A lovely little story with "magical" components a la Practical Magic and The Girl with No Shadow. Slow in the beginning, but quickly became an absorbing nice read with interesting storylines and framing of the story. Throughly enjoyed this entertaining novel.

A women ahead of her time, Skeeter seeks to gather stories from the black maids of well-to-do white women of JAckson, MS at the cusp of the civil rights movement. All of the maids and Skeeter brave job loss, ostracization, injury and perhaps death as they meet in secret to share their stories for a book. An insightful book on race relations in the south among this group of people.

Recommend for book clubs interested in reading mysteries. As many others have described, it's a very slow start unless you are knowledgable & into financial criminal activity. Once the two main characters' lives intersect, the book begins to move as they research clues to Harriet's murder and uncover more about the dysfunctional Vanger family. Once the story moves back to the financial sector in the end, it is somewhat unbelievable, but overall a good read if you don't mind some graphic descriptions of a sex and torture.

This is an quick read with a provocative core/moral dilemma wrapped up in a suspense format. Everyone enjoyed this read and could identify with the main character's wrestle with her conscience and desire to do the right thing. Good discussion questions, in addition it led into moral questions r/t some current stories in the news.

Set during a slice of history I was unfamiliar with; Japanese invasion of Shanghai in 1937 and subsequent Chinese immigration to the US. A story unfolds about the relationship between two sisters as they face a fall from an affluent lifestyle due to their father's debts, are sold into marriages, escape the Japanese and start lives as poor immigrants in LA. Although never living apart, each of them faces this new life and the choices before them in an entirely different manner. This story makes one face the ugliness of how we treat each new wave of immigrants in this country; and it also begs us to think about what makes up a family.

A small but powerful book primarily aimed at women, about taking the time for introspection in our hectic lives. Although written in 1955, Linbergh's words are still resonant today. I read this at age 20 and realize now why I didn't connect with this gem then....I had limited life experiences! She eloquently uses various shells she finds on the beach as analogies to different times/phases of our lives. Lindbergh gets to the heart of finding inner peace and living life in a state "of grace" more quickly and beautifully than currently popular books such as Eat, Pray, Love or Tolle's A New Earth. A must read and keeper to refer to again and again.

It surprised me that I really loved the book despite the less than intriguing excerpt/description; which normally makes you want to pick up the book. I thought the characters were interesting and the author really was able to make you feel you were going through the events with them. Lots of group dynamics and character strengths/flaws are illuminated when the community is forced into an isolated environment.

A mystery that goes no where with characters that are difficult to invest in. A disappoointing read.

A slow-paced but beautifully written story of a hard scrabble life in rural Montana at the turn of the 20th century. Two people come into the lives of a motherless family and impact them in their own unique ways. The prose is a marvel. The wonderful use of language in describing landscape, framing dialogue & action alike is worth reading this book for alone!

Beautifully written story exploring the universal themes of good and evil, love of family, revenge and justice. It took me on an unexpected journey that kept me interested, thinking and savoring the words.

An easy read about women who started out their adult lives in a time when opportunities and expectations for women were limited; yet through their bond negotiated and grew with the changing times. It will resonate with women of a certain age

Overall, I liked the book's overarching theme of the plight of upper class women in the early 1900's and the way of life changing in the wake of WWI; but it was difficult to invest in most of the characters. It was slow moving and the story didn't begin to "hook" the reader until the latter third or even last quarter of the book. The conclusions were not very satisfying. Her next book The Forgotton Garden was much much better.

An easy read. Although I did like the book (it had an interesting storyline), I felt there were many parts, especially the CeeCee section that were poorly written. It was hard to feel alot of sympathy for many of the characters. Some actions of the characters were not explained (i.e. girlfriend's suicide); the ending was unconvincing and too neatly tied up.

A lovely story and quick, easy read. As with all of her books, a little magic & whimsy provides additional interest.

Thoroughly enjoyed this telling of the story. Tension from the very beginning, read like a novel. Engages the reader throughout despite knowing "the story". Excellent!!

An amazing story!!! Another truly incredible telling of the resilience of the human spirit. Almost like reading 3 books in one: the story of growing up and athletic achievements; the war experience; and his integration back into society upon liberation. Although I read alot of history, there is always something new to learn and this does not disappoint. It could be difficult to read at times r/t atrocities perpetrated by the Japanese military personnel and had to take some "time off" from reading it periodically. Well worth keeping at it.

The 8 that gathered to discuss this book were all in agreement- boring at times & had to force oneself to finish the book. There si certainly plenty to discuss. Heminway was completely unsympathetic as were many of the other people in the book as they drifted through life in an apparent acoholic haze! The last couple of chapters were probably the best written & interesting of the whole book. Very disappointing overall

A thoroughly engrossing, although tragic, story set in the South on a plantation. Orphaned young white girl is brought to plantation by the owner and made to work and live with a slave family. Very complex characters & relationships. Twists & turns to the story. Deeply moving.

If you like Dickens, solid writing and a story with twists & turns throughout, you will love this book. Set in London/England during Victorian times, a plan is being formulated to bilk a wealthy man out of his money. Although there are lots of characters, it focuses on two girls- the "heiress" and her maid. The book can be slow in parts but the reader will be rewarded for sticking with it. It's a con gone in unpredictable directions.

Brilliant writing, wonderful character transformation during a 4 month hostage crisis. The story focuses on the relationships that develop between hostages, and hostages & captors. How we communicate is also highlighted as many of the hostages are form different countries with limited language skills. I will say our book club was split between those who really were taken with the writing and those who thought it was just TOO SLOW, losing interest easily.