This is the most beautiful and enthralling book I have read in a LONG ...
356520
This is the most beautiful and enthralling book I have read in a LONG time. It is so easy to read, and so magical and profound with its messages about healing humanity and the Earth.  It's main message is that we all need to come back to our center to accept and love ourselves no matter what we've been through in life, and that we need to find our inner power to help others and work together to change the trajectory of human history to a bright and positive sustainable future.  If you love reading about mystery, magic, universal wisdom, healing and healing the Earth, then you will LOVE this book.  Actually, EVERYONE should read it!
591386
Oh my gosh, I just can't express how utterly amazing this book is. It was so hauntingly beautiful with the vivid descriptions of the world and the beautiful connection between Levi and Evie. I have never read a story where the protagonist is blind and after this I can't imagine that anyone else could do it better. I laughed, I cried, and I was just so moved by this story. I recently went to New Orleans and explored the bayou for the first time and just reading the description of its beauty and the way it affected Evie took me right back. Throughout the story Evie speaks about the hardest thing about being blind is not her own disability, but the way people react to her and don't know how to deal with it. I have to admit that I normally would not have read this type of story because I wasn't sure I would know how to deal with it. I thought it would be too angsty and sad. But the truth is, although there was angst, there was such poignant beauty and acceptance from Evie, and Levi, and Cherelyn that you couldn't help but be touched by the story. The twist was shocking, although the closer it came to being revealed, the more I realized that it might have been a possibility. Levi was a dream and his utter acceptance of Evie and seeing him fall in love with her and finally come alive for the first time was so moving. Evie was possibly one of the strongest character's I've ever read about. And her ability to paint and see and feel the colors was inspiring. I even clicked the link to see the artist who inspired Ms. Leighton to create Evie.

Everything about this book was just perfect. It was so well written and so descriptive and just so...wonderful. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a touchingly beautiful romance. Bravo Ms. Leighton. Bravo.
1817117
I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair review.

That said, I do not know if I can write a fair review. I do not think I have enough control over language to give this book justice. It was beautiful. Taona Dumisani Chiveneko uses beautiful language. I met so many interesting characters brought to life through metaphor. Chiveneko does not just describe a character, he creates a stunning visual and produces deep characterization in a few words. It is a rare and wonderful talent that, as a reader, grabs you and transports you into a deeply complex narrative full of vivid and interesting characters. From the moment I read the description of Mr. Gejo I knew I had discovered a wonderful new author. The description is as follows:

"To the Chairman's right was the largest man that Abel Muranda had ever seen. He had the muscular definition of a man who had spent his life restraining elephants in heat. Each of his sleeves looked like a python that had swallowed prey larger than the snake was elastic. The garment was losing the fight. The man's size was not his only striking feature. He also had a massive mustache that looked like a scruffy kitten had nestled above his lips and fallen asleep."

And the descriptions just continue to get better from there. Each character is vividly created to be intertwined in a complex narrative with more links than the flame lily has roots, weaving together subtly over the course of the book.

Beyond that, the story is fascinating. I don't give synopses of books, the description above or the back of the book will do that for me. The story is wonderfully executed, just giving touches of information, the perfect amount to make it hard to put down, and just enough fantasy to make the reader wonder what is true and what is imagination. Okay, so the flame lily is fantasy, but a new hangman was just appointed in Zimbabwe this year.

I will admit, that the story and language can be a bit heavy at times and may not be to everyone's taste. I did have to put the book down at one point to read something else for my book club. Then I picked The Hangman's Replacement again and devoured the second half of the book. Again, I was drawn in by the language and the detailed characters. Now part of that could be that my book for book club was painfully bad and to return to an author with such an amazing talent was refreshing.

I want more of this story. Thankfully, this is only book 1 with an anticipated four to seven books in the series. I plan on owning them.
2311278
The writing of this beautiful book is in the tradition of the best fantasy authors, lyrical, poetic, deep. I was drawn into the story from the very start. Clive S. Johnson creates a world that I wanted to return to over and again, eagerly stealing moments from my busy day to immerse myself once more. There many layers of meaning, and the plot builds step by step, enfolding and engrossing the reader. The whole work is a rich and many coloured example of story telling at its best.

I don't want to go into a blow by blow account of the plot and characters as the book is too subtle to precis in that way. Just read the look inside on amazon and you will have a flavour of what is on offer. I loved it!
1572079
To say I loved this book is an understatement. The one word I would use to describe this book is beautiful. The writing is beautiful. I often had to pause and re-read lines of such crafsmanship and insight. And then there are the characters - some that I will never forget - who are just beautiful, espcially the love they have for each other. For me, Ghosh is the most beautiful of all. But it was how this "family" worked as a unit that was truly beautiful. This was a book that I could not put down, and when it ended, I wished it could continue. This is a rare story that not just entered my heart, it entered my soul. Cutting for Stone is truly extraordinary and unique.
1810001
The flow and rhythm and simple beauty of this book compelled me along, page by page. It captivated me. I was smitten and could not put it down. And the Sadness when it ended was the hallmark of a magnificent read.
1810719
This is my new very favorite book. I can't get over how good it was! I just hate that I finished it because I already miss reading it. You know you have found a truly rare and amazing book when you finish it feeling like you have lost dear friends. I absolutely can't wait until the follow-up is released. If I was half as good a writer as Sawyer, I could come up with better words to describe this book but I am stuck with breath-taking and simply superb. Thank you so much for this gift of beauty!
2181193
This is the most beautiful book I have ever read.  Fascinating, evocative, historically accurate. Literary fiction at its finest. Incredible character development, fabulous plot and scene. Cannot recommend highly enough!
278389
This is the most beautiful book I have read in a very long time. My heart was with each character as they lived this most horrid time in our history. I recommend reading this at least once.
982171
I just received my copy of Men and Angels and I am absolutely giddy with delight.  This is THE most beautiful book I own.  I have quite a few art and photography tomes that I love, but this one truly takes the cake.  A few years ago, I ran across one of Christensen's other books, A Journey of the Imagination, in a bookstore.  I knew nothing about him at the time, and I recall sitting in the floor of the bookstore, mesmerized by his paintings.  I went home with my purchase and read it cover to cover that evening.  It remains one of my favorite books of all time.  I discovered very recently that Christensen had published another one in the past year or so.  The quality of this book is superb.  I am almost afraid to turn the pages without wearing cotton gloves!  The color is exquisite and the pages (and text) are very large, allowing for very nice detail of the paintings.  Again, in this work, Christensen describes his inspirations (and perspiration) that go into the pieces, and you get more insight into his symbolism and personal philosophy on life.  If you are a fan of Christensen or fantasy art, you will not be disappointed in having this book in your library.
4275784
I give this book 5  stars because of how beautiful and ordinary, dismal and extraordinary, sweet and engaging it is. The author takes a piece of history and delivers an unusual interpretation of the events. The narrator has seen seen the beauty and tragedies that afflict humans, yet he is haunted and mesmerized by a young girl who learns to read. The new words she learns take her everywhere and she devours books. For those of us who love the written word, this book is one of the ultimate treasures in life. The author writes so beautifully, you feel like you are with our young heroine, experiencing all of her discoveries of life. WOW....fantastic!!!!!!
3453215
I love how the author has chosen her words deliberately and effectively to create a fantasy world full of beauty and deep spiritual meaning.  I am on the last chapter now, and I do not want it to end...... I'd love to see this story made into a movie but only if the film maker would closely follow all of the author's beautiful description of this truly incredible world she has brought to life. I give this 5+ stars and look forward to the sequal!!!!!
2870592
This has been one of the most beautiful books I have read in the last decade. The yearning poetry of the words and Kingsolver's ability to create compelling characters you want to know and spend more time with captivated me from early on. The in-depth look at 20th century events were made more fascinating through the sensitive lens and prose of Harrison Shepherd. I cried for heartbreak as well as the fact that the story had to end.
4111440
Omg, what a beautiful, heartbreaking, poignant book!  This book has really gotten under my skin and into my heart and soul like no other book has in a long time.  I just finished it last night and I can't get it out of my mind.

The character of Harley got so imbedded in me that I was becoming her.  The other day when I was in the supermarket, I was looking at different things and I would say to myself, would this be any good for me since I'm dying?  What can I eat that would make me feel better and stronger.  And the I realized I wasn't dying!  I'm not Harley!  But she seemed to be living in me.  Then I saw a tree with its beautiful atumnal colors in bloom and I said it wanted to remember it because it was probably the last time I would see fall and beautiful trees like this.  Again!  I had to jog myself back to my own reality.

All I can say, is that Suzanne Jenkins has stolen my heart.  Every book I read by her, no matter what the genre, I absorb all of it like a good meal that I don't ever want to end.  I'm so thankful that you can't gain weight from words, or I wouldn't be able to get up and walk.

Suzanne is a genius in her writing.  She is so caring about her characters.  They all come alive and some you love and some years don't.  But that's the way of life for all of us.  I hope and pray she doesn't stop writing her wonderful stories for a long, long time.  I need her writing like I need food for living.

Thank you again, Suzanne Jenkins.  I will be waiting for your next work of art.
1285974
There are so few words I have that can do this book justice - It's pure and utter beauty! Interesting story that sparks the imagination and feels as though you are watching a film. I found this book after watching a short animation clip (of the same name) and was absolutely enamored by the detail. I hope to see more soon! I am in love with it!
1722171
This book is gorgeous.  In every way.  Even before I dipped into it, the cover is stunning, captivating and I couldn't wait to read it. And it did not disappoint.  How lovely and lovingly it has been put together.  Its water color and photographic offerings are beautiful additions without detracting at all from the author's writing and story. Telling of people and place in short, engaging, capsule versions makes the poetry of her journey come achingly and transformatively alive.
825460
I cannot say enough about this truly magnificent and inspiring book.  The photographs are breathtakingly beautiful as well as captivating with accompanying verses that deeply touches your heart and soul. I have purchased copies of this book for many of my friends and they have all raved about it. Highly recommend this book!