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| Name : | Kathy P. |
My Reviews
We have a bookclub consisting of five friends. Of the five, only 2 of us really liked the book. Only one of us read the entire series.
Even though not everyone liked the book, we did have an excellent discussion, which I think is most important. Therefore, I would recommend this book for bookclubs.
This is most definitely one of my all time favorite books. I would recommend it to all book clubs! Our book club had a very indepth discussion about the characters, their love of literature, the interaction between the characters, the affect of the Germans on Guernsey Island, the atrocities the Islanders witnessed, and how their book society kept them somewhat sane during their difficult 5 years.
I wish, along with my other book club members, that the book would never end! We loved so many characters and through their letters we felt we knew so many of them personally.
Okay, I would recommend this book for other bookclubs because it really made for a great discussion last evening when our bookclub met. Even though not everyone liked the book, some thought it was too long , that the author spent too much time on some details, and a few characters that he spent time developing a bit - he never went back to them for closure. I think when club members have varying degrees of opinions of a particlar book - those are the books that make great books for bookclubs! That's why I'm recommending it.
I thought all of the main characters were very well developed and their storylines. It is a big book, so you've got to devote time to it. The last 100 pages really begin to pull everything together. Give it a try!
One of the best bookclub discussions we have ever had!! I recommend this for all bookclubs. Not only did we discuss the book itself, but alot of the religious aspects of the book.
This was a wonderfully written fictional account of the Holocaust. So many are written pertaining to how the Jews were affected, but this was the first one I read concerning how some Germans were affected. The main characters of Anna and her daughter Trudy became so real to me. I loved this book!
This was one of my favorite books! The character development was wonderful! Quite a thriller! It is the first book in a series. The next one is, The Girl Who Played With Fire. I've purchased it.
The Help, was an overwhelming success as far as the discussion went with this novel for our bookclub! Personally, I felt the character development was so well done, it was like being part of each characters life. Skeeter is a strong woman for the early 1960's. Aibileen and Minny you grow to love. Miss Hilly, you grow to dispise. I wonder if Kathryn Stockett has plans to continue the story of, The Help??!!
The book was good, but not one of my favorites. We did have a great discussion because of the love story and of course the diary!
Tatiana did a beautiful job of bringing history to life. It was intertwining the past with the present which we felt made the message of the story so powerful. She informed and enlightened our group since we didn't know this particular part of history concerning the Holocaust.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet contains many elements which make it an excellent choice for book clubs to talk about. We were of the same opinion that cultural diversity and prejudices and loyalties were at the heart of Ford’s book. The story is told from the past and the present. It alternates from Henry as a 56-year-old to Henry as a 12-year-old boy living in Seattle at the time of World War II. It revolves around Henry Lee, who is Chinese and his friendship with a Japanese girl, Keiko Okabe. It’s a story of young love and the lengths one will go for it.
It was informative as to the pride of the Chinese and how it played an important role in the book. Henry’s relationship with his father was a component of the novel we probably addressed throughout the evening because as the book proceeds to the present, the reader learns of Henry’s relationship with his own son, Marty.
Music, in particular, jazz, plays an integral ingredient as well. Henry becomes friends with jazz musician, Sheldon Thomas, which in turn introduces Henry as well as Keiko, to the music of Oscar Holden and the song, “The Alley Cat Strut.” The 78” record of this song we all felt was very symbolic also.
The Panama Hotel seemed to be a character in itself throughout the book. Our group felt this is where “the bitter and the sweet” converged from beginning to the end.
We all agreed our favorite quote from the book, referring to Henry’s father, was, “His father had said once that the hardest choices in life aren’t between what’s right and wrong but between what’s right and what’s best.” (p. 204) Without giving anything away, we liked it because it too many of us, it was the heart of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.
Found the author's memoir was funny, yet she goes through a life altering change when she loses her job. Jen Lancaster is very witty, sarcastic, smart, loves material items, & loves herself! After she loses her job, she slowly changes and evolves into somewhat of a different person. She realizes what truly is important in life. She begins to care for others and not just herself.
Since most of our book club members went to a Catholic grade school we found a special bond with this book.
Sorry to see this trilogy end! It was a fantastic storyline with all of the twists and turns it took! Lizbeth is quite a strong character! I will miss her! Revenge is sweet!
Our book club had a lively discussion with this book. On the whole we all liked it and found it to be an enjoyable light read.
There were several layers to The Burgess Boys, but first and foremost, its about family and how family dynamics can shape a person's life. When young Zachary (son of Susan Burgess) is accused of committing a horrendous crime, Jim & Bob, both successful lawyers in New York, come back to their small hometown in Maine to lend their assistance. As I delved further into the book several underlying issues and deep past hidden secrets gradually came to light, specifically a tragedy all three shared as young children. Each well developed storyline in The Burgess Boys slowly evolved drawing me further and further into the lives of siblings, Susan, Jim, & Bob Burgess.
Throughout the novel I saw each sibling struggling with personal issues which they tried to break free of and change. As a reader, I found myself caring and hoping Susan, Bob, & Jim would find the strength to move forward and conquer what was weighing each sibling down. Strout once again has written a endearing and remarkable story.
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