The further I read, the more I liked this book. Agnes' life was very sad, very compelling and the author does an excellent job of immersing the reader into both the main characters and Iceland. I look forward to another book by Ms. Kent.

A taste of life, one night, not a lot of exciting drama or crime, just real people with their everyday lives. Manny and his restaurant crew carry on during the last night if service at the Lobster, with their sweet and sad life stories playing out side by side.

Well-done, especially for a debut novel. Engaging characters and plot. Isabel is a joy to get to know and her story is heartbreaking, but there are moments of lightness in the book as well. The last 30 pages seemed a bit rushed, but a minor flaw. I will definitely look for more from this author.

I should have read this book blindfolded. People are killing themselves and no one knows why. They know whatever is out there, if they should see it, it will cause them to go mad and end in their death. They are being hunted but without sight, they can survive. A quick and easy read but one that will leave you feeling tense and on edge. I don't typically run to these kind of reads and in this case, I was trying to run from it. Not a lot of depth but who needs it when you have a lot of fear.

Beautifully written character study, , but there are a couple of unrealistic events that keep this from being outstanding from a plot standpoint.

The author's style was a little difficult, first-person "we" and never sure who "we" was, but the story and characters were well-done and interesting. Lots to discuss.

Blending real-life people and fictional characters and events, sometimes to the point that it's hard to distinguish between fact and fiction. That may be one of the points of the book. Lots to discuss: American society, race relations and immigration, the role of women, wealth, stereotypes.

A poignant, sad though hilarious tale of a teenager with Asperger's (thought the disease is never mentioned in the book) with an analytical though unemotional mind which dwells on almost each and every object he encounters. He is keen on solving the mystery behind a neighbor's dead dog, which leads him towards deep family secrets, which he has to face.
The story is very simple, but well- written, because there always seems to be some level of anticipation as to what is going to happen next. It is at the simplest level a detective story. It keeps you wondering why certain things happened to this boy. You may feel a little puzzled at times, but the character keeps investigating and eventually helps himself and the reader understand the whole picture.

Not everyone in our book club liked or even finished this one, but there was lots to talk about. It was a departure from the usual genres we read, and a good one.

Interesting characters, plot changes and intrigue. No one does closed-door mysteries better than Agatha Christie!

I haven't read any prior books by this author but the blurb for this book sounded interesting so I was looking forward to it. It turned out to be just not my cup of tea; the style of writing was too simplistic and I think that took away from what might have been a good story.

Loved the combination of sci-fi and politics! have already read the second in the series and looking forward to the third.

3.5 stars An unflinching, honest look at anorexia and it's effects on the life of Anna, a young French ballerina who has moved to St Louis for her husband's job opportunity. The "girls" at 17 Swann are, like Anna, suffering from eating disorders, but she is the focus. Her fears, her loss of control, her hopes for the future. The writing is really beautiful, with the story going back and forth between Anna's former life and her current situation, filling in the background of what led to her anorexia. Our book club received ARC copies of this book from Book Movement.

Justice and redemption: An American story for our time, one that we all should know.

In Once Upon a River, on the dark night of the winter solstice, a wounded stranger shows up at an old inn by the river with a dead child in his arms. A few hours later, against all odds, the dead child stirs and is alive again. What follows is a tale of magic, hope, love, redemption, and so much more.

This story reads like a folklore, rich and lyrical. There are many parts to this carefully crafted tale, and they are all woven deftly into one cohesive narrative. I was struck by the richly imagined characters, and in particular, the strong females, who totally appealed to me.