This was a thought provoking novel about some real issues ...
350588
This was a thought provoking novel about some real issues that we are living with in our busy American lives. The well written novel was worth the time investment and leaves you thinking about personal priorities.
441437
In this short novel, the author examines the unusual series of events of a group of teenage sisters committing suicide from the very normal perspective of neighborhood boys remembering the events. Eugenides takes some actions that are difficult if not impossible to understand from an outsider's perspective and examines them from that very perspective. The narration of the neighborhood boys presents the reminiscences from all of the people in the neighborhood after the fact, couched in all the fantasies and emotional exploration normal among teenage boys and, because of the retrospective format, adult men remembering their teenage years. The whole book is about speculation and certainly gets the reader thinking. Some readers may find the lack of solid answers or definitive plot twists to be frustrating, but for me, this uncertainty is the strength of the novel.
1718848
This was an engrossing novel and I appreciated its relevancy to current events, but the author goes a bit overboard to espouse his personal philosophy concerning actions by our government leaders.
3978190
This book is a very thought provoking book in that it challenges the question of whether a person should have a gun for protection of family and property.  In this story, the main character is a minister and a Christian.  It raised questions I had never considered and showed the consequences both good and bad of this minister's choice in the matter.  Though graphic and compelling, the story shows the evil that anyone can encounter today and begs the challenge of how to deal with that evil. Given the recent Trayvon Martin episode we all witnessed on TV, it is a timely book worth reading.
2730679
This is a well written story. Issues of conscience versus family values were probed, without judgement being made. A thought -provoking book.
630311
There's a lot more to this novel than the light-hearted romance that the overall tone suggests.  Yes, it is funny, and yes, the characters (many of them, anyway) are engaging.  But bad things can happen to good people, and in this novel, they do.  To me, looking at how the characters cope with this, how they grow and change, is truly interesting and involving.  It's also a novel that looks at what it means to be a woman in today's world, and at what it means to be a human being.  Good read: thought provoking.
4432622
I enjoyed reading this book, even though I knew the outcome was not pleasant. It is thought-provoking and worthy of much discussion with fellow readers.
2896223
But I did like _The End of Alice_, enough to write this review and recommend the book to my circle of friends.  The novel is written with a lot of attention to details; it is as though you can hear the him (the narrator) talking directly to you.  There's one chapter that threw my head  for a spin as I read Chappy's words, his explanation of everything that I  had been thinking prior to that part of the book.  Those who have read the  novel, know what part I'm talking about.  _The End of Alice_ deals with a  slate of issues that most of us would rather shun.  The novel puts it in  our faces, forces us to look at the darker sides of society and life, makes  us question what we really know and feel, and leaves us questioning  ourselves.
963331
Brutal stereotypic portrayal of characters in this novel, gets in the way of the real issues inherent in this story. Timely subject matter that could have been more fairly portrayed.
1361517
Another Perry novel well-written, but this one has a few surprises and a bit of a different take on the society. It is descriptive of the period and centers on several of the primary societal issues of the day and the need for change - reminded me a bit of Charles Dickens' concerns that a severely stratified society created for the population. It is best to read the "Pitt novels" of Anne Perry in order as there is always prior history involved with the characters. What made this particular novel timely was that some of the issues society faced in that time setting are beginning to get more public attention in our own society and time - and not always in the best way for all concerned.
3675415
A well written novel based on facts which reveal a hidden side of the situation and makes you think about the society at that time.
1275812
Delves into the timely topic of sexual assault and the impact on the victim and those around her.  The main character is struggling with grief over the loss of her mother along with self doubt and confusion over her relationship with her abuser.  He is a complex character with his own secret struggles that had a large impact on who he is as a man. The country club social scene is shocking but may be familar to many. Certainly thought provoking and will keep your interest. The first in a series so I look forward to the reading next book when available.
4594813
The main characters are real people, dealing with real life issues.
3845771
The plot of "The Terrorist's Daughters" is quite intriguing. Two young girls seemingly go on an "adventure" around the world, but are actually fighting for survival by running away from their own father who has inflicted both physical and emotional harm on them.  For this reason, I do not recommend young people to read this novel because it tackles the issues of child abuse, rape, terrorism, and violence, among other sensitive issues.

I liked this novel because it has a very relevant subject matter. Pain and suffering from the hands of the people you love and trust can happen to the best of us. However, I find it unbelievable that a small group of young people has outsmarted a large network of powerful, experienced, and dangerous terrorists. I thought that the author could have provided a more believable scenario to support such a strong premise.

On this note, I now look forward to reading the next book in the series. I would want to see how the author manages to turn the story around. I am anxious to know whether the characters have successfully managed to detach themselves from their dismal past and move on to a better, brighter, and safer future.

*Review originally posted on tetmarqueses.com (Number The Stars book blog)
1176843
A well written novel about prejudices: Blacks and white, man and woman and towards religious faith in God. Although well written I felt it tried to encompass too much in one novel.  Thus a bit too long. The characters were very well formed and I learned much about the south of years ago which made me uncomfortable.
2919950
Surprisingly relevant historical fiction for some of the issues facing society today.
4098081
This is great little story that is thought provoking on several different topic. I love how the author has brought up the issues of people that are challenged in our society. She deals with the prejudice openly and honestly. The love story is well done. I find the characters domplex with a strong sense of family. Its a great read. I would recommend this book as a great read.