Alls i have to say is there is sadness ,happiness, and supense ,and an unexpeted twist
349898
I loved this story  you see z tender yet sadistic rydstar but he is a force to recon with  yet complete loyality to thoss he holds dear to him . Wnile the joy that come for brie.
A must read
1933056
I cannot praise this book too highly. For a story in which hardly anything happens, it is full of surprises, starting with the title, which is misleading in two ways: the book ignores Skylark for most of its length (although it is surely all about her in a sense), and she is the antithesis of a skylark. But the biggest surprise is the power of the narrative. I admit that I began to wonder about midway why I was still reading the book since, as I say, nothing seemed to be happening. But in the book's latter part the sheer depth of feelings began to become paramount, and the purpose of it all became clearer and clearer, culminating in a drama that was almost unbearable.

The book is amazing also for its gentleness despite great emotional turmoil, for that turmoil arising from the everyday, for its balancing of the stripping away of all pretense with the purest love, and for its ordinary yet devastating finale. I suppose different readers will take away different things from this book, some even seeing a vindication of the title. But for this reader it seems almost absurd that I should be commending the book to anyone, since -- aside from the joy of reading good writing -- it has left me with a reaffirmation of life's awfulness. But I am used to the idea that there is at least this kind of consolation to be had from life: that from its awfulness sometimes comes great art.

By the way, one nice little touch (among many): I believe one of the minor characters must represent the author, who inserts himself in a clever, even droll, way.
1597823
Two years ago Quinn Weller's life was thrown off it axis when her sister died. Since then she has just been going through the motions. She should be happy with a job she's always wanted, a loving family, a guy she's been friends with since childhood who wants to take their friends with occasional benefits to the next level. But since her sisters death she emotionally shut down and just feels like she is walking through life in a fog. Her world is turn upside down when a lawyer tells her something shocking about her past that sends her over the edge.

That past is in Wildstone, California and after confronting her parents she decides to just leave and go search for answers. She gets a lot more she bargained for in Wildstone and starts to question was she really happy in LA.

I'm going to leave a lot out as to what the surprises were that Quinn had to face (the title of the book should give you a clue) but they were doozies. This isn't a romance book per se but it does have one in it. Its more about Quinn having to face her past  both the one she knew about and the one she didnt. I certainly teared up quite a few times as I was reading this book  its both a heart wrenching and heart warming book. I'm looking forward to seeing what/who is going to be next.
141505
It starts off with a sad event that turns a young girls life upside down again.  But then her world opens up to exciting possibilities.
4896276
When I started to read this novel, I didn't realize that there was 3 different stories each with it's own main character with whom you root for. There is happiness and love. Betrayal and sadness. All of it ties together to create a nicely written book with 3 unique situations that must be overcome. This dark fantasy novel kept me turning the page to see what would happen next. Nicely done.
2381006
I haven't cried while reading a book in a very, very long time. Maybe its a sign that I don't let things get to me, or maybe its because I haven't truly connected with a book or a character in a while. Regardless, Id forgotten what it feels like to feel for a story, as dumb as that sounds. Kevin Wilsons Perfect Little World made me feel all the feelings, and I couldn't be happier about it.

Izzy is pregnant with her art teachers child. She couldn't be less sure of what her future holds, but she knows she wants to keep the baby. The father, Hal, isn't so sure hes ready for that kind of life and urges Izzy to reconsider. She doesnt, and his involvement in her life ends suddenly  and permanently.

With no prospects for herself or her unborn child, Izzy is confronted with an opportunity she cant pass up: a spot in something called the Infinite Family Project. The IFP, run by Dr. Preston Grind, seeks to study the benefits of communal families. The project is presented as a sort of utopia, where each child receives care from 20 parents and other researchers and parents have the freedom and resources to pursue their life goals without the challenges that child-rearing often brings. But even in a perfect world, there are no perfect people. Inevitably, things get messy.

As a young, recently married woman, I can relate to Izzy in a way that I may not have been able to even two years ago. The prospect of having children, while very far off on my horizon, is not something that is completely foreign to me. I have chosen to start a small family, and I know how it feels to want only the best for us/future children. What would I do to achieve that? As I read, I found myself considering what it would be like to participate in a real-life IFP. Would I give up ten years of my life for a project like that? The range of emotions I felt while considering this was eye-opening.

The way Wilson gently cheers for each of his characters  and there are plenty to try to keep straight  is heart warming. Even when making choices that seem to go against the purpose of the project, theres a real feeling of pride for each character. You want to see them succeed, even if you only get to know a couple of them really well.

I gave Perfect Little World 4 stars in the end. It would have been a perfect 5, but I often found myself confused by all the names on the pages. 10 families means 20 individual parents, plus their one child each, the researchers on top of that, and any side characters brought into the mix. It may have been more digestible with a smaller number but, then again, maybe the effect of the story would have been different. Overall, though, this one is going in my Top 5, and I cant wait to share it with friends and family.
1912241
For the first half of the book it feels like you are reading three separate stories, but of course they all melt together for one sweet ending. The story is emotional, sweet, tragic, hopeful and hopeless. The three women are deeply hurt and angry which makes them interesting to befriend. The surprises held no surprise as I Had predicted the ending before the book was half finished. Despite this fact I enjoyed the book very much. I shed tears upon the resolution, even though I had guessed the ending. To me, this indicates that the author did a beautiful job of writing with feeling, heart and empathy.
2371116
I am trying to think of how to put down into words to best describe how this book made me feel. A wide range of emotions of sadness, anger and happiness. After finishing the book at 2:30 in the morning (because once I started it I could not put it down with out finishing it), I myself thought I was going to be stuck doing one of Rob's late night work outs to get sleep. Walt brought back so manay memories in my life. I suggest any one to read this book, and thank you Walt for writing such a amazing story.
1764566
I love how you can feel the feelings of the characters and cry ,be happy, confused ,feel the love and heartbreak. Its worth it to read it.
3362668
Well, this is the kind of story that stays with you, that lingers, that haunts your emotions. A story of a girl who ends up abandoned by her mother and in the care of her stepfather, who reaches out to Becca's negligent biological father for help. All this is causing a lot of stress on Becca, the result being frequent trips to a child's psychologist's office. But you won't see the twist coming. I was surprised to find out what Becca's problem actually was, and I think you will be, too. What a poignant and surprising read!
2734811
I finished this book at 2 AM last night and I can't stop thinking about it. It made me happy. It made my sad. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It me proud. It made me empathize. It made me excited. It made me hope. It made me believe in fate and it made me feel true love and forgiveness.

Every emotion Sky went through, I went through. The conversation she had with herself was so beautiful and heartbreaking and therapeutic for her.

Holder's ability to know exactly what to say and do at the moment that she needs it most is proof positive that what happened in their lives up until the grocery store was meant to happen that exact same way because it made them who they are and brought them together.

The memories will keep coming - good and bad. But they, Sky & Holder will get through it together, forever.

I will be 39 next week and I got the reading bug when I was 16 with Flowers in the Attic by VC Andrews and I have never, ever read a book that effected me so strongly. It has been almost 12 hours since finishing and I am still crying. Crying because my heart breaks for that little girl and my heart swells for the women that she is and the unconditional love that now envelopes her.

***disclaimer*** Although this book's main characters are 17-19 years old, as a mother of a 13 yr old girl, it should not be read by those younger than 18. Anything younger than that, would be way too much emotion for them to handle.
2692149
I agree with a previous reviewer who said this is a sad book, but worth reading for it's happy ending. I thoroughly enjoyed THE REVISED FUNDAMENTALS OF CAREGIVING!  It's a rather strange story of a man hit hard by life and down on his luck and through circumstances is put into the position of caregiver for a 19 year old wheelchair-bound young man. The banter between the two, especially their rather demeaning phrases concerning women and what they'd like to do to them, may be off-putting to some, but pass over these phrases quickly and you'll find a gem of a story. The twists and turns of life has brought Benjamin, the older main character, to a place in his life he never expected. But by the end of the story you know, despite additional twists and turns and his interaction with Trev, who seems to at first want nothing more from life than to adhere to a tight schedule of watching the Weather Channel and eating waffles, that Benjamin and life in general have once again come to terms.

It's a difficult book to describe, as it's not your run-of-the-mill work. But it's  unique story line is what makes it a stand out piece of fiction. I highly recommend.
1910202
I loved Kallos' other books and there was no doubt in my mind when I read the description that this would be any different. There is something  about her stories and her characters and her writing that appeal to me and I find it difficult to describe just what it is that gets to me . Maybe it's the vulnerability of the characters, their sadness, and how she makes you root for them and how there is the feeling of hope when you don't think it's possible . This one has a bit of the quirkiness of [book:Sing Them Home|96703] and the beautiful way people connect and touch each other's lives that I found in [book:Broken for You|96702].

We are introduced to Cody as a two year old by his sister Emmy at the start. A precocious little one speaking words beyond his age and then suddenly losing his speech and exhibiting other signs that something just isn't right . Fast forward and Cody is almost 21, autistic, and on the verge of aging out of the state supported home .

The point of view  is mainly that of Cody's dad, Charles ,  who seems pretty fragile. We just don't know how fragile and broken until towards the end  of the story . He's a Language Arts teacher, divorced and is trying to adjust to Emmy going off to college. His narrative alternates between the present and his fourth grade self as well as letters to Emmy.

I wasn't sure at first what the focus on the cursive writing in the flashbacks was  about but  Charles' memories of fourth grade become meaningful in his remembrance of his classmate, Dana McGucken ,the boy dressed in white from his fourth grade class , most likely autistic but not diagnosed as such at that time.

Kallos also provides the point of view  of Sister Giorgia , a nun with dementia.  We enter her past , her stories wondering what is real , what is imagined. It's  sad as we see her feeling alone when the present she doesn't understand creeps into her memory, her present . She is committed to the same home where Cody lives .

And if all of this isn't sad enough , I was thrown for a loop towards the end of the story while reading one of the letters Charles writes to his daughter . I cried from that point to the end . This is a sad , beautiful story about characters that I came to love and how they about deal with and live  through some of the toughest things that life sometimes brings . It's about how we communicate with or without language, how we connect with other human beings .
1729866
loved it,but it had a lot of sadness in it.  But a very happy ending.
3551780
Not every story can have a happy ending I suppose but some of my favorites don't have a Cookie cutter ending. It's a fit ending even though it is not the one I hoped for. After I take my antidepressant I should be ok. Kidding. Not really.
4727124
I read this book on a recomendation, almost a dare because I don't trust the guy who suggested it :). Sorry anyway, I became immediately immersed in this tale of Eric Poole and Lori Cranston. I was intruged by the two  characters. Lori's fixations, her ability to be streetwise yet childish at  the same time. Eric's coolness and detachment from emotion and yet their  longing for tenderness somehow connects them both.  I enjoyed each  twist and loop of this story, and just when things looked like they were  going to end on a high note, it abruptly and suddenly becomes tragic,  something I was not prepared for. I sat looking at the text for a full  three minutes reading and re-reading it over not believing the ending. I  almost cried when I realized Eric had lost Lori, his one attachment to the  world and his one hope for true tenderness with out death. I still am  shocked at the ending and truly feel sorry for Eric at the end.  A  beautiful story, with some how a tragically realistic ending, with the  idea, there are no happy endings, just realistic ones.
"Later, in  the deepest heart of the night, the monster also cried."
4379844
I had no idea about the twists and turns this story, and its grumpy protagonist, would take. It was a little slow going at first, just like a roller coaster inching its way to the top. Then, off you go! Taking the ups and downs right along with the main character. It's a feel-good book that couldn't be more unpredictable!