Engrossing, thoughtful
938763
The novel kept me engaged from beginning to end. Excellent reading for fans of space science fiction.

Only critique: The key characters other than the main protagonist come across as unidimensional.
4053587
When I was first given this book by a friend, I hadn't heard of the author and couldn't pronounce the title, so I was more than a little skeptical. However, within a few pages, I found myself engrossed in a plot both ancient and futuristic, reminiscent of The Da Vince Code in that structure but a thousand-fold more plausible and intelligent: Instead of a jumble of facts and made-up nonsense about Jesus, it deals with the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras, and his cult of numbers, bursting more than a couple thousand years forward into the world of computers. It's both thoughtful and thought-provoking, and never stops moving. I highly recommend Tetraktys.
1905696
In "The Cider House Rules", author John Irving weaves an engrossing and thought-provoking story of morality, choice, and responsibility. Using the story of orphan Homer Wells (a true  "stranger in a  strange land") to illustrate personal choice  versus public responsibility (focused mostly on the issue of abortion),  Irving introduces us to complex, three dimensional characters whose choices  may not be the best, but are understandable and realistic.  Well-balanced  in the controversial areas, this is an uplifting novel that intertwines  Dickens, "Jane Eyre", and medical terminology to illustrate the  impact one individual -- or in this case, two: Homer Wells and Dr. Larch --  can have on countless people.  I cried several times, because I came to  care for these characters, even if I didn't always agree with them.  The  use of real historical events only adds to the imaginary world that Irving  masterfully creates.  I highly recommend it!
3982438
Engrossing and thought provoking book about civilisation and its fragility.
4460816
Watson artfully crafts a thoughtful yet suspenseful narrative. The protagonist is fleshed out beautifully: flawed, yet sympathetic. The novel addresses how precarious written knowledge--especially knowledge concerning someone's life--can be.
1458942
I had by-passed this book for quite awhile, mainly because at first glance I didn't believe Shreve had actually written this book herself.  I recently obtained a copy and reluctantly started reading.  I couldn't have been more surprised.  This is a beautifully written story.  While it does not have the depth and detail that many of Shreve's other books have, the story is thoughtful and thought provoking.  I highly recommend this wonderful book.
3728745
It isn't often that I feel compelled to write a review of a book that I have read but in the case of the debut novel, Pretty Is by Maggie Mitchell, I am eager to say that it is exceptional! The author deftly explores the psychological complexities inherent in the struggles of the two female protagonists, Lois and Carly May (Chloe), as they attempt to come to terms with the signal event that occurred during the summer they were twelve. As the Amazon summary suggests and as others have noted, the story alternates in voice and time and involves the kidnapping of young girls by an enigmatic stranger, focusing on that event's influence on their lives. Mitchell infuses the novel with a tension and an eerie sense of foreboding that plays out in the eventual intersection of the girls' lives seventeen years later when their indivually experienced memories begin to be voiced by the twenty-nine year old women they have become. Mitchell's characters are richly textured, and the thoughts and actions of the women as they each seek to understand how their lives were forever shaped that summer are very recognizable and relatable to the thoughtful reader. The novel is richly deserving of the many praises it has received from both its literary reviewers and its readers. I found it to be a wonderfully engaging read that I savored to the end. In fact I find myself still considering the futures that await each of the characters.
4553875
Political nuance and the shifting motivations of the characters combine to create a surprising and interesting book.  This thoughtful novel has layers, and just enough character imperfections to be realistic.  No one is perfect, actions have consequences, and the gray shading is believable in a media infused background.  The reader stays interested.  Smart writing.  Not your typical coming of age book.  Likeable.  A great single sitting story.
1045226
Beautifully written, insightful novel that captures the atmosphere and personal experience of life during the period between the world wars in Germany.  It is often challenging, always engrossing.  There is a true depth of understanding in this author's work and the writing rises to the level of some of the finest literature produced concerning the national character of the German people.  The individual characters are well defined, real, and involving.  It is a book that makes the reader think and successfully evokes an empathy for the characters, avoiding stereotypes and creating memorable dialog and feelings. It is much more than a simple look at the rise of Nazism and more about the challenges to the human soul in a world where one's beloved home has gone mad and you have become a stranger.  I hope to read more from this author in the near future and recommend this novel without reserve.
2699474
A touching and deeply engaging story. The plot itself requires suspension of disbelief (as many novels do) but the execution is thoughtful. Higashino depicts the complexity of human emotions and family relationships very well and in a thought-provoking manner.

I expected a mystery novel, but the central mystery introduced at the beginning (why the bus crashed) turns out to be not so important. This isn't a bad thing; I got a richly woven tale that left me thinking a lot about some of its themes, like identity, social conformity, second chances.
4528461
Although you may question the author belaboring some elements of the book, it all comes together magnificently in the end.  The time and effort she puts into the details pays off!!  This is not just a beach read.  It is a very thoughtful book -- makes you think about how small changes, fateful decisions and events (both good and bad), people (both close and not so close), all come together to weave the story of your life.  Donna Tartt does a great job of story-telling and bringing the world of art and antiquities to life while engaging us in this great read.
2579265
This is a languid thoughtful book, to be read languidly and thoughtfully.  It is tremendously precise in its writing while the dialogue is supremely mannered, possibly more than some will enjoy.  But the mannered style is a shrewd choice as it allows the author to keep you guessing about the plot.  If you were baffled by The Unconsoled and moved by Never Let Me Go then this book will beautifully show you how they are two facets of the same personality.  The topic is memory and Ishiguro carefully adopts the trappings of fantasy - ogres, dragons and a magic mist - to weave his plot.  The already much-missed Sir Terry would rejoice to see his view that all fiction involves the fantastic so resoundingly corroborated.
47600
Occasionally there are books that manage to worm their way into your head and leave you pondering, sometimes even expanding your understanding of issues that are common in the real world.  Peter DeMarco manages to do just that with this book, in a series of vignettes that trace the life of Henry.  In a style that is very reminiscent of the southern stortyteller, and invoking a spare and often decidedly masculine voice, this glimpse into a life that is slowly sliding from `odd and alienated' to unreservedly mentally ill and prone to violence.

While the vignettes are separate and distinct, there is an underlying commonness to the stories - a lack of solid caretakers or real interest all lead him to avoid ramifications for bad behaviours, while somewhere it comes to the reader that he knows he's just incidental to the lives that seem to be so `perfect'.  When his limited self-control finally slips, the violence almost feels surreal, no one who knew him was believing him capable. Isn't that all too typical after the multitude of catastrophic shootings we have seen in the past several years?

This is not a light and fluffy read, although it is gripping and beautifully crafted.  In a smoothly conversational style, DeMarco manages to lead you to make your own conclusions while guiding readers through a series of events, each capable of being the straw that broke the camel's back. Disturbing in that it brings mental health and the unpredictability of a person's capacity to withstand traumatic events into the forefront, it is a read that will leave you thinking and wanting to know more.

I received an eBook copy from the author for purpose of honest review for the Indie Authors Rock promotion at I am, Indeed. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
1176731
It should be noted that this book is NOT a "thriller."  Instead, as other reviewers have aptly pointed out, it is about the relationship between a husband and wife following an apparent tragedy.  There are some supernatural/psychological trimmings and a well-crafted sense of eeriness, but certainly not what one would consider "thrilling."

That being said, it's an excellent and thoughtful meditation on love and the role of memories.  Joyce's writing and aesthetic choices are well suited to the silent, snow-laden atmosphere.  The uncanny and the mundane, even carnal, exist side-by-side in simple, clean prose.  This choice helps to ground the fantastic elements and allow the interactions between the characters to resonate.  There were parts that I would re-read to let the description settle in and experience the world.

The writing is very clear and pristine, but there are a few absolutely gorgeous standout sections that rise above the snow blankets.  In particular there are a few conversations between the characters and two exceptional flashbacks stand out as real high points.  If anything, I dropped a star from the rating because more of these highs scattered throughout could have made the book profoundly moving (instead its a great examination of these themes, but not quite perfect).

While some of the other reviewers found the main characters unidentifiable or unlikeable, I found them well-drawn.  The clean/sparse prose and focus on current dialogue/actions may leave some readers who want more backstory cold, but I found the characters relatable and very human.  Instead of a lack of detail, I saw enough concrete detail to appreciate the characters on their own, but also enough clear space to allow the narrative to resonate with my personal experiences, as well.

As a final note, many reviewers have commented on the "twist(s)" in the work and how they are/are not easy to see coming. These "twists" are more like gradual developments, coming a very clear "act-breaks" so that when it becomes obvious to the reader, it shortly thereafter becomes obvious to the characters.  That said, it doesn't seem that catching the reader off-guard was ever Mr. Joyce's intention, so readers expecting to savor the journey rather than find shocks will probably be better able to engage with the book as intended.

All in all, highly recommended. But read it at night, in bed beside a loved one, and let yourself get lost.
4229649
First, a confession:  I did not particularly like The Shack and I did not read Crossroads.  Eve, however, engrossed me.  There is so much within Christianity involving "the Fall" and "creation" that a reader who is unfamiliar with the biblical account might find the story confusing and unrelatable.  There is a sci-fi element here in that the main character's shipping container washes ashore in a different dimension. Those who think the dimension is 'purgatory' should rethink it, because purgatory is a place of punishment - a holding cell, if you will - while this book's dimension is a utopian plane where the beings are always at work (they have callings), eating scrumptious (and healthy!) meals, and are very kind.  The main character, Lily, who is a daughter of Eve, the first woman, is determined to be a "witness" - in the story's dimension - and whose purpose it is, is to go back into creation and illuminate the biblical account. If I had one regret, it would be that there are a number of places where I wish the author had provided more background information, that being said, I was captivated and delighted with the ending. I found this book to be imaginative, creative, and well thought out. It was easy to read, engrossing, and definitely thought provoking.
1901055
While I previously knew next to nothing about Filipino history, Apostol's novel was enlightening and engrossing. The parallels of political unrest with the age-old unrest of teenage girlhood meshed perfectly to create a richly complex drama. Themes of memory and history (both stories we tell ourselves and each other) were particularly resonant, and it made me think of these in relation to ourselves, and what roles we are cast in those stories.
244596
I was thoroughly engrossed, despite myself. Well-written and thought-provoking. A nice look at the suburban mom's inner life. There's more there than meets the eye!