Charlotte Hanley-Jacobson
I love books that are told from the perspective of a character who is somewhat of a detached observer.
My book club read this one because it was a local author. He spoke at our meeting, and was charming, but I didn't even want to stay and have him sign the book. Not very well written.
Inconsistent and unbelievable. There are some interesting characters, but the dialogue was utterly implausible. And I hated the religious conversion that came out of nowhere in the last chapter.
Interesting characters, although not necessarily the type you can readily identify with. But well worth reading.
This was a fun book to read. Can get too deep into details at times, but it's an interesting story and perspective of the Romanovs. Recommended.
I love Louise Erdrich's prose but the characters in this book were a bit too flawed and hard to sympathize with.
I was expecting David Sedaris, and the first chapter or two didn't disappoint. But then Rakoff branches out from being a one-dimensional character and we see that compassion exists under the glossy shell. I actually enjoyed this better than Sedaris - less mean-spirited, and Rakoff is actually a pretty damn good writer. A very quick read too.
Great book about what could happen if some kind of epidemic ravaged the earth. Very creatively written.
I found myself doing a lot of eye-rolling while reading this book. I know I am cynical but I just couldn't get into it. At least it was short!
A beautifully written book with very interesting characters. Funny and unusual. I was just sorry it was so sad at the end.
I can't wholeheartedly recommend this book, as it was very tedious at times - the author repeats herself often and it needed a lot of editing. However, if you are fascinated with cults, it is a horrifying view into the world of FLDS members.
This book was so cute, I just loved it. Everything turns out right in the end but somehow it manages not to be sappy.
I was a little embarrassed whenever someone came upon me reading this book - it is a bit smutty! Not as good as the prequel to this book, unfortunately (Dark Angels). An entertaining read, but it tends to go on and on.
I had been bugging my book club to read this for months, and I so wanted to like it. But it felt unfinished, somehow. I wish she had translated some of her experiences into deeper stories, and spent more time exploring the other people in her Italian life.
A favorite of mine - a little slow at first but then it draws you in. Made me want to visit Eastern Europe.
Really loved the first half. I felt like the characters changed so much in the second half, almost to an unbelievable degree. But still a good read.
I really enjoyed this book. The parents made me so angry, yet they were such interesting characters.
This novel really captures the culture and realities of life in Africa. Even though the book is set in the 60s, not much seemed to have changed between then and my time there in the 90s. Scary.
