo, who is a freelance researcher for a security firm. She is portrayed as a mysterious, introvert, and strong-willed woman who has her unconventional means of getting information. Salander's and Blomvist's worlds will soon converge and become the key focus of the book.Here are a few things of note about Larsson's writing:He keeps the action going without putting in tedious descriptions of unnecessary details. He does enough to give life to the scene, but focuses on the important elements.He writes with a point of view, which is to say that, this isn't just your regular mystery novel. Larsson, himself a journalist, seems to know the inner workings of many Swedish institutions. Each of his book seems to broaden the focus of these institutions. For example, DRAGON TATTOO focuses mostly on independent journalism and the corporate world; PLAYED WITH FIRE focuses on the media, academia, and law enforcement; and "Hornet's Nest" focuses on secret government agencies (at least as far as I know; I'm still reading it). Larsson also has strong opinions about things going on in Sweden, in it comes through in his writing (most obviously in Blomvist's voice). It's a refreshing take on a traditional genre that I find really powerful.The cast of characters and the institutions can get overwhelming, especially if you really want to understand the connections between everything. Larsson also has the tendency of referring to his characters by their last name, the first name, and their nick names, so it helps to have it all fresh in your head. I would suggest being patient, because the payoff is well worth it. I was a bit stumped in the beginning of this novel, mostly because I had thought it was "light reading," the type of book that you can read in small bits before you go to bed, or when you're on the subway. It turned out that, for me, it was easier to read it in large chunks, because it helps keep the information intact.Despite of the cast, the characters were all well-written, including the minor ones. Lesser authors would have reduced them to caricatures, but Larsson doesn't pull that here.The twists in this book were AWESOME. Several times I would say out-loud "Oooooh" and have to get up and take a breather (and I only do that when I'm excited by a book).Evidently, coffee is big in Sweden. :)So far, this is my favorite of the trilogy. It seems more like a standalone novel, and might even be seen as a prologue to the latter two books.

Who is the betterreader in the world?

books

much well

novel

many

element

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73d666cd036235a872c1bdde85eef798

1ab8f87cbdd34156e07c77418d6f47b9

0143170090

Re; the Girl with the dragon Tattoo & the Girl who played with firehave read both and note that the new novel 'the girl who played with fire' is much better. it makes the characters believable by going in detail into their history and resulting psychological profiles, at the same time it is a white knuckles thriller.I strongly recommend this book.for some strange reason it was available in English prior to Christmas everywhere except USA. cant wait for the third book in the series, will there be a fourth? apparently Larsen wrote half of the 4th before suffering a fatal heart attack.

Where is the five element available?

books

gruesome

story

grip

story

21c0ecf91abcac87bdbfb3ac5c55cd75

3b250e4841ce4b93a38a61e0ac924d80

c0d22fb8da267982c22257c25119c3c4

0143170090

The late Swedish writer Stieg Larsson's brilliant THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO was originally titled the equivalent of "Men Who Hate Women," and if the Swedish version was more prosaic, it better captured the overall theme of this superb mystery novel. The story is highly suspenseful, sometimes complicated, and occasionally gruesome and disgusting. In short, the author succeeded in creating an entertaining and intelligent novel that is also very, very blunt in its revulsion of misogyny.There are three threads to this first novel in Larsson's Millennium Trilogy. The first two threads, which become tightly woven together but which never become a single strand, center on the two main characters, the star financial investigative journalist, Mikhael Blomkvist, and the brilliant if anti-social hacker and private investigator, Lisbeth Salander. The Blomkvist thread, which, to mix a metaphor, serves as bookends to the novel, concerns Blomkvist's attempts to expose a corrupt industrialist named Hans-Erik Wennerström. The Salander thread stitches together the recurring misogyny motif: unjustly declared insane as a child, Salander had lived in a psychiatric asylum until released as an adult under the legal supervision of a court-appointed guardian. After her first, benign guardian passes away from a stroke, Salander is assigned to Nils Bjurman, a socially respectable but privately sadistic man who rapes her. What guides her subsequent actions--and this is another repeating theme in the novel--is something that was taught to her by her first guardian, "that every action has its consequences." The third thread, which makes up the greater part of the material of the novel, is a stunningly well executed murder mystery concerning a prominent family headed by the industrialist Henrik Vanger.To tackle misogyny, Larsson creates in Salander a kind of super-hero. Most of the principal players in this story are realistically depicted (well, there's the matter of at-the-drop-of-a-hat sex, which we'll get to in a moment). The character of Blomkvist, for instance, who might well be the journalist author's alter ego, is completely believable--he is naturally drawn. You want to believe in Salander, too, but you do so like you want to believe in Superman: someone you can trust will bust the bad guys. Salander knows how to hurt bad men so they don't hurt back. But as fascinating as she is--her tattoos, piercings, and other emblems of an independent spirit endear you to her--she's almost too good to be true. Salander's not invincible--she has her own Kryptonite vulnerabilities--but she's hyper-real. It's to Larsson's credit that the reader buys into her all the same.Perhaps not surprising is that sex plays a prominent role in a book with a misogyny theme. But it's not all or even predominantly in the context of violence against women. Neither is it ever in the context of traditional relationships. Both Blomkvist and Salander engage in numerous trysts, with each other and with others, but always with friends and acquaintances not with committed lovers, per se. The sex doesn't seem particularly joyful. What are these frequent sexual episodes? Do they simply reflect Larsson's version of the world, or do they convey a deeper meaning? Is it that the world is so painful or mortality so depressing that sex serves as a drug to forget the mundane? It's not clear. But with the contrast of sex in different contexts in this novel the question seems to hang in the air.THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO is a terrific novel. The fact that it is currently a very popular book (the cover has been ubiquitous in Christmas advertisements) just goes to show that sometimes the public gets it right. Assuming, of course, that people are reading it.(The audio book version works very well. Simon Vance does a fine job narrating the story. His vocalizations of the many Swedish characters are uneven; Dragan Armansky, Salander's boss at Milton Security, for instance, sounds like Count Dracula. Actually, more like Count Chocula. Anyway, you get my drift. For most of the other Swedes Vance assumes various versions of a British or "European" English accent. It's not too distracting, though. Vance's craftsmanship overall is solid.)

How is story?

books

nice

pace

exciting

end

352ed75fcbd7cdbe4c9c75ab7ddbbe96

88ebaaa10b67e365be2e78b2b6bdea7c

efc091fac22a556d30d224df10ce4cf3

0143170090

This book has a really nice pacing and generally a very good style for a mystery novel. There is perhaps too much emphasis on Swedish recent history (at least for those of us not familiar) and plenty of "message", but that rarely detracts from the story and the pacing of the story.The main focus is clearly on mistreatment of woman in Sweden; but, it is not preachy or anything. My chief issue with it is that it is really pretty gruesome in places. It is hard to put down for the story as it is very engaging, but some of the descriptions are really hard to read. I am not sure that much detail was needed.If you can get past that, the character development of one of the main two characters (Lisbeth) is really amazing - she is Autistic or Asbergers or something (although the author does not say that, the symptoms are well described). The character development of the other main character is not as well developed, but he is more than a cardboard character.The process of the story unfolding is very nicely done with paths colliding. The reader is no farther along than the characters, unlike many mysteries where you get extra clues they do not. This means that you get pulled along with them vs. being apart from them. This works very well in this story.I think it is a great read.

What is the excitement level in the ending?

books

wordy

book

bored

reader

6e03c99c2fd92378d62ce9022fbf87d0

c1e3af3a098282519914a295f3bee631

f92ce0089a757a72bf1cc67a5ad814b0

0143170090

This audiobook arrived earlier than promised and in perfect condition. Great vendor! The story itself, though, is one I wouldn't recommend. I haven't seen the movie version yet, but the book is so "wordy" until it finally gets into the substance of the story, I had trouble paying attention. While I am sorry the author died before he know how successful his trilogy was, I'm not excited.

How is the reader?

books

fascinating

description

interesting

perspective

9715b00c64bb5cc9f62ad85bc8469735

8e614a42fe66dea4c73912f1e1e92bb8

acffeadb18cba57938e3408c6f32eeae

0143170090

Some people consider THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO to be the best mystery/thriller debut of 2008. While I don't share that particular belief, I found the novel both enjoyable and absorbing.The plot of this novel is nothing groundbreaking. Carl Blomkvist, a disgraced Swedish journalist, is hired by a wealthy industrialist to solve a 30-year old disappearance. In order to solve the crime, he eventually teams up with Lisbeth Sander, a young, anti-social computer hacker. Together, they eventually uncover a dark family web of secrets that may involve a serial killer.The real strength of THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO is the characterization. The late Stieg Larsson does a superb job of creating a set of vivid characters that achieve a level of depth and complexity that you rarely find in genre fiction. In particular, the personality and background of Lisbeth Sander is quite unique and ultimately quite compelling to read about.I also very much enjoyed the setting of this book. This novel is written by a Scandinavian author and almost entirely takes place in his native country of Sweden. As an American who knows virtually nothing about Scandinavia, I found Larsson's descriptions of the Swedish government, business practices, and societal norms to be quite fascinating.This novel, however, isn't for everyone. Larsson is a wordy and descriptive writer, and this novel meanders around quite a bit in the middle, with multiple subplots (including a rather pointless romance) that really don't really drive the story forward. Larsson also sometimes uses more detail than necessary, such as when he describes in excruciating depth how hackers can break into laptop computers.Further, the crime story ends rather prematurely, with Larson devoting his final sixty pages to resolving a subplot involving the main character's professional career that I didn't find particularly interesting. While I found this book a page turner for the most part, my patience began to wear thin in spots, especially after I was two thirds of the way through.Overall, however, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO is a highly enjoyable read, and I think readers of quality crime fiction will find much to enjoy. This is definitely one of the better debuts I've read this year, and I'm sad that Larsson passed away before completing this series.

How is an interesting perspective?

books

interesting

relationship

real

depth

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12a843f0762884cd7c111e2eec927117

448b5f44b632cc848159e0abcda6d049

0143170090

I will admit that the first few chapters were slightly difficult for me to push through, as it focused mainly on the central character's journalistic problems in the financial world. However, once I made it through the beginning, a very well laid out mystery kept me interested the rest of the way. While I could not relate to either of the two main characters, they have an interesting relationship. Their own quirks and abilities contribute to the fast paced action and mystery that unfolds in the second half of the novel, and I would recommend that you read the first novel before continuing on to The Girl Who Played With Fire (a fantastic follow up).

How was the depth?

books

emotional

depth

flawed

hero

a5b859e9d88d67c0d62a3b2f053f26be

af920ccad3b7b2fd180c39ec3ba4e832

00cf03eb74797f0e10793ee513b49d2d

0143170090

(Warning-Possible (very small) spoilers)The writing is, overall, quite disjointed. The first thing that struck me was that I was 85% certain that I knew the identity of the villain as soon as the character was even SPOKEN about, much less introduced. Needless to say, I was 100% certain when the villain does something dumb that shows him to be the bad guy... and no one catches on. Not surprisingly, I had also been able to warrant a very good guess as to what happened with Harriet.I found the character of Blomkvist kind of a drag. It's hard to pull for someone who is so BLAH. He ruined his marriage by continuing to sleep with Erica, but I'm never sure WHY. She's married, it is clearly NOT the great love of his life, and they have little to no real chemistry. The 'relationship' seems forced, and to be honest it skeeved me out that she would tell her husband when she was going to sleep with Blumkvist. Eww.Blumkvist is totally dense and doesn't pick up HUGE clues about what happened with Harriet, even though it's pretty obvious who the bad guy was, and the answer to what happened to her (without the details of how) is there the entire time. The answer is so ridiculously in your face, you almost feel let down when it turns out to be what you always knew it was. I figured with the reviews here, the solving of the crime must pack quite a punch! I was wrong.To top it all off, the writer makes sure to let us know that, on top of being a bad husband & an idiot, Blumkvist is also a crap parent. Woo woo, what a hero. He's an idiot who will (LITERALLY) sleep with anyone and has no emotional depth. WHY were we supposed to be rooting for him??Salander was (obviously) the more interesting character here. But I feel like the author took a certain joy in having her treated like terribly. Seriously, what else ABSOLUTELY AWFUL could happen to this poor girl? The ending angered me to no end. She finally makes an enormous emotional leap, only to have her hopes smashed by the idiot with NO EMOTIONAL DEPTH!And of course he remains oblivious to the carnage he has wrought with this ridiculous 'relationship' with Erica.Seriously, I hated the character of Blumkvist & really feel he ruined the whole book. Lisabeth should have been the main character and the entirety of the book should have been told from her perspective. Of course, had that happened, the book would have been about 200 pages long... because Lisabeth would have figured it out PRONTO.The writer used the dumber character to try and slow down the 'climax' of the (paper thin) story.

What is hero?

books

short

scene

interesting

dialogue

9204c7f3eaaa2f9d1662b3a2e22e1b40

4830e8f44ceb3315e2553f906defb452

7d1e05c9aac2336de0b021747c41547e

0143170090

I found the story interesting, and yes, disturbing at times. While I found parts of it, including the conclusion, to be inevitable or easy to figure out, I did not guess who the villain was which kept me interested. There is a finish to the initial story line after the murders but it's common in many books to spend time with a story at the beginning and end of the book with another the 'center' of it so that didn't bother me and I found it interesting as, if nothing else, we learn more about who our main characters are. I have just begun the second novel and look forward to learning more about 'Sally'. ;)I realize that some people were upset about the sexual violence in it but it reality it was very little of the book. The scenes, with the exception of the end of the main story line, were short and rather impersonal (due at least in part to the translation in my opinion). They were not drawn out or in my opinion graphic. Romance novels have a LOT more graphic info. The crimes were mainly written out and described, not lingered on or approached with a great deal of emotion that might have made it harder to read. Think the calm reading out of circumstances in a L&O;: SVU episode.I would think the sexual lives of the main characters would be more disturbing. Our MC is sleeping off and on for the last 20 years with his best friend, and practically the permission of her husband. It ruins his marriage and during the course of the year he takes up with a neighbor and our heroine. His friend/partner may not mind but they aren't so willing to live within a triangle many times over and I don't blame them. This part of his personality was way beyond my comprehension. Lisbeth admittedly doesn't care who she sleeps with if she's in the mood. It may sound like and admirable quality of looking over labels of "gay" or "straight", whatever. I don't agree but then that's between the author who wrote her and the reader who connects with her.I did like Lisbeth, though she was far from perfect and had her issues as well. At least she seems to have come by them honestly (through past trauma which I believe will be laid out in book 2). I heartily agree with her sentiment that no matter what happens to you, you don't get to fall back on it when you make a decision that's wrong. If she were to be caught she wouldn't play a blame game. She's not a perfect person, far from it. But she recognizes her issues and tries to function the best she can in the ways she knows how. I'm certainly looking forward to reading more with her.

Is the movie dialogue good?

books

real

feel

interesting

interaction

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8482a83d6566bf916a35bccb205b69a7

e977e099d354263f39b88a9c53e8913a

0143170090

This is a difficult story to simply "get into." I would agree with those of you who say once you stick with it that the story will start rolling eventually. However, the only reason I have finished this book, the girl who played with fire, and have began reading the girl who kicked the hornets nest is purely out of my undying stubbornness. You see, in my haste, I purchased all three books based on all of the rave reviews, which is obviously my main mistake. Despite the fact I have a hard time stomaching the majority of the material in these books, I have continued to read based solely the principle that I will not purchase a book I will not read -- I kept reading.Before you judge this book based on my review, please keep in mind that I am a big Nicholas Sparks fan, I love all of the Twilight books, and the Hunger Games trilogy. I am a sucker for sci-fi and an impossible love story, the kind that never happens in real life. I want to feel happy after reading a book, not have nightmares... Yes, the girl with the dragon tattoo trilogy has left mental images that I would have been happy to live the rest of my life without.On the other hand, I have realized that it is my own fault that it is difficult to face the realism in this book. Many situations in this book have a real life-like feeling to them, almost too real. I suppose this is one of the main reasons I hated reading these books. I always want to see the best in people and hate knowing how unbelievably horrible people can treat each other. I wish I could just live in my never-happening Nicholas Sparks love stories but the cold hard truth is people suffer.The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo -- Very Real -- still hated it.

How is the interaction?

books

familiar

reader

more focused

book

e591cdb6297c830dafd5c9327fb53619

f2a51af59ef2bff9abc8938cdb4b7f00

5b7bbc21e4ff4450f7a3f885ea5fee85

0143170104

Continuing the story of Lisbeth Salander which he began in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Swedish author Stieg Larsson creates a fascinating character study of a young woman with a terrible past, a young woman who also suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism. Salander, having worked with Mikael Blomqvist in the preceding novel, in which she used her formidable skills as a computer hacker to help him solve a major mystery, is on her own for most of this one. For reasons Blomqvist does not understand, she has refused to have anything at all to do with him, though they had had a relationship in the previous novel, and seemed to care greatly for each other.Salander has just recently returned from her travels around the world--using her substantial financial resources. Her hacking skills have allowed her to acquire an enormous bank account, and only Blomqvist is aware of how she has done it. She is fearful of the future--as she should be, considering her terrible past--and she is doing whatever she can to live a secret life in a luxury apartment that no one else knows about. A mistress of disguise, the people in her building have no idea what she really looks like or who she really is. Gradually, the reader becomes familiar with her background, her family, the reasons for her institutionalization as a young teenager, and the horrifying abuse she faced at the hands of her legal guardian, a lawyer supposed to protect her. A woman who believes devoutly in an eye for an eye, she has exacted her revenge upon him in ways he does not dare share with anyone else.Blomqvist, in the meantime, has continued with his work running Millenium magazine, which has been working on an article about the sex trade, its connection with the drug trade, and the high-ranking police and political officials who are involved in it. The two people who have been doing the investigative reporting for Millenium plan to name names in their expose. They are murdered before they can conclude their work. Three different investigations into the murders begin, and all center on Salander, whose fingerprints are found on the murder weapon. She, in self-defense, uses her computer skills, once again, to read e-mails and the contents of Blomqvist's and others' computers to stay ahead of the investigators who are seeking her for murder.Larsson does a terrific job developing sympathy (and even admiration) for Salander, a woman whose violent behavior sometimes makes her hard to distinguish from the sadistic criminals who are pursuing her, and readers who enjoyed the previous novel will enjoy this one, too, as she becomes a more complete character. The action moves very quickly, despite the book's length, and the author's gradual revelations about Salander's background add to the suspense and make her actions impossible to predict. Though Salander disappears from the action for significant periods of time, Larsson keeps the tension high by involving the people around her in high drama. Unfortunately, he relies very heavily on coincidence to resolve the action as the novel heads toward its conclusion, and the final revelations strain credulity to the breaking point. Still, the book is fun to read, especially for fans of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. n Mary WhippleThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Vintage)The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest

How is the book?

books

excellent

end

full

storyline

b4a7523d6cbb106f21c29257a954e88d

8100783e3b9f6b5dab5ffa04817cffe2

17067025d27810c112e76912c98c3659

0143170104

More like 4.5 I enjoyed this book more than the 1st in the series. It reminds me of a mystery by other authors I used to enjoy, but started to find too predictable, cheesy, trite, and cliche. This series is gripping and moving but also very smart. Some predictions can be made, but overall things flow with a relative amount of twists, turns, and realizations that are logical and believable. The ending on this one was excellent, I couldn't stop reading. Can't wait for the third, but am sad it will be the last. I know I will be upset when I get to the end.

How is the storyline?

books

more

book

serious

problem

a5d07e696b45dc1b5b1d98f3df71045b

4b9962ae08d6dee0346a48b0608c0365

f44b6b036071b6c29592cd9f4e4b1bf6

0143170104

I watched the movies before actually reading the books. The Girl Who Played With Fire was my favorite so I was REALLY looking forward to finally reading it. I'm glad to say that it did not disappoint. I am quite sad now though, since I only have one more book left to read with the wonderful Lisbeth in it. She has definitely become one of my favorite characters.

How is the problem?

books

little well

book

much well

one

b8ebc0957335fec49047bad7d5699860

bc5b380d0ccfbf1bfcdcaada4e9f85a3

01a8290414a041dc4fc4c64a326042b3

0143170104

This story starts about a year and half after Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist find out what happened to Harriet Vanger and exposed a corrupt businessman. Lisbeth has stolen billions of dollars from the corrupt businessman using her stealth computer hacking skills. She leaves Sweden without a word to anyone to travel the world. Mikael in the meantime has decided to run an expose in his magazine, Millienium about a major sex trafficking operation. Two of the writers are murdered right before the stories are published. The murder weapon has Lisbeth's fingerprints all over it. She finds herself a fugitive but with her incredible hacking skills she is always a few steps ahead of the police.This second book in this series is devoted to Mikael trying to prove Lisbeth's innocence and find out who the real murderer of his friends are. We also find out who Lisbeth's father is and why she was institutionalized as a child. This book dragged on a little too long for my taste. I didn't understand the necessity of knowing all of the investigators back stories and there were a lot of other superfluous details. I am hoping the last book in this series flows a little better than this one.

Is it really only one?

books

different

story

read worth

story

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2d736735a205e314608a03756a3e2bfc

7dcf577e33616b72d9b02022b9da21cb

0151008116

Yann Martel's Life of Pi is a wondrous novel, a marvelous novel--there is much to wonder and marvel at. The story is simple, yet complex at the same time and can be read on many levels. On the surface, this is the story of a young man who grows up in India and at sixteen, en route to Canada with his family, finds himself the sole human survivor of a shipwreck, afloat on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. The story is divided into two sectins. The first occurs before he gets on the boat and tells of his life as a young zookeeper's son. As a boy, he decides to become a practicing Catholic, Muslim and Hindu, all at once. His ruminations on zookeeping and religion lay the groundwork for how he could possibly survive on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. Beyond the story, however, is an examination of religion and of writing, of how to write about religion and the religious experience. It is an examination on the strengths (and weaknesses) of religious belief. The novel also ends with a philisophical bang, which I won't give away, but which did blow me away. It wasn't until I got to that point that I became truly impressed with what Martel has done here. Before that, I thought it was a very well done novel, but with the ending, it becomes much more. Life of Pi is not a typical novel. The story, its charming main character and his narrative style are all different than most everything else you can get today. That uniqueness makes it that much more special. I highly recommend Life of Pi. Enjoy.

What is the most exciting part of the story?

books

deep

book

captivating

writing style

ce5613fb4914feda72e38f05530798c6

f105f86d17a30766b3c2d53889af6ba7

3cc0086984061a09286a124385335cad

0151008116

This book is very deep in a disjointed kind of way. I didn't enjoy it. The author obviously speaks to many readers, just not this one.

How is writing style?

books

slow

pace

confuse

end

bc5da46024c1e3d2a27bce19169bcde0

caa6662bb0f9260782a686f304e0121b

d305668aa3710e291823cccd275b9b3e

0151008116

I have never read anything quite like this book before. On the surface it's a very simple story, but underneath it digs much deeper.This is more than just a story of a boy and some zoo animals on a lifeboat. It's a great story of survival but also goes far beyond that.The pacing of the book is fairly slow. The prep work and detail before Pi makes it onto the boat takes about 100 pages, and the bulk of the book takes place on the lifeboat. The pacing doesn't make it boring, the book held my interest, but I will call it an investment.I don't want to ruin anything in the story. I thought the ending was amazing, and made the rest of the book that much more powerful.Although the book didn't make me "believe in God," I won't be forgetting it anytime soon.

How is end?

books

good

life

apparent

love

2fc5a0afcbcbc1a48ae76c7fd978689a

78aabdfe562dff2d9b56b6dce7fa74b1

20fdb193b9d1f27e2780b07fc1c96355

0151008116

Life of Pi is good, there is no debating that. I began this book and thought I would love it. During Part One, Pi Patel is a character describing his life. I enjoyed it. Thinking Part Two would be the same, I eagerly awaited what Martel had in store for us next. However, I thought the story began to drag. It was almost two hundred pages with next to no dialogue. You are placed in Pi's head, having him narrate the story as he experienced it. It was hard to push through those two hundred pages. It got old after a while.Currently a high school junior, I got to the end of this book with one thought. Huh? I found it confusing. I am not sure if that is because I do not understand the deeper significance, but I found it hard to comprehend. I am unsure of all the praise this book has gotten, because I don't understand what people found so great about it. I thought it was good, but not praiseworthy. Although I enjoyed the ending, I thought it was very anti-climactic. It was a good book and the writing was very good, but it was just not the book for me.

Is it a good love?

books

much deep

book

captivating

writing style

ce5613fb4914feda72e38f05530798c6

8e87704e42339fe8e8cbf4b1bcf11993

0a86729d375c7e31d4748945ed49feca

0151008116

Loved this book! Introspective and thought-provoking, wrapped in a grand story of adventure, survival and finding one's spiritual path among the tangle of religions. Read the book before seeing the movie and enjoyed both. As always, the book was much deeper than the movie. A most wonderful read!!

How is writing style?

books

simple

reason

true

reverse

18b59f1d2ede4402241b907a37655026

a4a8de04049a194417442d6652b677bf

b826581b9befa78aee97e87d4222bdd3

0151008116

"Life of Pi" is a classic text that yielded even richer rewards for me on my second reading of it. It is easily in my top five favorite books of all time. The reason is very simple. Yann Martel has written a work that is quite engrossing and interesting on two levels: the literal, and the much more satisfying metaphorical.I first read "Life of Pi" three years ago. I reread it recently because it was a book club choice. Although this novel carved out a niche in my brain on that first reading, I found even more to appreciate and digest during my second.This allegorical novel explores many themes so fundamental to human existence. Faith, religion, storytelling, survival, love, companionship, etc. Not only does "Life of Pi" explore these themes, it sheds new light on these very overdone topics. That is not easily done. For Mr. Martel to take such universal themes that have been written and discussed a million times over, and make them fresh and new is a testament to his own prowess as a thinker and a writer.Mr. Martel's writing is also rarely didactic, and his use of figurative language is at times breathtakingly beautiful. As one who enjoys good writing, and am impressed by those who have such tight control of style and language I was not disappointed in that aspect of this text. Too many good storytellers are not good writers. Mr. Martel thankfully does not fall into that categoryTo not read this book with an open and inquiring mind is to miss "the better story", regardless of what you make that out to be. As I read the text I found and saw a very heavily Christian influence in the book's events and themes. It is just as conceivable that someone else could read it, and see none of those things. What is so wonderful is that both points of view can be defended from the text.One critic talked about how this novel makes one believe in the "soul sustaining power of fiction." "Life of Pi" lives up to that praise.Read this text and enjoy one of the few modern novels that gives the reader a real chance to "explore".

What reverse are you talking about?

books

worthy

book

captivating

writing style

ce5613fb4914feda72e38f05530798c6

30cdc1c149a3f8c647097e6156f11aa4

dbcd1c6e564aa51e6f77d416f0b7e075

0151008116

I thought this book was incredible and definately worthy of the Booker. Many of my friends feel the same and we have had long debates about our various 'theories'. In saying that I currently have a friend who just cant get through it - yes it seems a bit pointless at times, even a bit ridiculous ( a tiger in a boat !)but people if you dont get to the end you miss the WHOLE POINT ! It has a brilliant 'oh my god''moment' right in the last few pages - so seldomly found(successfully) in many novels. Very clever - thought provoking, you may need to go right back to the beginnning. To those who didnt like it I would guarantee you DIDNT FINISH IT!

How is writing style?

books

special

ability

magical

ability

bc18ae42704a9097ae9eb9ae8e31fbf2

28a88ef9c8b6b51df325f6bb7a29bffe

96571ad848d9564a411e7e2a4899d7e4

015206396X

I've finished this book under a week and it was such an adventure. Graceling is about Katsa who become a hunter/assassin/weapon for a manipulative king because Katsa is one of the many people who is gifted with a certain "grace". In this book, the word grace is used for people who have special abilities in various forms: Swimming, hunting, dancing, fishing, etc. Katsa with one eye green and the other blue is gifted with a grace of a fighter making her an effective assassin that is feared throughout the seven kingdoms.Graceling is the first book of a series by Cashore and is promoted for 14 y/o and above but a little caution for parents because Graceling includes topics that you don't want your 14 y/o to read but it this book would be a great way to discuss such topics with your kids. The book contains topic about not wanting marriage and the concept of it, some sex scenes which are not detailed but for conservative parents you might want to talk through your children first and a lot of fight scenes.The main pull of the book for me is the plot. It is a great book especially if you favor adventure/fantasy books but Graceling also includes a love story between Katsa and another character but I guarantee that it is not the mushy type. Another reason why I picked up the book is the lovely cover art as you can see above. In the front cover you'll see Katsa's eye but if you look at the back, you'll see both eyes. Just seeing the cover gives you an idea what the book is about. The only thing lacking in the book in my opinion is the battle scene between Katsa and the villain. It should have contained more than what is written. I just felt that Cashore built the story with every chapter and when the confrontation part began, it ended abruptly. I felt that Cashore should have dedicated a chapter or more, included more conflict and the book would have been perfect.Overall, Graceling is a must read! I would recommend this book to anybody but noting the caution to parents. If your child shows intention of reading the book, parents read the book first and decide if your child is ready for this novel. If you don't think this book is for your kid, this is a great way to explain to the child why. Asides from that, I agree with fellow reviewers on their remark about Graceling.

How is the ability?

books

vivid

world

mysterious

story

bca6a08f7a7311c311afd9e554abf5fa

f0c3ba0eb044e03f068d32113be75dad

6c39af2358615314265d351832755584

0261103288

Because of Tolkien's reputation as a master story-teller, I began reading this book with absurdly high expectations. The slow beginning confirmed my suspicions that such high expectations could not possibly be realistic, and I prepared myself to be gloriously disappointed. Quite honestly, by the end of the first chapter I shared the opinion of the protagonist, the hobbit: I was rather unenthusiastic, and doubtful that the "adventure" which lay ahead could truly be as exciting as it promised to be.But Tolkien rarely disappoints. Within pages, along with our hobbit hero, Bilbo Baggins, I found myself launched into the famous fantasy world that is the product of Tolkien's imagination, a world of never-ending adventure, mystery and magic. As I joined the hobbit on his remarkable quest to defeat the dragon Smaug and reconquer the dwarves long-lost treasure, I met a wonderful array of friends and foes - wizards, dwarves, elves, trolls, goblins, and a myriad of other fantastic creatures - and my imagination and interest never waned.By the end of the hobbit's adventure, like Bilbo, I was thoroughly satisfied. At the conclusion, the wizard Gandalf remarks to the hobbit: "My dear Bilbo! Something is the matter with you! You are not the hobbit that you were." Yet it was not only the hobbit that had changed as a result of this adventure. As a reader, I had to confess that I too had changed. My initial lack of enthusiasm had entirely vanished. I had participated in the hobbit's adventures, and like him, returned the better for it. Tolkien's imaginative world is a world so vivid, that you cannot fail to return to the real world a changed person. His descriptive abilities cannot fail to imprint his imaginary world in your memory. This story is not deep, but it is delightful and unforgettable. And like the hobbit, you will return to life the better having read it.What's more, you can go "there and back again" again, and again, because the joy of this fantastic adventure won't quickly wear off. For all ages, this book is eminently readable and re-readable, and belongs on every bookshelf. Don't miss it, because you will miss one of the most enchanting escapes that literature has to offer.

Is the story in a book?

books

small

font

permanent

place

94b5536eea0191ad95057448908e0909

8dece094c7347f1ecc344f1eaa2c2460

4275e62729a57d28b790f4daab275d38

0261103288

I started out reading this book on a paperback. I hated it, the font was so small. I bit the bullet and actually paid for a book and I am thoroughly enjoying this book now. I love the fact that pictures show up on my kindle too.

How is the place?

books

old

child

permanent

place

94b5536eea0191ad95057448908e0909

346a839b9bd2aeef3c01e96c43967e92

8b91537705a8dd137fd5fb0b27705af2

0261103288

The Hobbit is what Harry Potter is not. Let there be no pretense in saying "The Hobbit" is among the finest pieces of older children's fiction ever.Bilbo Baggins is a humorous, lovable sort of hobbit. In fact, if I were to meet a hobbit, I should hope it to be Bilbo.What Bilbo brings is boldness in the midst of genuine concern over the task at hand. He is afraid, but not so much that he doesn't rise to occasion.Delicious language. Images you can taste and smell. A story that matters, and is well-told.Read "The Hobbit" and be entranced. If your children or nephews/nieces are old enough, read it aloud to them. Read it to your class. Show them Harry Potter is not bad, but Bilbo is better.I fully recommend this book.Anthony Trendl

How is the place?

books

horrific

story

capable

human

ec6646bf160a666fb36269b94f90cbb9

c0ae844e0e3f0b4b5135493e9ec4bcda

23985b714390bb146b219f188e0df866

0307265439

"The Road" marks my foray into Cormac McCarthy's canon. From what I can tell from a casual glance at general readers out there, you either hate it or love it. I haven't come across too many middle-of-the-roaders (pardon the pun). It certainly wasn't an easy read. To begin with, McCarthy's syntax and dialogue are unconventional and may be off-putting for some, not to mention his tendency toward neologism, and then there's the subject matter.The post-apocalyptic story is bleak, heartbreaking, unflinching, and horrific, as post-apocalyptic tales tend to be. One of my Facebook friends put it this way: "I don't think it would have affected me nearly as much before I had my son. With the kid, it was damn hard to read." Yet something hopeful emerges. As I recall certain haunting passages, I am reminded of P.D. James' "The Children of Men," with its tiny, savior-like moments of purity and beauty pushing up through the perpetually raw uncertainty of the setting's ashen wilderness.Another reason why this book is so powerful is that it's a remarkable coming-of-age novel, that is, a "bildungsroman," to use one of those high-falutin' ten-dollar words I came across in college. It deserves a place in the upper echelon of novels in which a main character makes major strides in his or her moral, psychological, and intellectual development. I'm not saying "The Road" is at the top of the list, but it certainly deserves to sit on some graduate student's shelf down the hall from "Huckleberry Finn," "Great Expectations," and Toni Morrison's "Song of Solomon."The novel's plotline or tone or setting isn't particularly distinctive; rather, McCarthy's sparse, nearly perfectly succinct use of language is what makes this book poetically transcendent. In certain sections, there is seemingly no other way McCarthy could have phrased things. Every single word feels essential.In this end, above all, this book is about one thing: the immeasurable, unconquerable power of love.

What is comparison quality of human?

books

bleak

world

scarce

food

da82925c0bf0213bb8b367a9149d36fa

ad60bac0cad7c415c526b4ea3d92721b

8717b87b87fe825c29691818310bddb6

0307265439

Cormac McCarthy's latest novel is unlike anything he has yet written, and yet it shares many of the themes found in all of his work so far--loyalty, determination, love through hardship, and the unreachable connections between family. It's not his best novel, but it's very, very good and, in its own surprising way, very moving.What I found interesting was that, given to any other writer, this would probably have become a science-fiction adventure. The same ground has been trod before (Stephen King's The Stand comes to mind) but never has the post-apocalyptic world gotten such beautiful, moving treatment as McCarthy gives it. His narration is as spare and bare-bones as the world itself, and the science--and the apocalypse itself--remains in the background, incidental to the father-and-son story.McCarthy genuinely cares about his characters and what happens to them. The father and son--both of whom remain unnamed--are living, breathing people with feelings and pains that anyone can identify with. Were it not for the breathtakingly bleak landscape they live on, this could be any father and son on a trip together. Instead, they live with the consequences of other people and have to fight any number of hazards to survive. The father is by turns harsh and tender, the son curious and irritating, but the bond between the two is so moving that I found myself nearly in tears several times.As with much of McCarthy' work, the ending will make or break this book for you. I loved the book and was moved by the ending, but did not feel entirely satisfied with it. This was probably McCarthy's intention, as his world is so hopeless and bleak, but whether or not you'll enjoy it as much as I did is something you'll have to find out for yourself.Highly recommended.

How is the food?

books

powerful

write

elegant

write

7cb62c07128bf64f3ce03b826d506259

82f19cad785da5f0c0eb4af1170964f3

82b4c243303fb34123ddddaf6ca9e494

0307265439

This is an inutterably bleak and powerful book, beautifully written. A man and his young son wander through a post-apocalyptic landscape, trying somehow to survive. Most of mankind is dead, their charred bodies scattered by the sides of roads, in houses, or wherever they died. There are no animals, no birds. The land and the sea are dead. A few survivors maraude through the land like savage beasts reduced to cannibalism. The father and his son scavenge for what they can find in abandoned homes, trying to stay warm in biting cold, always on the edge of starvation.If this sounds grim, it is. I could only take it a few pages at a time.But the writing is so spare, with not a word wasted; the dialogue terse and powerful; the descriptions so evocative that you can't stop reading.The relationship that emerges between the father and son is lovely. These two at least cling to humanity. As the son says, they are the "good guys."It takes a rare, unflinching vision to conjure a future like this. There isn't much to grab hold of that will warm the heart. It's the kind of book that will stay with you.

How is the write like?

books

dark

atmosphere

dead

people

b988b2a0e020559efc610be2681df8c1

0ac333eb5fa7578aff55233c1e543e57

aa8bfc3139f3240dc26fd4153b97d227

0307265439

Despite the stomach-turning content, the first word that comes to mind for this book is "beautiful." The book celebrates the survival of goodness despite complete hopelessness and despair. The atmosphere of the novel is utterly dark and at times disgusting, but the beauty of the relationship between the father and son and the other elements of goodness that continue to survive shines through the darkness. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who believes that the light shines in the darkness and that the human spirit can survive any catastrophe.

What could be upsetting about the people?

books

grim

story

depressing

story

1701d328200e92c69901c8eef4d0e7e9

b8246ccd3fa5e69ff57056d7e8d7f4ba

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0307265439

I rate books on how much of an impact they have on me and whether or not I will think about or want to discuss the contents after I've read the last page and closed the cover.The Roadis a post apocalyptic novel that will stay with me a very long time. The bleakness of the journey that this unnamed father and son embark on is quickly evident -- they are going south but have no real plan and no endpoint or destination in mind. They traverse an unrelenting and very bleak landscape of ash and burnt out flora, fauna and civilization -- devoid of any life except for the occasional creature that bears little resemblance to what was once humankind. The man and the boy stick to the endless blacktop, the road -- the only somewhat permanent residual marker in a very changed world. They walk by day, pushing a metal grocery cart full of their meager possessions, avoiding the marauding bands of cannibals and even the lone survivors as trust is not a trait they can afford to have when it is survival of the fittest at stake.Though the story is very grim, the love and protectiveness that the father has for his son is the only light in this otherwise very depressing narrative. They are all unto each other -- there is no one else and nothing else. Memories that the man has are soon discarded as his reality is faced with plugged determination -- a search for food, water, warmth -- merely to survive another day.I'm eager to see the movie based on this book and hope it's a faithful adaptation. This is definitely a novel that I will think about time and again as it haunts me with its stark portrayal of whatever comes after "the end of the world as we knew it."I gave this 5 stars, not because it was a pleasant story, but because of the impact it had on my psyche and my senses as I read it.I can't really say I LOVED this book, but I did live it.Recommend.

What is the sentiment of the story?

books

poetic

prose

poetic

write

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Considering that "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, a review at this point is a bit silly and self-satisfying. You already know the book is extremely good. There is nothing revelatory that I can add to a review, I can only restate what others have said, but feel so affected by the book that I must address it, even in the face of being redundant."The Road" is a brilliant, stark book dripping with absolute bleakness and despair that transcends most human experience. It is the literary equivalent of what the utter lack of hope in life must feel like, an ugly grotesqueness that is alien to most of our emotional landscapes.Such an absolute lack of hope is something that the majority of people, thankfully, never truly experience. The all-consuming feeling that the struggle for life is fruitless is unnatural, it is not human qua human. The brilliance of McCarthy's novel is that it highlights something so deeply human, the enduring loving relationship between a father and his son in the face of extremely dire circumstances, and places this aspect of beauty in an alien and bleak world filled with no conceivable hope.The prose is poetic and strong, establishing a desperate, stark tone in an almost childishly straightforward, yet realistic manner. McCarthy's grammatical simplicity will likely be studied to death by literature students in the future. The story is amazing, constantly punching me emotionally and intellectually, to where the novel lingers with me days after I have finished. Like all transcendent experiences, it is something that one does not easily forget.Last Word:This struggle for survival of a father and his son in a post-apocalyptic future is poignant, beautiful, deeply moving and emotionally troublesome and draining. It is artwork of the highest degree, full of contradictions, answers and questions, comments and revelations, beauty and ugliness. A absolute must read.

How is the write?

books

bleak

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dead

people

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I wish I loved this as everyone else seemed to. And line by line, it's pretty much impossible to deny that McCarthy is one of the greatest living writers. That said...how familiar was this conceit? How thin was its execution? How many descriptions of the grey, grey landscape do we need? We get it! Things are reallllllly bleak.He seems (to me, at least) to be ripping off his own themes from earlier works. That people are very, very bad is driven home for about 95% of the book. And then: surprise! A vaguely happy ending. Maybe there IS hope. Maybe SOME people aren't that terrible. But nah, most of them really are. I know, Cormac. I read your other stuff too. Get a new angle, would ya?

What could be upsetting about the people?

books

fascinating

character

complex

book

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Gah! I feel bereft. I know all good things must end, but Wow! I will miss having more of these books to look forward too.Every one I read, I thought it's the best of the trilogy. And maybe this one was. For me, it seemed a bit less flawed than "Fire", but "Fire" had so much more Salander, so I'll stick with "Fire" as my favorite, but this one was great, too.The characters are fascinating, the story-telling is top notch, the detail is interesting and relevant. As this book unfolded, I felt even more impressed with the story telling, because it was very clear that the whole trilogy had been conceived from the start. It was so well-plotted.Another thing I really liked about this series was to gain insight into another culture. In this book there was a court proceeding, and it's impossible as a US citizen not to have a preconceived idea of a court proceeding. This was very different, and I kept saying to myself "well, that's ridiculous, that wouldn't happen that way in court", and then I'd remind myself ... Maybe it does happen that way in Sweden. It's just fascinating. I'd love to observe a Swedish trial just to observe the differences.I didn't feel it mattered all that much if you read "Dragon Tattoo" before "Fire", but having read this book I'd say you definitely want to read the first two first.Even if this isn't your normal genre, I highly recommend the series.Stieg - I'm so sorry you didn't get to enjoy your success. But Bravo!

Is it easy to get this book?

books

fascinating

story

fascinating

life

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What makes this book so special is how richly it reveals details of the characters lives. Subtle details which create a vivid sense of time and place create for the reader a rich tapestry of places, people and culture. The story is fascinating, at times cruel and tragic, but very readable. If you are interested in Japan, it is a must. For others, it is worthy of your time.

Do you want to have a long life?

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smart

story

great

time

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Not a reader of best-sellers, nor a fan of fallacy-maker kind of pseudo-historian writer so "en vogue" nowadays, I could not put down this book from the first page.The Da Vinci Code is a great piece of fun! Ok, not everything the book says is worth to be taken seriously, but that's why fiction is called fiction. The story is smart, the characters are not brilliant creations but work fine, and the descriptions and research work of the author are good enough to make you imagine the places and situation even if you know well the actual places described in the novel.Forget the discussions and ENJOY the original. Let yourself to be trapped into the story, look later for material about the places of the book if you want so, get SERIOUS (not "the da vinci code blah blah storys) material and read it. But do not forget that, above all, this book is one of the smartest mass-market novels of the last years. Something well worth to look at just for the joy of reading.If you can, I recommend buyng this illustrated edition. Hard-Cover, not expensive, very informative. A good value for money in a nice book for any home library. And a good first step and reference for your own research on the subject, if you want.

How can I save the great time to not be late?

books

fictional

character

fictional

story

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A mix between "Eyes Wide Shut", "National Treasure" and Oliver Stone's "JFK", Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code is an exciting novel wrapped in intrigue, suspense, and controversy.To criticize the book for offering one dimensional characters, silly plot twists, and predictable discoveries about conniving figures who we thought were good-guys would be disingenuous on my part, since I particularly enjoy entertaining stories without much depth. Curator Jacques Sauniere is murdered in the Louvre, and professor Robert Langdon, innocent yet the primary suspect, and cryptologist/granddaughter of the victim Sophie Neveu go on a wild adventure running separately from the cops, the tall limping albino Opus Dei monk who really committed the murder, and the secret "Teacher" orchestrating the crime, while at the same time trying to figure out the mystery behind the hidden secret Sauniere was killed for. We find out that Sauniere was part of a secret society, the Priory of Sion, that has and protects the true identity and nature of the Holy Grail. The Albino monk is Silas, a member of spooky Catholic organization Opus Dei, working for his mentor Archbishop Aringarosa and the unknown Teacher, to seek out the Grail for ad majorem dei gloriam. French police chief Bezu Fache seems too religious, and arouses suspicion about his motives in pursuing Langdon. Luckily, Langdon knows Sir Leigh Teabing, a prominent Grail scholar eager to help in their search, in the hopes of revealing the "truth" of the Grail to a world that has been denied it by the "evil" Church. But, would Sauniere really have wanted the truth revealed?It would be simple if this work of fiction were really just a lighthearted work of fiction. However, Brown offers a disclosure stating that certain parts of the book are true. Yes, he is sure to point out that, while the Priory of Sion and Opus Dei exist, the main characters who are members are fictional, and while pointing out that descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals are true, he never makes any claims about the historical theories put forth by the characters. Yet, it is these claims by the characters that have excited the popular imagination and must be confronted.Both Langdon and Teabing refer anachronistically to "the Vatican" when criticizing past historical actions of the Church. Whether or not the claims made about the Church are true, it is incorrect to refer to the actions of "the Vatican" in the 15th century, much less the 3rd and 4th century. Vatican Hill, the location in Rome where St. Peter's Basilica and Vatican City are located, has only in the last few centuries been the seat of Church governance. Before then, the Pope's home base (and still the official Cathedral Church of the diocese of Rome) was the Cathedral of St. John Lateran in Rome. The 4th century, the era most derided in the book, the Pope was not in practical terms "in charge" of the Church, and East and West were still more than half a millennium from splitting. The Catholic Church as we know today, and Teabing loves to bash, was not around then. There was a Catholic Church, but it included both West and East, Latin and Greek, unlike today, where it is just Latin and few Eastern Rite Churches.Teabing and Langdon's major theses involve the idea that the Holy Grail is not the chalice of the Last Supper, but the blood line of the children of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene, a 2000 year old secret that would shock the world. We learn in the book that the Priory of Sion heroically protects the secret by meeting and having "Eyes Wide Shut" style orgies. But, why keep this fact a secret? Why not tell the whole world that Mary Magdalene and our homeboy JC got...it...on? Then we can all have orgies.Book claim: "Constantine made Jesus divine." But you see, Teabing tells Sophie when Langdon and she seek refuge in his mansion, the Church has suppressed this truth. All the early Christian followers "knew" that Jesus was just a swell guy, descended from the royal blood of David who married Mary Magdalene of the royal line of Benjamin to make a super royal bloodline. But, Emperor Constantine ruined all the fun. He had the JC-MM marriage written out of the Bible, and decided to "make" Jesus divine at the Council of Nicea in 325, in what turned out to be a real close vote. Now, since Jesus is divine, no one can challenge the Christian religion of the Empire. A divine Jesus could not have a wife, so Mary Magdalene gets hush-hushed. From then on out, Christianity phased out the pagan practices of goddess worship, cut out the divine feminine, and the world started stinking.My rebuttal: Whether or not Jesus is divine is matter of faith. However, from a historical perspective, it is incorrect to claim that Constantine is the first to call Jesus divine. Since the time of Jesus, there have been many followers who have considered Jesus to be God, to be one with the Father. Yes, there also were followers, such as Arius, who placed Jesus as less than God, and the merits of the decision at Nicea is a much wider topic than a book review, but it is historically false to claim that there were not early Christians who believed in Christ's divinity. Also, the vote at Nicea was not close. It was an extreme majority that voted in favor of the Creed.Book claim: "Jesus married Mary Magdalene." It is claimed by Teabing and Langdon that Jesus must have married Mary Magdalene because he loved her, references to kisses he gave her in apocrophal (non-canonical) gospels, and the "fact" that all Jewish men married then.My rebuttal: However, in reality there is solid evidence against the view that Jesus married. NOT all Jewish men married. There was always a place for asceticism in Judaism. The Dead Sea Scrolls, just discovered at Nag Hammadi in 1945, were not early Christian texts, as mentioned in the DaVinci Code, but rather Jewish religious texts written by the Essenes, one group among a number of Jewish celibate ascetics, the equivalent of later Christian monks. While most Jewish men married, it was not unheard of for some to remain celibate. And, since marriage was looked highly upon, and all the great Jewish leaders from the Old Testament were married and had their wives mentioned, the only reason not to mention a wife of Jesus was that he probably did not have one. After all, at this time, it would have made Jesus look better to have been married. The only reason not to mention it is it is not true.Book claim: "Sex is sacred." We can see the true colors of the Priory of Sion, the defenders of the "truth" of the Grail, in Sophie's traumatizing experience that drove her from her grandfather. An orgy to show that sex is sacred? Actually, this is not a "new" idea. All of the ancient pagan religions believed that sex was divine, and many practiced ritualized sex. This is supposedly in contrast to the Church, which through the "fictional" story of Original Sin, has made sex dirty and shameful.My rebuttal: It is true that the Church does not consider sex to be divine. Unlike the straw-man that is set up to be torn down in the DaVinci Code, the Church also does not consider sex to be evil or dirty. Sex is a normal human activity. Not demonic or divine. It is good and a gift of God, but thoroughly human. And, frankly, whether one is someone who believes that sex is only for marriage or that sex is for any two (or more) consenting adults, I think we can all agree that it is kind of creepy and weird to call sex divine or sacred or religious. It does not cure cancer or make you fly or anything. It's sex. Even animals do it.Book claim: "No need to reveal the "truth" of the Holy Grail." Let's pretend for a second that there really was a big cover up, and the Church has kept the Priory of Sion, under threat, from revealing the truth, and that is why they have to keep the bloodline of Jesus and Mary Magdalene a secret, only meeting once in awhile to perform some, um, rituals. Teabing is secretly the Teacher orchestrating the murder of Sauniere and seeking out the Grail because he thinks the "truth" that JC and MM married should be shouted from the rooftops. Langdon hedges, because Sauniere, the Grand Master leader of the Sion's, did not want it told, and, as Langdon says, "if you and I could dig up documentation that contradicted holy stories of...belief, should we do that?" After all, "those who truly understand their faiths understand the stories are metaphorical," i.e. religious faith is based on fantasy, and it does not matter what one believes if it makes him feel good and he is nice to others. Plus, as we find out from Sophie's long lost grandmother who is not really dead like we earlier thought, the "truth" about Mary Magdalene and Jesus' marriage is found in art, historical objects, writings, phallic objects, and nature. Riiiiight. No reason to tell people the truth. We are the enlightened ones who have it.My rebuttal: Obviously, this is very patronizing. It conjures up images of the Grand Inquisitor who "knew" there was no God, but burned heretics to spare people the unbearable truth of a life without hope. If something is true, why not reveal it? And, the idea that the "important" truths are meant to be hidden and only known by the enlightened few is not Christianity, but Gnosticism. True Christianity is for everybody. Jesus did not come for just for the enlightened few. His message is for us all.If Jesus is just a man, and not divine, what is the point of worshipping him, or Mary Magdalene, or their "sacred" bloodline? The reason why Christians worship Jesus, and do not just revere him as a prophet like Moses or Muhammad, is because we believe him to be the God whose love is stronger than death, who offers us hope for new life after this one. And, far from disgracing Mary Magdalene's name, the Church honors her. Who but she is revered as the one who is definitively present at the empty tomb to witness the Risen Lord?

What is the story like?

books

real

people

great

gift

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0307277674

After watching this book stay on the bestseller list for month after month, I decided to finally discover for myself what this book was about. And boy was I surprised. Although the characters are fictional, the historical events and people are real. This book allowed me to see Christianity in a different light. But I am skeptical as to how much of it is true. Many of the reviewers of this book complain that the book is full of inaccuracies and mistakes, but I thought it was a great read. It's fiction, albeit historical fiction, but what did some of the readers expect when they opened a work of fiction? Fact? I hope not. All I know is that I couldn't put this book down until I finished it. I found it interesting, informative, and suspensful. That is probably what Dan Brown intended the book to be and that is what I got from it. And for that, it was worth my time and money.

How did you like the gift?

books

fascinating

matter

interesting

matter

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Since the book has been out for almost a year, guess I'm a late bloomer on this one. I'd have to say it's THE best book I've read in ages.The subject matter is fascinating and illuminating. Brown did a tremendous job taking the topic and weaving a superb suspense novel. It's classified as fiction, however, it certainly has some very valid points. With the world situation as it is, it made this reader pause and think.I already have Angels & Demons sitting here ready to start. A genius of an author with a unique twist on an old subject. The story gripped me till the very end, as one twist after another was revealed.Well done!

How is the matter?

books

good

description

great

detail

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I don't see what all the fuss is about. This novel is a page turner, no doubt about that, with an intriguing plot. Since there are so many reviews here which go over the story I won't go into it -- However I have to say as one of those people who can look at a painting and NOT see mysterious symbolism and plots all over the place I took this novel for what it was - a work of fiction that was a fast read and that's all. I don't think Catholics have to get upset over all the theories this story puts forth, since that's all they are: theories for a work of fiction.Characters are well-drawn and the descriptions are good. I agree with other reviewers that it reads like a movie treatment - it didn't hurt to compare Robert Langdon to Harrison Ford early in the story, and I agree it was probably intentional. Can an option for a movie starring Ford be far behind??

How was the detail?

books

fresh

write

great

time

d2d1e7cf1c6c7a5622f11f058e99423e

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0307277674

Okay, this was the first Dan Brown book I've read and it was nothing short of EXCELLENT. The writing is fresh and doesn't waste time wwith lagging descriptions; the observations made of interesting and give you a good scope of the characters and settings.Robert Langdon, a symbology professor at Harvard, finds himself mixed-up in the case of the murder of the famous currator of the Louvre. Accompanied by the victim's clever granddaughter, Sophie Nevue, the two make their escape from Paris, on a mysterious scavenger hunt linked to the Priory of Sion, an ancient organization that protects the Holy Grail from the Vatican Church. Sophie, who had not spoken to her grandfather in a decade because of a Sion rite that she had witnessed, starts to realize the truth about her family.Her grandfather's murderer, an agent of the Opus Dei, a strictly conservative Catholic organization, continues to chase them through Europe, alongside Parisian police.A spicy work; Dan Brown shows enormous prowess at his trade. I loved all the history interwined with the plot and the fascinating conspiracy of Christ's questionable divinity. This the laugh, sit-on-the-edge of your chair, and make-you-think type of book. Top notch adventure and a twist of romance. Perfect.-Liaden

How can I save the great time to not be late?

books

controversial

book

not new

idea

5e4a3c22901dada74df03c982145ffdc

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This is an excellent thriller. However, I must warn you, this book can be controversial. Essentially, the Da Vinci code focuses on the "Grail Legend." In reality, this book is an extention of "Holy Blood, Holy Grail."The Priory of Sion has an ancient secret about the Merovingian dynasty. This secret can potentially change history and firmly established religious beliefs.A misguided monk -- thinking he is doing God's work -- murders the Grand Master of the Priory of Sion and his three "Guardians." However, the grand Master of this secret society scrolls a message which implicates a American expert on ancient symbols.The American professor, Robert Langdon and the granddaughter of the murdered grand master, travel a dangerous journey to uncover the truth about the Holy Grail.The book is quick reading. Once you pick it up, you won't put it down.This book has been denounced as anti-Catholic. This is not even remotely true. As a matter of fact, this book helps people come to grips with the origins of the Roman Catholic Church. After reading this book, you will come to the realization that Constantine was actually the "first Pope."After reading this book, you will see evidence of the "sacred feminine" in the most unlikely places.

How many new ideas do you have?

books

fascinating

book

true

fact

f6cb20bb218a2b9b3bba31616fea9a10

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0307277674

I am overwhelmed by this remarkable novel that totally blew me away, with its richly detailed narrative and intricate plot. Sat on the edge of my seat in suspense throughout this has to be one of the finest mysteries ever written, with the author adding such realism (via facts and atmospheric elements) as to bring the story to life. Fascinating, intriguing and so interesting this absorbing book is one that captures your interest as you loose yourself within the most intense, dramatic and momentous mystery of all-time. Wow! This extraordinarily brainy thriller is just perfection itself and which not since reading Harry Potter by JK Rowling, have I been swept away by this breathless chase and compelling tale. Lies and deception amidst truth shrouded in secrets and secrecy where intrigue and menace mingle; the enigma that is piled on secrets and stacked on riddles will have you guessing until the very last page. This amazing, astonishing tale was so full of fascinating detail that I just could not get enough of Dan Brown; hence I can now honestly say that I am a ardent fan.Harvard Professor Robert Langdon one night receives an urgent phone call whilst he is staying in Paris; stating that the elderly curator (Jacques Sauniérè) of the Louvre has been brutally murdered inside the museum in the Grand gallery. Alongside the body the police have found some baffling codes and as Langdon together with renowned Cryptologist Sophie Neveu, try to decipher them and uncover the message that the Professor was trying to give other secrets are being hidden from them both... As they sort through the bizarre riddles they are stunned to find that it leads them to the works of Leonardo Da Vinci - suggesting the answer to a mystery that stretches deep into the vault of history itself. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine code and quickly assemble the pieces of the puzzle, a stunning historical truth will be lost forever.This fast-paced, action packed story is one that never looses momentum with the chase never letting up until all the pieces of the puzzle are found. The entire concept is just pure genius and which is so exceedingly clever, and a masterful achievement by an author whose writing has exceeded all expectations for a wide-readership. Facts within the book include:*The Priory of Sion - A European secret society founded in 1099, which is a real organization. In 1975 Paris's Bibliothèque Nationale discovered parchments known as Les Dossiers secrets, identifying numerous members of the Priory of Sion, including Sir Isaac Newton, Sandro Botticelli, Victor Hugo and Leonardo Da Vinci.The Vatican prelature known as Opus Dei is a deeply devout Catholic sect that has been the topic of recent controversy due to reports of brain-washing, coercion and a dangerous practice known as `Corporal Mortification'. Opus Dei has just completed construction of a $47 million national headquarters at 243 Lexington Avenue in New York City.*All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents and secret rituals within this novel are accurate.The Bishop Aringarosa and his protégé the albino Silas are two characters whom really stand-out within this novel of good VS evil, propelling the exciting plot on as you plunge head-first into a most thrilling tale. Murder, lies and secrecy envelop you as you follow Robert Langdon and Sophie on their quest to expose the truth beneath all the camouflage and out into the open. I never thought that I would be so deeply moved by a graphic, explicit and at times horrific thriller that was bloodthirsty and driven by ambitious men who in the name of God took the liberty of concealing one of the greatest secrets of all-time. Dan Brown's masterpiece is truly epic, mind-blowing and totally spectacular therefore I cannot enthuse enough about it nor praise it more highly - as this is not a genre that I would read often. Mind games are played as you unravel the past which cleverly merges into the present, linking us to our past in such a way that is astonishing and awe-inspiring. If you are looking for adventure, danger, twists & turns and those moments that send chills down your spine then this is a must-read!!!

How is the fact?

books

good

novel

average

book

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In case you've been living under a rock this past year, Twilight is the first book in Stephanie Meyer's series about devastatingly beautiful vampire Edward and his human love interest, Bella. This book is basically a Gothic romance, written for teenage girls. That said, however, I do think it is a well-written example of the romance genre.Our story is told from Bella's perspective, and she is a fully-drawn character. Bella moves to Forks, Oregon, from sunny Phoenix to live with her father. On her first day at school, she notices the gorgeous Edward, a pale-skinned student who turns out to be her lab partner. Over the next few days, she keeps "noticing" him, and Edward notices her, too. Pretty soon, Edward is saving Bella's life, and Bella is falling hopelessly in love in the way only a 17-year-old girl can.I thought the novel was good enough. Many of the lines were trite and over-the-top, but that's to be expected from a romance. If anything bothered me, it was Meyer's penchant for hyperbole. Everything was extreme. Edward is too gorgeous, too appealing, too "perfect" (a descriptor, and one that I don't like, that Meyer uses often). No wonder Catherine Hardwicke (director of the film adaptation, which came out this year) had such a hard time casting the role of Edward. It's like looking for a Cleopatra or Helen of Troy. And if such physical perfection DOES exist, you better hope like hell that this guy can a.) speak English and b.) ACT.I thought Twilight (and probably the rest of the novels in the series, too) would have made for a great beach read. I probably won't pick up the next book in the series until I'm lying in the sand, in search of some easy, undemanding entertainment.

Where can I buy best book ?

books

unrealistic

character

weak

write

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030728090X

I read Twilight on vacation last week and was completely disappointed. I realize this book was written for young adults, but even young adults should be insulted at how juvenille it was. Setting the sci-fi aspect of the novel aside, the characters and their interactions were completely unrealistic. Anyone in HS knows better than to believe this is how teenagers behave. There was a bonfire on the beach without booze, cigarettes, hooking up or spin-the-bottle? There was talk of the dance and the prom, but no after-party or sex? It's unrealistic b/c even if the kids aren't doing it, they are still talking about it.Aside from the problems I had with what I mentioned above, the story was poorly developed. First, Bella's character was boring, unexciting, unromantic, unEVERYTHING. It was unbelievable that nobody in Pheonix took a liking to her, but every guy in Forks fell head over feet for her? Most upsetting of all is that Edward's attraction to her wasn't b/c he loved her, it was b/c she smelled like the best piece of prime rib in the school.My last complaint (for this review anyway) is that the author had a tendency to repeat herself throughout the novel. How many times did we need to go over the same concepts?I don't recommend this book to anyone over 12.

How solid is this write?

books

how fantastic

book

able to do

author

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59afa395e12be538122e208553925251

030728090X

Wow, this was bad. I'd been hearing about how fantastic this book was from co-workers so I was really excited to read it. I almost purchased it, but I decided to wait for it from the library. Thank Goodness!The story starts off very slowly with the narration from a dull 17 year old. It drags on about how she hates her life in the new town, blah, blah. Then to she becomes obsessed with the mysterious abnormally attractive dude. She notices some strange things about him. This part, after we stop hearing about Bella's family life and before she gets to know Edward is the best part of the book. After she discovers his secret and they become closer the story just drowns on. Its just filler until the silly ending because how many different ways can they say I love you? How many times do we have to hear Bella whinning about being ordinary and Ed exclaiming she's perfect? HOW MANY TIMES CAN BELLA BABBLE ON ABOUT HOW PERFECT EDWARD IS?? BLAH, BLAH!!!!!I read the second book because I got it from the library at the same time. I didnt have a desire to read it after I finished Twilight and had to force myself, it was only marginally better. I have no desire to read the last 2.I cant understand how grown women actually like this trite drivel, I'll be giving my co-workers a firm talking to when I see them.

What does hemingway author achieve?