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readingrat's Reviews |
4.0 stars
This probably would have worked better as a short story rather than a full sized novel, but overall it was a good, quick read that held my interest.
5.0 stars
Queen Betsy is back and just as funny as ever. I particularly enjoyed the appearance of Evil Betsy and her hell spawn half-sister.
3.0 stars
A story of two friends during their last year in a private boarding school in 1942. This was a good story but it didn't really do much to set itself apart from other similar stories.
5.0 stars
Beautifully written and plotted - this is easily one of the most compelling books I've read all year. I would award it 6 stars if I could. Plus, this author really knows dogs. His canine characters are every bit as diverse, developed, and realistic as their human counterparts.
4.0 stars
This is a story of a family. While the catalyst of the story is the stroke and subsequent lapse into coma of Joel Litvinoff, the father, that familial drama actually takes a back seat to the search-for-self that each of the other members of the family experience at this time. Audrey, the mother, apart from her husband of 40 years for the first time, begins to discover that the contentious mask she donned as a young girl has gradually hardened over the years and has changed her. The children, Rosa, Karla, and Lenny, are all looking for a way to define themselves. Rosa turns back to the religion her great-grandparents previously deserted. Karla, an exceptionally passive and submissive person, looks for a way to take control of her life and happiness. And Lenny tries to free himself from drugs and become a contributing member of society. Throw into that mix an ex-lover and illegitimate child of Joel's and you have fireworks waiting to happen. (read less)
This is a story of a family. While the catalyst of the story is the stroke and subsequent lapse into coma of Joel Litvinoff, the father, that familial drama actually takes a back seat to the search-for-self that each of the other members of the family experience at this time. Audrey, the mother, apart from her husband of 40 years for the first time, begins to discover that the contentious mask she donned as a young girl has gradually hardened over the years and has changed her. ... (read more)
4.5 stars
A unique angle to the traditional apocalyptic thriller. It starts out pretty weak and at times feels a little preachy and repetitive, but ultimately gets interesting enough towards the end to encourage me to give the second book a look.
5.0 stars
An edgy story of love gone wrong and love gone right, told from two points of view.
4.0 stars
The characters are all throw-backs to an earlier era (I originally thought the novel was taking place in the seventies until references to the first Gulf War placed the story somewhere in the early nineties). There are a few scenes that do little to advance the plot or develop the characters and just make the book that much longer, but overall this is a well-written and interesting study on how a select group of people react to events of extreme stress.
4.0 stars
I really enjoyed the action in this, along with the hometown St. Louis local references, but was disappointed by a weak ending.
4.0 stars
Works better as a character driven novel than a mystery/thriller.