By no means a literary masterpiece but craftily done only through epistles and revealing an aspect of WWII in a location we knew nothing about.

Trying to add something new beyond all the previous praise (which I agree with), I think this book should precede "Anne Frank" because it is fiction so it provides an emotional "out" for those making their first foray into Holocaust fiction. I think it also presents German citizens in the depth and range of commitment and belief in the Nazi proposition. They were not all cardboard stereotypes of goose-stepping monsters & I think that detail is often brushed over and ignored in a desire to simplify what was a horrifying time of complex loyalties & forces. This book really made me think about my preconceptions and how much I had fallen into the same traps of sterotyping.

You don't read this because you want to read exquisite literature. But, as a fast-paced thriller with intriguing, fact-based elements, Brown does a great job. Set your expectations for what it is, and then you'll find it really enjoyable. The group gave it 8 out of 10.

He DOES have a way with language and has the ability to write, but the self-absorbed, ridiculous, pathetic tale just couldn't keep me to finish it. Half way through I was hoping the book was really going to finally become enticing, but when two people told me the best part was the first half, I was done. Most of the group did not finish it either.

Sedaris is not everyone's cup of tea, especially those who are not open-minded or comfortable with the slaughtering of sacred cows as that is what he does best. However, there is a cynical realism in his writing. It may be ugly but you don't doubt you could find someone just like his characters. We always enjoy reading his books and add his new books to our list.

It's hard to say that you "really like" a book about a serial rapist/killer. But, Junger's style and personal slant, combined with his great investigative style make it a fast read and educational. Most members only had ever heard of the "Boston Strangler" and the rest of the story was all new. Ours is a coed book club and we read non-fiction and non-traditional titles.

I think there is a lot to discuss here but only if people are engaged by the book, which is hard. Her word choices are interesting and her characters are complex...but even after finishing it, I'm not sure her intent or whether I like them.

Being humorous and tongue in cheek, we're not really intended to take all her statements serious. Therefore, you end up debating accuracy or attitudes that she probably doesn't exactly hold. It can be done and the conversation can be interesting but it takes the right questions, otherwise you end up just talking about how funny it is.

Through post-it notes & postcards, doodles & scribbles, a look at the very passionate love between George Carlin & Sally Wade. Only for real fans. Interesting at first but get's boring.

It may be the journal of a husband with Asperger's but there are aspects of every man and every marriage in this story. What is a real challenge to Fincher due to Asperger's can be not so difficult practices for the average couple to instill & keep their own marriage on track. Laugh out loud funny at times. Another great non-fiction read that reads very fast & enjoyably!

Not everyone even finished. No emotional attachment by the characters so we don't really care about them either. No resolution. She has a wonderful way with words, so the potential was there but the story just wasn't engaging.

The story is really enjoyable but there are other \\\"layers\\\" and we had some fun discussing the things it said about teachers (real vs playing teacher), about Budos view of the world, especially through TV and how he sort of had the black and white \\\"vision\\\" of kids to see things but not understand things, and then to understand things that adults couldn\\\'t see (the relationship of Dee & Sal.)

Heavy on coincidence. Full of real people, and historical backdrop. Being somewhat light-hearted, it\'s easy to read it at the surface but you could also judge Allan a little more harshy if you want and talk about some of his not so honest or heroic behavior. The discussion has a lot of room to go in different directions.

A Satire/Horror of Academia, there is a lot of "theory" tossed around and not being "inside", it was hard to tell often where reality ended and the hyperbole began. For those inside that world, hard to say if it would be painfully accurate or satisfyingly malicious. The supernatural aspect was maybe unnecessarily overblown and the ending was WEIRD!!!!!!

Vonnegut's reputation precedes him so you expect to really like this modern satirist, especially if one agrees with the commentary he was running on society & the direction we were/are headed. But, even when I knew he was making a point, & I sensed I probably agreed, his way of making it was still hard to grasp. There is no protagonist to get behind. Maybe that was the point.