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It's taken me a few days to write this review, probably because I'm a little unsure of what I thought of this book.

For the most part I found this book hard to put down. The main character was likable, witty and funny. When she was the narrator, I really enjoyed the novel. However there were some odd sections with different writing styles or a different narrator. These pulled me out of the book and rather than reading these sections, I spent my time wondering what this had to do with the rest of the book.

Overall, it was enjoyable but I am forced to lower my rating due to those odd sections in the book.

Interesting book that, although it deals with thematic material around suicide, is actually fairly light and comedic in many ways.

The story revolves around 4 mostly ordinary people who have an unlikely or unexpected encounter on New Years Eve.

The style of the book was interesting, combining first person perspectives in such a way as to create the feeling both that you were an outside observer as well as sometimes getting into the characters heads.

I kept wondering how the author was going to handle the ending without ruining the book (I'd also heard from a fellow reader that they felt the end tailed off), and I think it wrapped up pretty well which was a relief (so many books I find are compromised by a poor ending).

Overall, an interesting read that seemed to me to be a commentary on everyday life, what happiness is, etc (but you could read it and enjoy it without having to get all deep like that).

It's taken me days to write this review, as I've been conflicted on what to rate this book.

I really liked the structure, which was told through the 4 main characters, each moving the story along. The characters were diverse in their ages and personalities have unique ways of experiences the same events.

Although I was pulled into the story right away, I did find that it started to weaken towards the end.

Overall, I would recommend this book which has a good message and tells the story in a unique way.

I really wanted to like this book.
Unfortunately, I didn't.
I read about the first half and then skimmed the rest.
It is a collection of 'comedic essays' based on actual historical figures (eg. Hitler is alive and gets interviewed on Larry King).
Watch the Daily Show instead. I'm hoping his other book will be much better.

The first half of this book is so slow. The second half is better. It's the story of a girl who misinterprets something and then jumps to a conclusion that seriously affects the future of many people and then tries to find a way to atone for her life-changing lie. Very sad ending. Like I said, it got better toward the end.

Faith warned me that I better have a review up before she gets back, so here goes...

I read this last year and it is still resonating in my mind. The major warning is that the book moves very slowly through the first half. If you make it to this point, you will be rewarded because the last half is unbelievably moving. I'm not ashamed to say that I cried my eyes out...

I'm currently part-way through the latest book by this author, so I will post when I finish it.

An interesting book based on the story of Noah & the ark.
The tone of the book is very frank, lots of talk about the characters "rutting" each other (you can guess what that means).
The story is told from the perspective of various characters at different times throughout the book and this is probably the most interesting part of it, getting to know the personalities - the religious part didn't do much for me.
It's hard to rate this book - read it and see what you think...I give it high marks for the characterization and for originality (taking a biblical story and rounding it out so much).

David Maine is a wonderfully creative writer, who takes well known (biblical) stories and gives them his own voice, and tells them in a unique way.

I was pulled into the writing right away, and this book left me wanting more. The only bad thing I can say, is that I got to the end and thought 'Well now I've read both of his books and have to wait until a new one comes out'.

'The Preservationist' is a great book and wonderful read.

Hmmm. As an econ major and kind of a numbers geek, this one has been on my list for quite a while. But I was kind of disappointed or bored - can't quite put my finger on it - but just kind of gave up half way through it.

The authors make some interesting insights and I might have finished it if I had more time, but it just wasn't as mind shattering as I thought it might be. Also found some of his stuff, such as comparing the KKK to real estate agents, as sensational as some of the media stats of which he is so critical.

Not bad, but expected better.

After hearing much hype I have to say that I was disappointed with this book. The cover touts 'a rogue economists explores the hidden side of everything' and quotes 'prepare to be dazzled'. Well...

The book does not explore 'everything' - and in fact only explores a few data sets that in my mind were quite boring. The authors extrapolate meanings from the data sets that are supposed to wow or surprise you - as in, 'You may have thought this... but really this is what the data suggests.'

I guess if you were the type of person that believed all the stats and numbers people throw at you each day, you may say, ohhh I see - neat.

Myself, I believe most conclusions from stats and numbers we come across each day are used to manipulate and are meant to sway you one way or another. Therefore being critical of what I am 'told' is commonplace in my life. If you don't think about where data comes from, how it is collected, and what bias is presented with their statement - then indeed you may find this book somehow enlightening.

I thought it was weak, slow and boring.

This was a very well reviewed book and has won many awards so I was looking forward to reading it. It's a very tragic tale of a girl and her family during the internment of the Japanese Canadians in Canada. It provides fascinating insight into a dark period in Canadian history that we should never forget.
Unfortunately, I found it utterly too depressing. The worst part was that not only does it discuss the terrible things the government did to the Japanese Canadians, but the family in this story seem to add to each others pain and misery.

I enjoyed this war-time romance set during the Spanish civil war and found the characters real and the relationships believable. Most of my book club didn't care for the slow pace (only three days pass in an over 450 page novel).
Worth a read if you have the time and are curious about Hemingway.

This was quite an interesting novel and gives the reader a feel for the pride-soaked turbulent journey of Newfoundland from British settlement to Canadian province.
It is a fictional story but based on the actual first Premier of Newfoundland, Joe Smallwood. Often times it is extremely difficult to distinguish fact from fiction, except that the other leading character, Shelagh Fielding, is completely fictional.
It was a long novel but enjoyable and makes me want to learn more about the history of Newfoundland.

This book did not seem to hold my interest.

I'm not quite sure how i feel about this one - it's tough to give it a number. I realize that it's very well-written, and quite thought-provoking. However, I'm a little surprised that it won the Giller Prize. The descriptions and experience of Vietnam thoughout the novel felt extremely real, but to me the characters felt a little hollow (although maybe that was intended). I guess the overwhelming themes of being 'lost' and 'out of place' were so well-captured, that it was difficult to enjoy the experience. I'm not entirely sure if the ending was redemptive or not...

I had read this book before and this time listened to it in audiobook format. This format made it a bit difficult to differentiate between the many characters earlier in the novel.

I find P.D. James to be a good writer and I really like her detective featured in her mystery books (Adam Dalgleish of Scotland Yard). I enjoyed this book in particular as it had a good plot, interesting characters, realism, and some interesting commentary around life in general and psychiatry and related disciplines in particular. The one drawback is the time period of the book is from a time period where some people still used a horse and carriage (there's cars too though ;) and that may not sit well with some readers.

James writes a more 'thinking person's mystery' with the emphasis on psychological factors rather than car chases or that kind of thing (not that there isn't that kind of material at times). Even though she writes mysteries I would describe her as a writer rather than a mystery writer.

This book was a quick, entertaining read. It's meant to be a helpful wake up call to women about how to interpret mens actions, which is not to interpret them at all but take them for face value. The writer was fairly comical, at times it got a little corny. A good book for someone out there needing a boost in their self esteem. Cute book, would probably only recommend to someone who could USE it.

Good self help book, Funny yet very relatable and to the point. Help builds up ones confidance.

The premise of this book is interesting - a woman decides to cook all 500+ recipes from Julia Childs 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking' in the span of a year, and the book chronicles her adventures. While the premise was interesting, the book was not.

I found Julie to be a terrible author, with side stories that rambled on, narratives that were confusing and her personality to be slightly off-putting.

It felt more like I was reading someone's diary rather than reading a memoir or a novel.

This book is so sad but so good. It's amazing that not that long ago the holocaust happened.

This was a quick read, but it was haunting. His story was so heart-wrenching that I felt the author's pain, although my own sadness at his retelling would never ever compare. I was particularly struck by how the described events challenged the author's faith. This quote stuck with me: "I have more faith in Hitler than in anyone else. He alone kept his promises, all his promises, to the Jewish people."
Although I have read other books on the holocaust, including The Book Thief and The Diary of Anne Frank, this was different. It was concise, and I enjoyed the preface and foreward along with the author's Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech.

I was impressed by the author's openness in telling her story about journeying around the world trying to find her "Soul Mate".
While I'd say that I'm not particularly interested in reading about other's travel experiences or anything to do with "Soul Mates" - I found this book engaging, probably because the author is likeable and you can see yourself (or other women) in her.

What a delightful read! Jennifer Cox tells of her voyage around the world to find the man of her dreams, while also finding herself along the way.

Her writing style was honest and open and allows you the reader to become part of her journey. I started this book and just kept reading, enjoying her journey, and reminising about my own travels and journey through relationships before finding Mr. Right.

This is a fun and enjoyable book.

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