Intelligent, compelling, unique
937253
While the second season of Fringe began to get a little confusing, Season 3 began to pull the threads together once more and get things really moving. Now in its fourth season, Fringe has really found its feet, running with the kind of storylines that made Season 1 such a heart-stopper while continuing to unravel the threads of the two parallel universes and the task to save both from destroying each other. Switch off Bridezillas or Jersey Shore and switch on to something smart! This is entertainment that's good for the brain.
1885794
A new writer for me, with a style that is intellectual and compelling, and a plot that leaves you guessing.
414656
A unique, refreshing, and sometimes jarring book with a brilliant new voice. What struck me first is how humor and anger are so inextricably intertwined from page one of this "couldn't put it down" novel. Sometimes you literally don't know "whether to laugh or cry". This makes it both compelling and entertaining.  This book is about a voyage on so many levels, much of it the kind of universal journey we are each taking in our own way; and yet, in this book, the trip is so engagingly culture-specific that you both empathize and learn some new perspective time and again.  Most of all, this delightful book is about the intractable, maddening, and sometimes hilarious nature of human nature.
4776720
This profound and haunting novel features Murdoch's unique blend of religious preoccupations, sexual politics, and philosophy (or, as she more accurately referred to it elsewhere, "moral psychology")--but, in spite of its many-layered symbolism, it still manages to be surprisingly suspenseful. If you've never read a book by Iris Murdoch and are interested in finding a good place to start, read "The Bell."
A sort of psychological detective novel, the story is told through the eyes a leader of a lay religious community who is haunted by secrets from his past and also from the perspective of two visitors: a carefree woman returning to her boorish husband who is studying at a nearby convent and an innocent youth hoping to be inspired by the community's spiritual atmosphere before he goes to Oxford. The plot revolves around a bell missing for centuries and the community's plans to replace it with a new one, but I will say nothing else that might give it away.
The first half of the book is a very British comedy of manners (and it is at times very funny), but then things get out of hand when the two visitors, both knowingly and unwittingly, set into motion a series of tragic events that shatter the faith and foundations of the group. Although I was constantly surprised by the book's twists and turns, when I finished the novel I felt that all the events were very nearly pre-ordained by the actions and ethics of its characters.
Murdoch's genius is her ability to pose many complicated questions and provide just enough for readers to decide for themselves. Are the visitors responsible for destroying the community's equanimity or were they simply the catalyst that exposed the hypocrisies and self-centeredness of the commune's members? Must a person transcend selfishness in order to influence others for the better? Does it take tragedy to bring out the best in people? Is it ever really possible to wall oneself away from the rest of the world?
It seems almost incidental in this day and age to acknowledge that the novel portrays two gay men in a sympathetic manner astonishing for a book published in 1958--yet another aspect that displays the power and forwardness of Murdoch's thinking.
693535
This was a great novel. Compelling, well written, unique - I finished it in just a few days and will be recommending it to many.
539179
Set in a vast empire entering a period of crisis brought on by the very methods (cloning, hierarchical social structure, ultra-sophisticated AI technology, military recycling of the bodies of conquered enemies, space travel) that ensured its success. The story is riveting, told from the perspective of a preternaturally skilled "ancillary," a reanimated (and partially rebuilt) body assimilated to the ancient AI of an immense troop ship (Justice of Toren) supporting the annexation of a conquered planet. The ancillary is, herself, in crisis, the lone surviving extension of its ship's AI, orphaned by a catastrophic development in the empire's structure of command. She (the female pronoun is the default term for all genders in the Radch empire) is a sentient machine in an almost fully human body, and the book achieves the rare feat of making this surprisingly sensitive "corpse soldier" fully believable, morally and psychologically compelling. The chapters alternate between present tense narration of Breq's unfolding showdown with those responsible for the loss of her ship, and the backstory consisting of events some 20 years earlier that led to Breq's current quest for--justice is not quite the right word, since she is also seeking to atone for her past choices, and make sense of what has gone awry in her world. The writing is tremendously agile, easily leading the reader through the complexities of shared minds and intersecting time-frames (the individual ancillary is both "young" and unimaginably old, given its participation in the thought-processes of an AI thousands of years old). Leckie has a real gift for visualizing distinctive places and cultures rich in sensory detail, yet with a minimum of fuss. At the story's start Breq, an unlikely Don Quijote, picks up a most unpromising, infuriating Sancho Panza (who's been in stasis after losing her ship, but Breq still remembers, not pleasantly, from her rotation a thousand years earlier in Justice of Toren); by the end of the book their partnership has come to seem inevitable, and taught us a great deal about Breq's moral temper, and the cultural peculiarities of the Radch empire. The story provides a satisfying narrative arc, yet it also opens the gateway for a sequel. This second volume is about to be published, and I can't wait.
1673676
This elegantly written and psychologically profound book is both a compelling mystery and a sensitive exploration of human nature, all set in a vividly, authentically rendered historical background.  Charlotte and Daniel are an appealing pair who are sure to win readers' hearts while they struggle to investigate a baffling murder and slowly find themselves more and more drawn to each other.  This in itself would make the book worth reading.  But I found an added richness in the author's re-creation of Brook Farm, one of America's most fascinating, most high-minded, and most impractical experiments in idealistic living.  At this time, when there is renewed attention to the environment, to women's rights, to racial equality, and even to animal welfare, it is good to be reminded that  we are far from the first generation to struggle to find peaceful, egalitarian ways to live.  Fasick beautifully reveals both the idealism that inspired Brook Farm and the very human frailties that led to its collapse.  Some important but nowadays little-known historical figures play key roles in the plot and they are depicted with both a novelist's sparkle and an historian's scrupulous regard for truth.  It always drives me crazy when writers try to appeal to today's readers by putting gross anachronisms in supposedly historical situations.  Fasick shows her respect for her readers by refusing to go along with that trend, and it makes her novel all the more fascinating.  I won't give away the "solution" to the mystery but I will say that the final chapters are piercing in their intensity.  Tears streamed down my face as I read.
I'm glad to see that this book is listed as "Volume 1" in a series.  I can hardly wait for the next one!
460538
Isserley cruises the Scottish Highlands picking up hitchhikers. She knows exactly what she's looking for: fit, healthy men living on the fringes of societypossibly estranged from their families, possibly homeless; the type of men who won't be missed should they suddenly disappear.

She's badly scarred and wears thick glasses, yet she's strangely erotic and alluring. She's awkward in conversation and has an unidentifiable accent. As she makes small talk with the hitchhikers, it quickly becomes clear that there's something off about her. Who is she, and why is she doing this?

Under the Skin is a grotesque, disturbing, surreal, and unusual novel that bends genres. Equal parts satire and allegory, speculative fiction and horror, it raises thought-provoking moral questions about speciesism, classism and sexism, challenging us to reevaluate what it means to be human.

This is a truly original, fascinating novel. It suffers a bit at first from the repetitive nature of the plot (i.e. Isserley on the road picking up one hitchhiker after another), but ultimately evolves into a compelling story.
4047911
This book is captivating. I read it over a day and a half, obsessively. To both an avid reader of speculative fiction and as an academic who philosophizes, this book was compelling. It's smart, it's sad, it's relevant to contemporary life. The author takes on questions of reality and perception in a way that does not betray science, reality, or religion but brings them strangely together to confuse and yet touch the reader.
I loved this book. You should read it.
3279425
I really enjoyed this book.  I bought this immediately after reading the author's first novel, "The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August", which I absolutely loved.

The premise is rock solid and very unique.  The book takes place in our world with the addition of people who can become "ghosts" - they can transfer their consciousness from the body they're currently inhabiting to another by touching skin.  The author does a fantastic job exploring every nuance of this premise through following the first person lens of a long lived ghost.  She explores a huge range of Really Big Questions: What makes us human? What is beauty? What is love? What is the purpose of human life/existence?  These are just a few that the author touches on.

The characterizations are really wonderful throughout the novel.  The protagonist (who we never really discover the name of) reveals more and more facets of its personality as the story goes on.  I say "its" because we also never find out the original gender of the entity that is called Kepler, which itself is another question raised by the author - if you can effortlessly switch bodies and genders, does the original gender of a consciousness really matter after decades or centuries of life as both?  The ultimate antagonist is chillingly rendered.  In fact, there were a few scenes that I was really uncomfortable reading because of just how alien and terrible that one is rendered by the author, it was that well done.

The overall plot was both simple and complex.  Simple in that basically the protagonist has an attempt on her life at the start of the book, searches for the ultimate source of this attempt, and ultimately confronts it.  Complex in that this narrative is peppered throughout with glimpses of the protagonist's past experiences, giving insights into both the nature of a "ghost" entity and Kepler's formation in particular.  And also complex because, again, the author really explores the ramifications of an entity who can switch bodies so easily, and the daily life of a ghost is really very alien with just a few moments of commonality with our own lives.

There are really just two reasons I don't give this one 5 stars.  The first is that I had a hard time identifying with the protagonist, because unlike some of the other ghosts we meet in the novel, he/she/it never shows a core identity of consciousness that we can come to know as a character.  Throughout the entire novel, almost every time someone calls it by "Kepler" it says "don't call me that".  It always identifies itself as the name of whatever body it's currently inhabiting, completely subsuming any self identity by the identity of it's current host.  I know this is intentional by the author, exploring another question: if you end up switching bodies hundreds and thousands of times over decades and centuries, what defines your self identity?  Or put another way, how much of most people's sense of self is defined by their physical body vs. more intangible qualities?  Or even more subtly, how much does our physical body influence our other intangible qualities? (e.g. if you tend to be naturally fit, does this lead to you being hard working, or is that independent?)  But even though I know this is intentional, it left me  really struggling to completely identify with the protagonist.  Just the fact that I can't even give a real name to it (or gender) makes it tough.

The second reason for just 4 stars is that the ending left me a little wanting.  Without giving anything away, I just felt like the last few pages were a little anticlimactic after what was a really wonderfully done climax.  Again I think this was intentional on the part of the author to further illustrate the life of a ghost, but it was really unsatisfying for me personally.

Overall, a very solid second entry by an author who I think will become a major name in science fiction and literature in general.
2891169
I like books that are surprising and smart, and this book is both of those things.  It is a fascinating story that weaves together theology, science, geography, history, and, yes, barbecue!  The characters are richly developed and quirky - I could easily picture them in my mind's eye.  The landscapes of the far-flung regions in the book - Texas, Kansas, and Romania - are rich with not just "place names" but real substance: bird song, warm breezes, limestone canyons, and cool shade from live oak trees.  But it is the story that is most compelling, a tightly-written thriller that keeps the reader glued until the surprising conclusion.  (I'm not a night person, but I couldn't put it down last night until I finished it well past my normal bedtime!).  And the thread of science that weaves through it - implausible, or maybe not?  I'm reminded of another author I really enjoy who combines fiction and science in such smart and compelling ways, Mary Doria Russell.  She wrote "The Sparrow" and its sequel, "Children of God".  I would love it if Mr. Piper would write a next book to follow "God Particle".  I am still curious about a few things.
232454
Well-crafted fiction.  Intelligent.  Compelling.

 The Devil of Echo Lake has a great plot - actually several interwoven stories - which Wynne uses to bring each of the characters to life, as well as to lace them together for the larger picture at Echo Lake where their agendas intertwine with the recording studio's sinister history.  The artists, the people, the music and strange things at Echo Lake may all appear to come to life, but for some of them it's tentative, as befits the genre.

 The author includes quite enough detail about music, the artists and the process of the music production industry to give a real-life counterpoint to the fiction of the plot.  It was a learning experience for me and this made the book especially rewarding.
4611969
I liked this book.

It is, first, well-written in a literary sense, with a simple, functional narrative that is easy to read (while avoiding being dry). Likewise, 'Train Robbery' is substantial in content, and in a rather intelligent, uncommon fashion: by mixing a good, fictional story with a number of equally interesting historical asides regarding Victorian London (along with some impressively perceptive sociological commentaries, I might add). Such "dualistic" books are, in my experience, hit or miss; here, however, the author manages to make it work, and to pleasing effect. In this capacity alone, 'Train Robbery' presents a sound, intelligent, and well-rounded read, with believable characters and a satisfying story.

Additionally, there is a third dimension to the book: a highly relevant human study. Namely, 'Train Robbery' contrasts present-day Western civilization with that of the past, by way of highlighting their many stark differences (and marked similarities). In this manner, the reader is shown a historical mirror, in which much can be learned, from psychology and the roots of human behavior, to the cyclical nature of mankind's evolution in general. Personally, I most enjoyed this aspect of 'Train Robbery,' and it proved a fine compliment to the rest of the book's substance. In the end, I came away from the read feeling both enriched and entertained.

One complaint I had: in my opinion, the author did not make clear enough that the book is only partially nonfiction. In my case, it took me about half the book to realize that there was a fictional element at play, only after reading one after another "deus ex machina" event. Though, this was ultimately a minor issue.

My sincere thanks goes out to this book's author, subjects, and publisher. I am grateful for, and have benefited from, your work and service.
3737548
This book has all the great elements - political backdrop, foreign settings, courtroom drama, mystery and very well developed characters.  I was caught up in the dilemma that Lazarenko faced and found myself re-reading portions of the book to make sure I had savored every detail.  A smart read and compelling in its humanity.  The contrast between perception and reality closely examined, yet never quite resolved.
4638916
Here is a ground-breaking new work, bridging a long-held divide between existing graphic novel genres and literature. It's neither trashy teenage pulp (Fruit Basket), nor indulgent neurosis-driven rambling (Peep Show), nor numbing suburban cynicism (Ghost World).

Instead, the Heartbreak Diet is a compelling, beautifully drawn, intelligently written, and sensitively developed memoir. It's a work in which you feel the author has transformed herself though the writing of it. Above all, there is an underlying sweetness, courage, and humor that shine through the main character, making it an authentic expression of the heart. For me, that is paramount.

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Ghost-World-the-Special-Edition/dp/1560978902/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Ghost World: the Special Edition</a>
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Fun-Home-A-Family-Tragicomic/dp/0618871713/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic</a>
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Blankets/dp/1891830430/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Blankets</a>
1825351
A college biology professor, still mourning the loss of his wife who was killed by a drunk driver, mentors the research paper of an undergraduate who wants to argue that intelligent design makes more sense than evolution.  Grodstein uses this premise to explore the deepest questions there are - what is the meaning of life?  why are we here?  what makes a good life?  does God exist, and if so, what does he want from us?  how can we forgive when we've been horribly wronged?  what is the role of science in tackling these same questions?  But she handles these themes not in a heavy-handed, hectoring way, but by weaving all these subtly through a story that is compelling, with characters you learn to care about, and a plot where you want to know what happens.  I read the book because I found the title so interesting, and I didn't believe any book could live up to it.  This one almost did.  The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because there are other books that I love more, but this is the most ambitious work I've read in a long time.  If you like Tolstoy, you'll like The Explanation for Everything.
4461566
This was a refreshingly unique book, offering an interesting look into what the mind of someone with dementia may be like. The story begins with Maud, an elderly woman, noticing that her friend Elizabeth seems to be missing. As she tries to investigate this despite her increasingly frequent memory loss, many things she encounters trigger memories of when she was a young girl and her sister went missing as well.

It's important not to go into this book expecting a thriller or a complex mystery. The story unfurls slowly in bits and pieces, but it was very interesting seeing it revealed through an unreliable narrator. What really sets this book apart is the insight into dementia, which I found fascinating. There is an underlying mystery which drives the story and kept me wrapped up in it, but it's more character-driven, and explores how the lives of people are affected by a family member going missing, or succumbing to a spreading disease. I went through several feelings reading this book, and I'm very glad I read it - it was moving in an unexpected way.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and even though it was a little slow-paced, I read through it pretty fast because I had a hard time putting it down. Recommended for those who enjoy character-driven dramas, psychological books, or a more emotional mystery.