A well-written and compelling read
924951
This book appealed to me on several levels: it is about entrepreneurship, history and much of it takes place in Philadelphia where I grew up. Erik Varon has done an excellent job of presenting a fascinating story about the early development of the gasoline engine, while allowing us deep glimpses into Jakob's life and how things were at the turn of the 19th Century into the 20th. I highly recommend this book to any American history buffs out there, as well as entrepreneurs who want to see what it was like back in the day.
2978633
I really enjoyed this book. In what (I think) is the author's debut, this story is very well written and tells a compelling tale of the main character's life, loss and apathy in life.

Quick and very enjoyable read, highly recommend it.
815289
Sidlow paints a vivid, poignant portrait of his service, including the diverse tapestry of individuals that comprise the IDF and the common threads that bond them. The author conveys both personal insights and meta-reflections in a narrative that is strikingly human, delivering both self-deprecating jokes and keen introspections alongside the grim realities and larger consequences of war. Beautifully written and well worth the read.
1727751
This was a compelling story written with multiple, approachable characters taking turns at first-person narratives, back and forth over time.
The narrative and story line were engaging and thought provoking, and many of the twists and turns were revealed like little gifts throughout the tale.
i would recommend this book!
78509
Khaled Hosseini's first book is a powerful one about two boys, separated by class and priviledge but linked by friendship, who become further linked by a cruel, tragic event that changes their relationship forever. In different ways, the event will ruin both of their lives, but the narrator-protagonist gets another chance to do the right thing and to make amends.

The tale is engaging, moving, disturbing, tragic, and uplifting all at the same time. The plot writing is excellent, and while there are a couple of moments when the protagonist's first-person narration seems emotionally false, it doesn't detract overly from the power of the unfolding story. The book also allows we isolated Americans a much-needed glimpse into the Middle East and into the daily lives of people whose hopes and dreams, and even culture, are not so different from our own; it makes real the complexity and sadness endured by war-ravaged countries far from our shores, who are caught up in worldwide conflicts they didn't ask for.

I read this in a single day; couldn't put it down. I did find the cruelty disturbing, likely due to my membership in a generation weaned on books and movies before cruel violence was taken for granted as it is now -- but that cruelty is an integral part of the novel's power.  A terrific and provocative read.
1427035
A great read -- engaging and compelling.  I normally do not read nonfiction for pleasure but truly enjoyed this book. The tone and voice were well-developed.
1841632
I enjoyed this novel: it has action, analysis and atmosphere. The relationships between the members of the police station were real and human. They were not stereotyped, or shallow. I particularly appreciated the attention to how the police characters approached their work differently, depending on their length of service, age, personal history, etc.. Many writers consider the police force characters as far as gender, age, marital status while developing each character, but ignore how a person's life experience and nature contribute to their behavior on the job and how work experiences change their relationship with each other. Well written, compelling and thought provoking work!
1105138
This is an easy read because it is so well written.  The story very compelling and interesting.  I would recommend it.
3383741
Donald Silverman has woven a compelling tapestry about emotional distances:  the barriers that people create, their regrettable priorities, and the price they must pay for their choices.
A well-written, insightful, exciting read.
76451
"Fallout" by Mark Ethridge, is a very enjoyable story with social justice and making a difference as themes, and that shines a light on current day affairs. I don't read a lot of fiction books anymore and concentrate on non-fiction focusing on ethics, social change, mindfulness and yoga. This book fits right in with these topics, although it is fiction. It is a life-like tale that exposes corporate and personal greed in the antagonistic characters, as well as love for family and commitment to community members in the protagonists.  "Fallout" also explores issues of powerlessness and oppression and the journey of overcoming small-town poverty. And perhaps best of all for a reader it is fun to read - it kept me interested and devouring it straight through. I happened to read it while spending time in an area that could have been the setting for this story and it draws a picture of a geographic area that is not often explored in contemporary fiction - West Virginia and the Ohio Valley - which has a fascinating history worth remembering - and this books recalls some of that history.  I'd highly recommend the book for its point of view and fast pace, and clear, compelling writing.  It has all the elements that make for a good book - well-drawn characters, mystery, suspense, romance, and subjects that thoughtful readers will care about.  The motif of interconnectedness between past and present and the never-ending battle between selfishness and social responsibility makes it a worthwhile read and the great writing makes it fun. The book has more than one hero, which makes it even more unusual  - the efforts of good people of different ages and sexes makes it relevant for a wide range of readers. This is Mark's second book, the first being "Grievances", which I also read and liked, which has been made into a thought-provoking and action-packed movie, "Deadline".
3764613
Sharon Murphy tells a compelling story of her decision to "kidnap" her own son and escape from an abusive ex-husband and his famous mother. This story is told from her point of view, but she does not shy away from her own shortcomings -- she was young, idealistic, and struggling to make ends meet. A more sophisticated (or wealthier) person might have made different choices. But there is no doubt that she was motivated by a deep love for her son and a desire to keep him safe. She adds an epilogue, told from the perspective of her present-day self, that shows a hard-won insight into her own motivations and actions.
2577426
A fun read, indeed.  The author describes the reality-television production and outdoors survival skills accurately (the latter more so than the former).
It is a compelling work, one that is very difficult to put down once you have started.
The shift from first to third person narration takes some getting used to, but it wins out in the end.
Same issue with the names she gives to the characters, "Tracker," "Waitress," etc.  They work at some level, mainly in helping you develop a mind-picture of them (easy enough, for they echo casting stereotypes in reality TV).
The author is very good at misleading you into interpreting various scenes from the protagonist's perspective, only to later on reveal they transpired very differently altogether. Not an "unreliable narrator" but one with compromised vision and perception (both literally and metaphorically).
My only misgivings about the book are that I really wanted to learn more about the other characters. "Zoo," the protagonist is pretty well fleshed out, but I finished the book wanting to know more about the others and their back stories.  With them, the author tends to "tell" rather than "show."
I will keep an eye out for new works by this author, for she writes very well.
-JJS
1980047
A wonderful book that pulls the reader into two exotic locales -- the country of Ethiopia, and the practice of surgery. The story chronicles the lives of a pair of conjoined twins, beginning with the circumstances that led to their birth, and ending with a resolution of the conflict that separates them for much of the story. The writing is always clear and compelling, and sometimes lyrical, particularly when it is about Ethiopia. The characters are fully realized, and the story line pulled me along as strongly as any thriller. Some reviewers said they were bored or put off by the frequent medical interludes in the book -- some of which are quite technical and graphic -- but I was fascinated and found them entirely appropriate, since medicine is so important to so many of the characters. Why four stars not five? I found the plot a little contrived in some important places, and I shared another reviewer's sense that the end had been pulled too neatly and tightly together. Still and all, this is a terrific book, which I strongly recommend.
2680347
First of all, this is a fascinating and extremely well-told and honest look at one person's experience with infertility and having a severely-premature child in a NICU.  The author covers the experience in vivid detail, yet with a detachment and wry humor that keeps the book very readable.  I would NOT recommend this book for anyone who's trying to become pregnant or who is already pregnant, but it's a great read for anyone else who's not already emotionally invested in a birth.  It is simply a very well-written, compelling book.

That said, there's a subtext running through the book, the author's anxiety, which I found fascinating, because I share it, although to a lesser degree.  (One of the comments that rang true for me in the book is when the author observed that while optimists see the glass half-full, and pessimists see the glass half-empty, those of us with anxiety issues see the glass and think about how the contents are evaporating and will soon be totally gone.)  Anxiety is a tremendous happiness killer, and to no real purpose.  The things we fear are rarely the things that happen, and anxiety is rarely helpful in preparation; if anything, anxiety ensures that we'll already be exhausted when a real problem strikes.  Aside from the compelling story of the NICU, I found her description of how her life-long (severe) anxiety resolved over this experience to be quite interesting.  Having a real problem that absorbed her life and which she was able to overcome gave her a new perspective and a peace about day to day living.  This alone, for me, makes the book worth another read.

In short, this is a terrific book, very well-written, that will give you a first-hand look at like in a NICU.  But it will also give you some good perspective for how to take life one day at a time, and enjoy the life you have.
1685053
Don't be put off by the sensational  blurb on the back cover. The writer's style is smooth, engaging and compelling. Heart-rendering accounts of war in Uganda are realistically wrought in this moving and fast-paced novel and contrasted well with England during the same period. I cared about the characters and was drawn into their world, their trials, their pain and their joy. An excellent read and am looking forward to more from this author.
3252178
Having really enjoyed Lee Campbell's "Stow Away" I was eager to read this sequel.  "Cast Off" is a different kind of book, but did not dissappoint!

What I liked most about "Stow Away" was the deeply compelling story of the author's adolescent love, the surrender of her son to adoption, and how those events resurfaced dramatically into what had been a stable and pleasant suburban family life.  Cast off has less of that drama (though there was enough about her reunion with her son Michael to make me cry on the airplane when I was reading it) and is more of a walk-through of how she went about building an organization and a movement.

One notable feature of this book is the relaxed and informal "voice" with which the story is told - it took a little getting used to, but by the time I got to the end I was really enjoying it.  It made me feel like a journalist who was hearing the story first hand - like Lee might offer me a cup of tea at any second.  I really liked the question-and-answer section at the end also - I did I'm fact have many of those questions left over, and I was really glad to get the answers!

As I read, I kept thinking about the bravery that it took to do that work - stepping out of the shadows as a birthmother meant admitting to the most scandalous behavior of that time.  I was surprised that there wasn't more discussion of that, or more exploration of that.  Even the successes and failures of organization-building seemed less psychologically important to Lee than I would have expected.  I'd have been interested in a bit more depth on those issues.

In all, this is a great book - well written and extremely accessible.  I'd suggest it for anyone interested in community organizing, advocacy, or non-profit startups; and of course for anyone with a special interest in adoption.
1390810
Ghost Fleet is well-placed and exciting, with a little time taken for character development. This plot-driven page-turner is compelling because the initial conditions leading to war are easy to believe and relatable from the state of the world today.  This is a book that will stick with me in the near future, coloring how I read the headlines: "Uh oh, I think I know where this is leading..."

It's also sobering in its assessment of some of the current weaknesses in Western security and military preparedness. The role of hubris in politics and war is well-explored, if a bit one-sided. Lastly, the authors bring a credible sense of the likely interaction and balance of power between the military and the private sector.

All in all, a really engaging read!