nicely written, almost poetic in parts
923933
Because I am not in the USA I Would like to have seen map segments as you move around.  Some of those photos you took would be very interesting to see.  Although you summarised your project in terms of hours, landing, fuel totals and so on it would be great to have you summarise what you would do differently. Eg why didn't you stay longer in some places so as to enjoy the experiences you sought.
Great read, your flying skills are obviously superb
2757877
The structure of this book flows like poem; it is well written and worth a read !  Mr Choi's vivid description of contemporary events, interwoven with the narratives of the protagonists make for an interesting read with a unique structure. The reader is drawn into the stories of the two main characters ; Young and Elena and their struggles to meet each other, and their own fates.
  The pure, genuine, righteous and nature - loving Young Min, who became a pastor to fulfill the wishes of his mother and wife, struggles against his secret, but deeply held beliefs against what he has been thought. Elena, the more free spirited artist and English teacher hopes to help him, but it may be too late to save Young Min.
1116003
The best parts of this book are those that engage its protagonist, neurosurgeon Henry Perowne, with his work. (The acknowledgements at the end indicate that McEwan observed an actual neurosurgery unit and consulted with a surgeon for a period of two years in order to write this book.) The writing in these sections is tighter than elsewhere, and the surgical event and hospital setting provide their own natural tension that is sometimes lacking from the rest of the book.

In contrast, the descriptions of Perowne's family life -- and especially of his relationship with his two young-adult children, one a poet and the other a musician, and their "art" -- are precious and often self-indulgent, overly considerate of the character's needs at the expense of the reader's. Correspondingly, McEwan's prose can seem at one moment lyrical and compelling, at the next flabby and labored as he charts every passing cloud in his favorite character's "mental weather." The weaving in of Matthew Arnold's famous poem "Dover Beach" (isn't it still ubiquitously taught in high school and college intro poetry courses?) as if it offered a fresh and surprising insight into our times is sadly typical of the book's unearned intellectual pretension.

Wow, as I'm writing all this, I'm wondering why do I want to give this book four stars? Honestly, despite its flaws, it still drew me in, and -- unlike some of the reviewers here -- I really did come to care about its various characters. McEwan, for all his defects, is a sweet, in his highly secular way almost a religious writer whose love of language and respect for the human condition redeem this book.
4091391
Interesting verse concepts and a thoroughly-written romance that isn't the least rushed, though sometimes it could stand to rush a bit...
4186195
This book is undoubtedly more memoir than travel book, but the writing is visual and appealing especially when the author writes about birds.
The premise is simple. While the author's parents are busy making a living, traveling, and accumulating wealth, Nikki is being raised in Miami by her Popi and grandmother who shower her with love and create a safe haven for her. Her grandfather in particular oasses on his love and fascination of birds to Nikki and the tantalizing promise of the  Bird Market of Paris. Nikki later runs into the road blocks of life and drinks to much, has problems with relationships, and is unhappy. As she traverses the ups and mostly downs of her life, she seeks out the bird market to reconnect with her passion for birds and the happiness she enjoyed with her Popi.
While I hoped Nikki would delve into the general topic of birds and the Bird Market, this was really more of a device used to signal Nikki's return to happiness and finding herself.
While not a particularly unique story, I thought this book was very well written and the grandchild grandparent bond resonated with me and actually reminded me of my own grandfather's love of the birds that he bred and doted over. It was a sentimental return to a sun porch with a labyrinth of cages and connectors for me.
This book is almost poetic in some passages and very well written and enjoyable.
4087645
Here we have a beautiful book about not so beautiful things, namely a woman who kills her husband in the very first chapter then lives with the awful secret the killing engenders, terrible mistreatment among siblings and neglected children who deserve better than the childhoods they have. The worst part is that little of it is a secret to Elin, the daughter who grows up with the terrible knowledge of her father's demise and has no earthly idea what to do with it.
Reed's writing is exquisite, approaching poetry in its deft descriptions, her perfect understanding of human emotional reactions, even body language that shows readers precisely what's going on with characters. She knows how little girls behave toward each other, especially when one of them is burdened with a secret that's always just about to destroy her family. With her writer's perfect touch, Reed's circular narrative brings us back to the why and how of it all, the unearthing of Vivvie's motivation, Elin's spiteful attitude and Kate's monumental decision to force Neal from her life. This is a story of love, often in spite of itself.
There are one or two technical flaws, minor issues, but noted. For one, it seems unlikely that Elin would pass through Arizona from Oregon bound for Florida. Also unlikely that Elin's husband Rudi would wait for a week to call Vivvie to check on his wife's whereabouts. In chapter 33 Neal parses his feelings about the dead Kate, his inner dialogue "...he still felt like Frankenstein, half monster, half man..." Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is the monster's creator, not the monster. Small things, but easily avoided.
With regard to the author's fine touch, Reed refuses the too easy trap of bringing Elin and Neal back together, an outcome that seemed tempting, and certainly the outcome Neal desired, but out of character for the strong-willed, abrasive Elin.
This is a fine, well crafted tale of women, mostly, tossed together on a sea of potential disaster, but coming out into a calm, resolute ending that makes sense for all.
Byron Edgington, author of&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Sky-Behind-Me-A-Memoir-of-Flying-Life/dp/1622490371/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Sky Behind Me: A Memoir of Flying & Life</a>
1766063
The writing is beautiful in this novel, but I feel that it becomes trapped between nature writing and relationship writing. The main character, Rachel, has such a flat affect that it's difficult to be sympathetic with her, though the details of her pregnancy and new motherhood are interesting. The project of reintroducing wolves into England is potentially fascinating, but we are kept at a distance from it, as if Sarah Hall feels that expressing too much detail is inappropriate or even prurient. The result is an oddly nuanced book, a bit cold where it should be warm.

I can see why some readers feel frustrated with Rachel. The relationship between Rachel and her mother, Binny, is particularly well done at the opening, so subsequent events are jarring. That between Rachel and her brother blossoms late, so it is in some ways unsatisfying too. And the boyfriends in the piece are too uniformly accommodating -- blank slates upon which Rachel can choose to write or not. Enviable . . . but not realistic.

Yet for these negative comments, THE WOLF BORDER is quite interesting. The writing is beautiful, which helps a lot. And I was curious throughout to see if there would be huge events, or if the same even keel atmosphere would prevail. (No spoilers!) This is the first Sarah Hall novel I've read, and I will try others. But I can't recommend THE WOLF BORDER wholeheartedly, because many readers will be frustrated by the tone or the lack of deep passion. Give it a try, and by the end of the first chapter, you will know whether you like it.
3678642
I can't decide if the writing reflects literary genius or constitutes purple prose, or if both are true. Lovely imagery abounds. At the same time, angst and torment are offered up to the reader repeatedly in beat-your-audience-over-the-head passages, often quite long. Toward the end I started skimming over those passages to return to the plot.

The characters are complex and my opinion that only Sal is more likable than not is not a criticism of the novel. But their motivations and actions aren't always plausible and can feel forced. The hikikomori (a word worth Googling) mother was, oddly, among the more believable ones.
251204
This is not so much a book of plot as it is a book of remembering and poking the feelings of growing up and learning about the world. I found much of the writing to be very beautiful and thought provoking.
2836449
I enjoyed this meandering memoir. The narrative threads and musings wandered from the very personal, to the historical, through a number of geographical locations and landscapes. The beautifully written prose was at times almost painfully compelling. I did enjoy some  of the threads more than others. A book that I chose to read slowly.
392312
My thoughts about this book are complicated. On one hand, it's beautifully written in many ways. On the other hand, it's a bit overblown in its writing, too. There are lovingly rendered details that create a lovely mental picture... and then the passage goes on... and on... until sometimes it devolves into lists. Lists that sometimes feel endless in their length and actually don't end up contributing much of anything to the story.

I really did come to care for the characters in the book, which I think makes the book all the more cruel. I was prepared for a harrowing story. The book blurb broadcasts that loudly enough. I thought the portrayal of abuse and its consequences and the reverberations of it throughout a life were well done in many ways. The interplay between the characters and how their lives intertwine feels so real. But there is a point in the book where it all just starts to feel like tragedy porn. Tragedy porn that feels a great empathy for all those involved and is filled with well-defined characters... but tragedy porn none the less. In the end, it just feels sort of crassly manipulative... or, at least, misguided.

I went from being a bit confused by the book juggling the four main characters (something that, structurally just ends up being kind of weird since two characters are basically dropped for most of the story... though I guess I understand their detailed set-up to an extent) to getting really involved in the characters we WERE following and being absorbed into the book and then, finally... almost hating the book by the end. The sorrow inflicted on the main character (and then to the characters around him) becomes, frankly, almost laughable. But not mirthful laughter. It's the sort of laughter you utter because you're not quite sure how else to react to what's being presented to you.  There is a point where the movie in my mind of this book went from an artful indie film to a cheap LIfetime movie. I am sure there are people who have been through this much tragedy and pain or more, but that's not the point. In the context of this book, it just feels like the author was worried we wouldn't understand the main character's pain unless it was magnified x100.

The result is something that just feels so over the top it seems to demean so much of the character work that goes on here. It also feels a bit demeaning to people who suffer abuse. I feel like people could be equally as affected and pained in their ongoing life for so much less. The author feels the need to take the abuse to such freakish levels here that it just feels insulting in a way I can't quite pin down. As if this is what is required for someone to be so thoroughly negatively impacted in their life. Or that we, as readers, could not actually empathize with someone if the horrors inflicted on them weren't so over the top.
4013172
I greatly enjoyed this book. Some wonderful writing about the natural world of Canada and a family dealing with a crisis in believable and touching ways, showing a sort of family responsibility rare today.

That said, it's not for everyone. It's much more a character book than a plot book, which means that some may find it slow. Cover reviews said the author managed to steadily amp up the tension, but I thought that was overstating the case a bit. Yes, there was tension -- more of a creeping sense of dread -- but it stayed at a pretty steady level.

Quibbles: the "disaster" hinted at throughout the book was quite predictable and thus, no shock or surprise. Also, I thought the ending was a bit unbelievable and rushed. But otherwise, a very readable book for those who want something a little meatier to tackle.
2058144
I was pleasantly surprised at the writing in this book. Besides a few repetitive metaphors, like describing a drummer's style being similar to  whisking an egg, I had no complaints about the writing style and occasionally found it inspiring. Some might think that a man who writes lyrics could also easily write a book. But you only have to read the lyrics of most rock songs to realize this is not necessarily true. There are a few minor blemishes and it should come as no surprise that a man who was able to navigate the treacherous waters of the pop-rock scene has an ego the size of the North Sea. This book makes a case for ego being a form of confidence.

I did find the ending a bit abrupt. I was expecting a return to the opening scene where Sting and his wife participated in a ritual at a Brazilian church. I assumed there would be some kind of wrapping up scene, possibly a summation, but instead the book came to a rapid close leaving a lot of loose ends. It read as if there might be a sequel. If so I look forward to reading it.
2558011
This is a lovely and at times depressing tale that touches upon a long existent issue about the immigration experience. The emptiness, longing, hope, and desires are endless in the mind of a foreigner. It's nice that an author, who's a female Indian with the experience to write about it, is gaining attention and making readers realize the importance of knowing our own culture, and how other cultures influence, and at times complete change or manipulate, our own perspective on identity.

"The Namesake" is, at best, a nice summer read. The main problem I had with this book was its lack of emotion and focus. At times it felt as if the author, or narrator, was focusing way too much on providing details to buildings, clothing, and other slightly irrelevent and dull descriptions. But when it came to character development from the aftermath of one event after another, description of the character's thoughts and emotions was very rushed, at times unexplained, making the plot kind of dull, unexciting, and empty. I think with more dialogue, action, and detail on character development and emotion, the plot would have been riveting and exciting, and would have made Gogol's story more intriguing and interesting. There are a few well-written moments about Gogol's thoughts about his namesake, but his love affairs are barely worth reading, very forgettable, and just not interesting at all. I was hoping that there would be a punch after each chapter, making you want to read more, making your heart flutter, tugging your emotions. This book doesn't do that, surprisingly. Even the central event of the novel, when Gogol's father was nearly killed in a train accident when a book by Nikolai Gogol saved his life, thus being the source of Gogol's namesake, didn't really affect me. I suppose the main problem I have with this book is the way it's written. Simple, which is fine, but not intriguing enough.

However, I don't regret reading this book. It's nothing brilliant, it could have been written more affectively. But it's a nice, refreshing debut from an author who has lots of potential to write better.
3142072
The sensation of reading this book is akin to lying on your back on the top of the ocean. Like the sea, you need to be sensitive to the currents moving all around you. Sometimes they're quick and other times they linger for a while, even returning again later to remind you of what it was like before. On their own they don't make any sense but, considered in their entirety, its a beautiful symphony of moving experience.

Its quite depressing but it seems necessary to endure that suffering to move beyond the superficial in order to enjoy a real, lasting happiness.

Told in the third person, its sometimes confusing who is being referred to as she but rather than a flaw it indicates that you have to pay your full attention.

While it seems like a loose collection of thoughts, perhaps written on post it notes daily for years, the elegant structure gently flows to create a body of writing that has the robust strength of poetry that yields new understandings over multiple re-readings, over many years. An elongated haiku, I guess you could call it.
4723463
What a lovely book.  A quick read, the pace is fast and fun, and the plot reveals little surprises at a steady pace.  I think the thing I came away with the most was how well and beautifully the author describes - and makes you think about - the nature of love, and I don't mean romatically, but in its largest sense.  It also speaks to loss, longing, fear, grief, both the change of becoming an adult and the change that comes at the end of a life, and the power of understanding not just oneself but those around you.  And it does all this subtly, with a story that entertains and enchants.

The only reason I didn't give it a full five stars is because I personally find sentences that consist of "Still." to be insufferable.  It happened way too much.  If it had been confined to the otherwise excellent dialogue, fine, but it wasn't, and it's a personal preference that just drives me nuts.

Overall, I highly recommend the book.  It's appropriate for fairly young children, sure, but I think this is one that adults will get so much out of.
4058003
Really good  -so well written; language is beautiful for the most part -but a little too wordy and repetitive in one of the "chapters"