Disturbing and yet fascinating
344035
If I had to choose one word to describe this novel, it would be disturbing.  The (I guess you would call her) protagonist is a strange combination of well educated in an academic sense and incredibly ignorant in a human sense.  The choices she makes are difficult to understand and at times the narrative is confusing.

But it is a very interesting look at another world, at a culture so incredibly foreign.  It shows how groups like the IS (ISIL/ISIS) could come to exist and have any sort of support.

And it makes me sad for humanity, that people are raised to think this way.
1336448
I found this novel to be fascinating, disturbing and multilayered. It starts with two young filmmakers with a vile ambition and a filmmaking aesthetic that involves violence and torture which they call "ultrarealism." From there the novel's sense of (ultra?) reality for me seemed to mutate in a way that reflected the shifting identities of the characters. Events and points of view take us further and further from the first two characters and yet those two characters' ghostly presence continues to be felt throughout the story. Kelso portrayed the two filmmakers' relationship with a real feeling of authenticity as seen from the POV of the character Vincent who admires the more charismatic Brandon. I also feel he effectively evoked a sense of what ultrarealism could be by remaining allusive through multiple viewpoints. The feeling for was like walking into a room full of seemingly learned people discussing a subject that becomes more and more vivid and elusive the longer you eavesdrop. In fact, it seems to me there is an overall effect in the novel of everything in it being elusive and at times frustrating when you want the nuts and bolts or the straightforward statement.  It is part of a trilogy though so there is more to the story.
1568804
I do not usually read books that I know will be disturbing, but I'm glad I read this one. Yes, it is disturbing in some places, but it's also a very interesting book, and once I started reading, I didn't want to stop. I came to know the "unusual" characters...Debra Lauman has a way of bringing her characters to life! As others have commented, this is a very well written book. I recommend it.
2430970
This story was fascinating. To think there may be a real version of this going on somewhere is frightening. There really are some sickos that live amongst us.
696426
This is a very dark and disturbing book, but it did compel me to keep reading well into the night. The author employs a technique that struck me as unusual -- giving away some of the endings ahead of time. A little proofreading/editing would help: there are a couple of instances where the doctor was referred to by the patient's name, and some improper use of apostrophes. The use of medical jargon seemed quite appropriate to me, but as someone with zero medical training, I appreciated the links to the glossary at the end of the book. I learned some things about the medical profession -- and I will avoid teaching hospitals given any choice in the matter!
1616395
This is a well written but disturbing account of the lives of the displaced heavy industry workers in the Indiana and Ohio area.  It can probably be extended to include most of the workers in heavy industry and mining all over the countryW.  It is unsettling in that the author describes such a troubling culture.  The needs of the people are pervasive and deep.  It is very difficult to know how to them them but yet we owe these people a chance to improve themselves.
1738165
Degrelle's memoir is a strange, sinister but fascinating document. The level of suffering on all sides is almost beyond understanding, although the underlying reasons for the SS/Nazi obsession with the east are left somewhat unclear.
1817933
I enjoy true crime books and have read many and yet this one had several evil people I had not heard about and more information about others. Yes it is disturbing to read what people are capable of but still very fascinating.
1919290
A college professor is accused of seducing one of his students, and is resigns his position in disgrace. With his life somewhat out of control, he moves in with his daughter on her farm in a rural - and tumultuous - part of South Africa. There they are brutally attacked and each must come to terms with what has happened to them. This book is strangely disturbing and thought-provoking. The characters are not given much depth. In fact, it is difficult to say whether they are truly known or not. The ends without an ending as well. However, it is a story that stays with a reader. It is also an interesting study into life as a white person in South Africa and how the balance and blatant racism - on both sides - is prevelant. Not a book for those interested in pure entertainment, but for deeper reading, I would recommend.
4953405
Although I couldn't set this book aside without wanting to read more, it's not for the faint of heart. The details can be quite graphic at times, which was not exactly necessary to tell this horrific story, but it definately put into context how truly psycopathic Paul Bernardo and Karla Holmoka are. What really amazed me is the fact that neither of them is remorseful for what they did to those poor young girls. Mr. Williams does seem to focus more on Karla in this book, which lets us see that she may have been the true mastermind of all the crimes commited, but I would have liked to have read more on Paul as well. The only possible complaint that I could have about this story is that sometimes Mr. Williams jumped around with some details and also there were too many names associated with this case to keep straight. I was astounded that the police could "bungle" the investigations so badly, maybe those three girls would be alive today if Paul Bernardo was stopped earlier than he had been. I can't quite comprehend why the police settled themselves on facts which proved to be incorrect. It's as if they walked around with blinders on instead of meticulously checking out every piece of evidence. This is absolutely worth the read and it shows the great injustice served to all the victims of the sick minds of Paul and Karla. They should rot in jail, and I'm not talking about "country clubish", I'm talking about hard time in general population. Let's see how long they survive there!
63068
I found this book to be both fascinating and disturbing.  I am not surprised
with the findings of this book, but to have evidence that the federal government,
including the president(s) of the United States condoned these practiced is
depressing.  I did not have any dillusions that the government did not really
care what happenned to black folk, but to disregard evidence and pleas from
our own justice department and presecutors is painful.

I think every person, whether they care about the treatment of black or not,
should read this book and attempt to determine why they feel as they do knowing
the facts.
3608793
shocking disturbing must read for anyone interested in true history
1280968
This book is very well written...and so very disturbing. At times, its hard to listen to. Yet, I think its sheds a very important light on the abortion industry at large.
3624099
Intriguing book which I could recommend to others.  Interesting blend of current and historical times.  Some of the content was quite disturbing, but I am glad I read it.
896624
Intensely interesting and disturbing.  My only hesitation in not giving it five stars relates to the believability of the story.  If this is true, there should be national outrage.  Separation of church and state does not free any religious group from the law, even if a religion does not believe in the government.  It is disturbing to think that a whole group of people, primarily women and children are living in virtual slavery right under our noses.
738618
The book is revoting with two parallel story lines that eventually merge. At times, the book was very disturbing and frightening, but hope is always interwoven in the writing. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading mysteries and historical novels even though it is not intended to be historically accurate. Readers in the medical and nursing professions would enjoy this book - I certainly did. Very thought provoking!
3051240
I have no idea what happened here.
I spent the entire book either confused, disgusted, disturbed or anxious.
And I enjoyed it.
I think I really enjoyed it actually.
But I'm not sure.

It confused me utterly, but I don't think I mind.
You'd have to read it to understand.

The story follows four very different families as they wake up in their caravans one morning and are not where they should be.
In fact, they're not even sure they're still in the same world.
This new world is a strange one.
Where the grass goes on forever, worryingly familiar figures can be seen in the distance, and a dark ominous cloud lurks on the horizon.
Each person has been brought here for a reason.
And the journey to understand why is a disturbing one.

I loved learning about all the characters and how vastly different all of their lives and experiences were.
They were all so interesting, with wildly different and fascinating personalities. They were loveable, hateable, brave, weak, innocent, and evil.
It was a wonderful and intriguing mix of people.

The story itself was incredibly interesting, as well as disturbing and very odd.
I'm not too sure what happened in the end or what it was actually all about, but I really enjoyed the journey through this strange world, and how the story was written.
It kept me gripped right until the very end.

This is a story about human nature and how we act when everything we know is taken away.
And it is terrifying.