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| Name : | Patti C. |
My Reviews
Our group liked this book. It was a different kind of novel for most of us not the "whodunnit" kind of mystery we were looking for but more of a "Sixth Sense" kind of mystery. We had a great conversation at book group
Our club chose this as our summer read because I knew the author writes an easy to read, enjoyable book...nothing too heavy. This book was very enjoyable. You cannot help but think about your own wishes for your life and about how we have to know what our dreams are before we can attain them.
Set in rural Indiana a young boy tells the story of the summer he learned about really being a family and all the messy and often sad things that happen in family life. But the story is joyful in the love the family has and how they rally to care for one another. Our book club chose this book because we live near the setting of this novel. It was interesting to explore what farm life was/is like. This book has lots of great themes for group discussion...poor judgement, medical issues, feeling outcast, protecting our families, just to name a few.
Three Cups of Tea will leave you feeling small and hopeful and wonderful and tearful. Greg Mortenson shows us all that we can change the world if we are determined enough and are willing to work hard enough. This book opens your eyes to a part of the world we here so much about that is negative and invites you to see the real people there full of hope and anxious to change and better their lives. A great read!
Jodi Picoult allows us to wrestle with the idea of euthanasia as an act of love. I have my own strong feelings about it but found myself, surprisingly, routing for the guy who did the killing. This book was a bit difficult to get into (unlike other Picoult books I have read that you can't put down) but there are some great themes for discussion. In typical Picoult fashion you finish the book feeling a litle bit iritated which I believe is her goal all along. As an author she makes you think about things in a different light. Recommend for a lively discussion.
Don't let the Hitchhiker on!
This book never quite gave me enough about the characters to really feel connected to them and to make me really care about them. The premise of the book was interesting but the actual story was disappointing. The book was also confusing at times as the charcters bounce from past to present.
Walk through the lives of best friends Kate and Tully. They help each other through the highs and lows of life and eventually realize what true friendship really means.
Set in Mississippi during the turbulent times of segregation, The Help opens your eyes to what people endured because of prejudice. The book is well written and just fascinating. This is a book that makes you appreciate how far we have come but it is so hard to believe that we were ever in that place to begin with!
The Tender Bar chronicles the upbringing of a boy who is deserted by his father and spends his life searching for who he really is. Interesting book that mostly keeps your attention. The author makes you feel a lot of his emotions which is a testament to his writing ability. Our book club had a good discussion since there were many topics to discuss...single parenthood, alcoholism, drinking, male role models, men and their ability to share friendships. I would recommned this for book clubs.
The theme of the book was great but the author just took way too much time with mundane details and then didn't really develop the characters enough that you really cared about what happened in the story. There were some up moments and some good thought provoking ideas which will make for a decent discussion but overall I found this book to be too long and often boring.
It takes about 100 pages for the author to set you up to know all the characters that will play a role in this intriguing and very well written mystery. The characters are amazingly woven into and out of eachother's storylines. The subject matter can be gruesome at times but overall the subject of abuse is handled well.
This story will move you and maybe even inspire you to make some changes in your own life. A great read and great for book group discussion.
This book was not anything special. You figure out about 50 pages in exactly what is going to happen...and that's what happens. The weaving in of scripture, while commendable, is actually awkward and you cannot believe that such conversations would ever really happen. Not a bad book but nothing really meaty to discuss in a book group.
Written as a series of letters this book was a little difficult for the first 30 pages only because it was difficult to get a grip on the characters. Once you figure out who is who the story is very educational and enjoyable. You really want to know how everyone's story will end.
This is a great book. It explains the beliefs and background of the Catholic Church in an easy to understand, beautiful way! Highly recommend it!
Our whole club loved this book! The charcters are interesting and their stories draw you in. You will love it!
This was a pretty good book. Our discussion was pretty lively. We all felt the ending was completely not appropriate for the character but that ended up making the conversation that much more interesting.
Signs of Life is an emotional and often raw look at grief. A pregnant young wife loses her husband in an accident while anticipating the birth of their first child. While this is a very emotional book it offers real insight into what life is like for someone going through the grieving process. We had an excellent discussion with this book. It is very emotional so I recommend you are careful about what your club members have gone through if you select this book. Don't despair about it being too down though...the author often made me laugh out loud with her honest thoughts about how others behave and the end is uplifting!
This was a great book! The author does a great job developing the characters and you really start to care about them and what happens to them. During the course of reading this book I was angry and sad and anxious and hopeful. For me that is a great book...one that makes you feel emotions and keeps you turning the pages.
I was looking forward to reading this book however I was very disappointed. I cannot even believe a lot of what is written...it seems just too perfectly wrapped up. On top of that, the main character is unlikeable.
This was a wonderful book. It spans the life of 2 young Italians and their journey to America. It is a wonderful love story but also an interesting look into life as an immigrant in America. The author does a great job of weaving history into her story of colorful characters and their hard, and sometimes tragic lives. Lots to talk about for book groups!
Courting Kathleen Hannigan was interesting in its look into life in a large law firm. The story follows a young, ambitious woman on a partner career track in a male dominated firm. The book was a little slow in the beginning but to me the value is in the discussions that can be had regarding discrimination, women in the workplace and the choices women have to make that men usually do not.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry starts out a little slowly, its kind of a slow and winding road as you travel with him. As on any journey there is the slow start and set backs before you really settle in. The book is the same way. Once you start getting onto the truth behind Harold\'s walk and his experiences, he is everyman. The book plays with your emotions and you feel many things as you travel with him. The ultimate ending is moving and truthful and powerful.
Truly an amazing book. The story of a young Tutsi woman living in Rwanda during the genocide. Her story will make you cry at the horror but shake your head in disbelief at her incredible faith and ability to not only move forward in her life but find her way to forgive. There is so much to discuss in this book! Faith, forgiveness, family, bravery v cowardice, the list goes on. Definitely recommend!
This is a great book! CS Lewis wrote this from the perspective of a senior devil who is writing letters to his nephew who is a novice devil. Each chapter is so insightful and thought provoking! Screwtape is the master tempter who has to give the novice insight in to how to lead souls to hell and the best way to get them there. Great book for discussion as there are so many moral and social issues that can be discussed. Highly recommend!
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