Stick with this book... it is worth it.
343835
The book initially is difficult due to the florid style of the era (1850s).  Also the subject matter is hard, really hard.  Very difficult to read about a mother being torn away from her children... But a high point are the amazing ethnographic descriptions of Louisiana in the 1840s, growing and processing sugar and cotton, music on the plantations, slave-master relations, etc.  Really worth reading.
2959628
Somewhere around 200 pages (which were great BTW) the story just changes.  I have to admit, I was not a fan.  I actually stopped reading the book for a month.  But after I had made it through the rest of my back-log, I decided I should at least give it one more go.  And I am glad I did.  There was a lot of the story that could have been removed and not much would have been lost but because it was there, I cared for the characters a lot more.  I was worried about what would happen to them and I wanted them to succeed.

I am very pleased with the ending and that I finished it.  I would have missed out on a great adventure had I not made it through this one.  Go ahead and get it and try to push past the "change" in the story around the 200-220 page mark, it is worth it.
782805
...but that's a good thing.  It builds character (and muscle).

In any event, I would hazard to guess that the people for whom this book doesn't resonate are those that one would hate to encounter and be buttonholed by in a pub.

I'll stake my colors to the mast:  I'm a drinker.  Being such, I can understand a wide variety of behaviors amongst those who habituate themselves to the use of said soporific.  Perhaps more Nepenthe, though I can't imagine most of the negative reviewers will understand where that particular "substance" can fit into their world view.

To the book...well, let's just say that this isn't something one picks up for a "beach read" or can simply lug along when one is "on the throne".  This is a difficult book.  And, like all difficult art, its quality isn't revealed to those with short attention spans.  I consider myself to be a VORACIOUS reader, and it took me longer to get through this book than I would ordinarily allot; but once I was finished, I immediately started reading it again, and to much greater effect, I must confess.

Let me cut this short by saying this:  I almost stopped reading "The Sun Also Rises"; I almost stopped reading Kafka's "The Trial; but I pushed on and was rewarded beyond what I could have possibly imagined.  Sometimes--most times???--great art will make you uncomfortable.

This book will not reinforce your worldview that you are fantastic; it's a (possibly) flawed book for flawed peoople.  But if you are capable of feeling, you'll *eventually* realize that this is one of the MOST important books you have ever read.  It *WILL* influence you far beyond what you may have gotten from an initial, cursory reading.
4635344
I see I liked this more than most reviewers did. I'll try to explain why.

OK, the other reviewers are correct: the characters are pretty much cliches, and mostly do not directly have any conflict with each other (though they missed a GREAT opportunity with the Sally/Helen subplot!). Mostly, though, everyone is railroaded by the book's version of fate or destiny, which is an AI. (I doubt that this is a spoiler for anyone who's read #1).

The overall plots are diffuse, though some of the individual, immediate scenarios are well-handled. The overarching plots are seen more obliquely than directly...

And that is why I gave it 4 stars.

"Life is what happens when you're making other plans"- and that's what's going on here. I don't know if it was intentionally done, but it was pretty clever. Even with problems people were trying to address directly- usually the direct approach was a FAIL, and only more indirect, holistic approaches worked. And that's appropriate, and reflective of real Life (though many of us read fiction because things ARE more direct there than in RL!).

What does it mean to be a member of a bellicose species that suddenly has really no excuse for war, nor any realistic way of waging it? How can you keep people (in a broad sense) oppressed when they can just leave? For me, these questions- and the sometimes direct, sometimes oblique approaches to them, make this book well worth reading... but the reader does have to put many of the pieces together. I think that's good; otherwise it'd be too much of a polemic.

Anyway. I liked it, and am looking forward to #3.
3943447
Just to begin with, I'm not giving anything away here but vague plot structure. No major spoilers to fear.

'Brisingr' starts fast, then slows down. After the beginning sequences, Christopher Paolini seems to lose his way a little bit, with a couple long sequences of dialogue that stretch out for a whole chapter. While the dialogue reveals some about the characters, they are hardly revolutionary conversations.

Nevertheless, Paolini finds his track, and the book soon begins to get moving (never to slow down) Here, I can praise Paolini, for as the book progresses, the characters gain depth and personality. I found myself really being attached to certain people, as they endured struggles.

By the end of the book, I had filled myself happy with a good amount of humor, satisfication, intensity and, of course, plenty of fighting.

As a huge fan, I had no trouble getting through the slow passages. For those not so commited, I do recommend, hard as it may be, to perservere, for Brisingr is truly something to be experienced. By the end, you will be happy and wanting more.

Four and a half stars, and bring on Book 4!
832624
This book was rough and amaturish. There were gaps in the story line and leaps of logic I couldn't believe. Several times I was tempted to just quit reading, something I rarely do. However, I'm really glad I stuck with it.  With each sucessive book in the series, Norman's skill noticably increased.  The final two (thusfar) were outstanding. The information in this first  book is important so read it just for background to the far superior ones  that follow.
463652
I've downloaded so many books I don't like, that I was starting to feel discouraged.  But I was well-rewarded with this one.  I'd go out on a limb and say it was the best book I've read in 30 years, but...in truth, I do have others I"ve loved, so perhaps that would be hyperbole...

Enough reviews written here to get the gist of it...It was a book that I thought about for weeks afterwards, lying in bed, piecing it all together.  There are weaknesses--the rebirth device sometimes felt vaguely precious--but it was wonderful all in all.
560616
A solid, useful book.  Can you be disciplined enough to follow it consistently?
100049
I put this book down a few times at the start, but I am so glad I finished it. The 2nd half of the book is way better and the second book in this series is amazing. Give this book a chance because it continues to get better as it goes!
3465717
If the first chapter of a book doesn't pull me in, I will abandon it. Admittedly I struggled with abandoning this book for several chapters--the switch back and forth from current time to a time in the very distant past made it difficult to get a quick sense of who the main character was and where he was going. I'm glad I stuck with it and allowed myself to become pulled completely into it. The time shift was really major to the characters and plot. The interaction of good and evil was great. I highly recommend this book.
1047324
First of all (as I like to say!) I'm no smarter than you and I thought this book was great, that said, this book is not THE easiest to read in that it does take a while for things to get really interesting.  I rated it 5 stars because it is excellent but you need to have some patience with this book, in the end it is much worth the effort....and keep me updated!
1113048
I am writing a book review.  I do not write reviews, so this probably will not be as smooth a communication as some.  I feel compelled to do so because of all of the negative comments I have been reading about this book.  There are 536 Amazon reviews for a combined two star rating - which boggles my brain.  One good thing, lots of people are buying the books which is all that matters to the publisher, and LKH is getting the royalties so she will continue to publish.

To the point:  I enjoyed the book.  I did not read it earlier because I am not comfortable with hardback books -- they are not easily portable and cannot be held in only one hand and off to the side if a cat is lying on my chest (publishers, please take note).  I bought the book on Thursday night and started reading.  I finished on Sunday afternoon.  This book accomplished something I thought was not likely to happen ever again - I read every word.  No skimming, no flipping ahead a few pages.  Thank you LKH.

I own every book in the series, and to those of you who keep harping back the earlier books I have one thing to say - hug them close and read them a lot.  This series is never going back to that time.  Like the series, I have "evolved" -- to the point where I cannot sit down and read them anymore.  I use them mostly for reference material.

LKH has created a new and different world.  It is evolving and growing - fast.  Anita is a focal point of that growth (Mommie Dearest is probably the opposing focal point, but time and a couple more books will tell).  Anita is coping with her growth in ways that are not the norm in our (presently very fundamental) society.  The contrasts between Anita and Ronnie and Micah and Richard can challenge our "world view" of family structures and relationships.  Anita with the conservative white picket fence dreams but adapting to life's changes in order to survive and nurture those she cares about, Ronnie with the `70's don't tie me down attitudes afraid to evolve and commit to the changes in her life vs. Micah ever pragmatic, accepting each change, and Richard with his rigid world view unable to function.  To me these contrasts and evolutions are fascinating.

To anyone who has not read this series:  please, pick up the first book and read them all in order and through to the end - hopefully you will enjoy yourself.

To those of you who do not like Anita's current world:  1) please stop torturing yourselves by reading these books;  2) please stop torturing the rest of us by complaining about what you are reading.
4882822
I went immediately from book 3 to 3.5 to 4 (this one). It was a good decision. I will admit, I felt the frequent and long flashbacks were overload at the beginning of Fates. I wanted to know more about present-day characters. Maybe if the flashbacks had been trimmed down and if we got more present-day between them, my initial response to the book would have been better. However, after our characters get off-world, it smooths out. It's nice to see the dynamics shift between Amy and Bohdi. And getting to see Amy interact with these characters she's had flashbacks of was satisfying. Most of the book is devoted to Amy and Bohdi and a string of unfortunate, impossible events. Steve gets a little time but it is utilized well, as his character starts to develop in some promising ways - straight-laced government man was starting to get wearisome. It's neat to see Gockel using the concept of trinities in the series and we get some interesting parallels between Odin/Loki/Hoenir and Steve/...well, maybe filling that out would be spoilers? In any case it's enough of a presence to tease and intrigue without distracting or getting heavy-handed.

*Spoiler-foreshadowing*
The raw human component which is so compelling throughout this series is still present in Fates, but I think with Loki being a less defined entity (Where is Loki? Who is the new Loki? What will it all mean? How will new Loki deal with his identity and will he be affected by Amy's housing of his memories...was it a copy/paste or more of a move-all-to-a-new-location?) this makes his angst, richness and depth fade. Instead of being felt by the reader, it is discussed by the characters. It is a helpful perspective for the reader to have, but it doesn't have the emotional payoff in this book like you feel in the others. However, I'm trusting that this payoff will be in the next installment and bigger for waiting to pull that trigger.

Really though, to those of you who read the reviews of a series before diving in (which is EXACTLY what I do), go ahead and take the plunge. There is humor and unexpected gems throughout each book. The characters are worth knowing and just when you think you've pegged Amy in a hole, you remember that even chaos is intrigued by her so don't get comfortable. Reading is the main way I take care of myself and this series is nourishing in the best of ways. So, get after it.
1339950
I'm going off the goodreads rating system here. I *really* like these books. I've read the entire series, and these first three books are a great jumping off point - better yet, they're free! The first book was very, very abrupt and I know it turned a lot of people off to have to pay for the next one. Well, guess what? No more complaining!

And I don't think there are spoilers, but just in case...well...sorry.

Like I touched on above, Alone is a very good introduction. Sienna is a wonderful character and while the books do have a little bit of "unreliable narrator" thing going on because it's first-person from a perspective that has no idea as to what is going on, it's understandably a little frustrating. But Sienna is funny (probably moreso than someone in her situation should be, but whatever) and a total badass but at the same time has this entire side to her that makes it feel like she's the way she is for coping reasons. But, of course, you don't really know why until she gets into the real world, but seriously. I started these books before 2 and 3 were free, and I was seriously contemplating whether or not I wanted to spend $5 on the next one.

It was totally worth it, and lucky for you all, you don't have to make that decision!!

Untouched is a continuation of Sienna's growth, and this is probably my favorite part about these entire books. Because you're in her head, you get to see the psychological processes that she has to go through and the coping mechanisms she creates to try and make sense of this whole world around her. You get to go on this wonderful journey with her as she grows up, and it's really a great thing to be able to see this evolution.

Soulless, in retrospect, is AMAZING AND WONDERFUL. There are things that happen in books 6-10 (this is a ten book series, by the way, prepare to be invested the whole ride through) which when I went back and reread this book specifically, it really gives you an idea of the motivations behind some of the secondary characters, which is usually very difficult because of the first-person narrative.

All that having been said, if you're not into urban fantasy or superpowers, this series probably won't be for you. It's also a little outrageous, but hey. It's urban FANTASY. Emphasis on the fantasy. If you don't want to suspend reality and pretend that Minnesota is a cluster of meta existence, bah.

Fin.
3246402
OK. This is going to sound like the beginning of a bad review, but it's not! ...so keep reading. If your reading experience is like mine, you're going to need to take a lot of notes in the first half. Multiple characters are introduced and many have heavy-handed character and relationship development (sometimes as seen through someone else's POV). It is damned hard to keep everyone straight in my opinion. In the ARC edition (and hopefully in the final published edition), the first few pages before the book actually begins show a synopsis which leads to a brief description of each of the five reality show costars: Brett, Kelly, Stephanie, Lauren, and Jen. Mark this! You likely will need to remind yourself. Unfortunately, I remember very little about the first half. It's just a jumble of getting to know the characters (specifically Brett and Stephanie). But like magic, the story became clear and a near effortless reading experience at around the halfway mark. I wish I could tell you exactly when. Maybe it was gradual, but I think I gave an audible, "Oh", and it was free sailing. I wish from the bottom of my heart that I could tell you to skip certain parts, to skim until page xyz, but I can't. My kindle highlights include over 100 quotes that still repeat themselves in my brain almost a week later and many of them are found in this first half. They support the themes of this book which make them pretty crucial to the reading experience in my opinion. In a first-glance story about reality TV, relationships, and murder, the dark, ugly, and fully woke themes are the shining star.

The title: The Favorite Sister is multidimensional. It integrates the dynamics of family, group relationships (via a reality TV show), but mainly the "feminist sisterhood" where women everywhere publicly support each other in our united quest for equality/opportunity, inclusivity, and the socially accepted right to (gasp) be ambitious. But what I LOVE about Jessica Knoll's writing in this novel is her unapologetic view of sisterhood's dark side in all these arenas, but specifically in society. We publicly display our support for one another but the quiet (and not so quiet) sabotage that goes on behind the scenes is stomach turning. Ms. Knoll explores the factors that influence this hypocrisy, and although it's nothing most women don't already know, it sure is nice to have it boldly out there and validated. We support each other but we don't. How can we? Ambition is designed for a man's world and the women who manage to get out from under the weight and expectation of social norms face obstacles not only from the cozy men at the top but also from their fellow women competing for those shiny few positions. It is literally cutthroat. In "A Conversation With Jessica Knoll" found at the end of the book, she states, "There is real fear about what an ambitious woman might do, the status quo she might change. I liked the idea of creating women who should be feared." I liked it too. Very, very much.

Thank you to the following for permitting me access to an advance reader's copy (ARC) of The Favorite Sister. This generosity did not impact my honesty when rating/reviewing.
Source: NetGalley
Author: Jessica Knoll
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genres: General Fiction (Adult)
Pub Date: May 15, 2018
1260006
Intriguing book ...slow at first, but then got really good
1443705
This isn't five stars as in The Great American Novel but it's five stars for Much Better Than The Average Book In The Genre. It took me a while to warm up to Tim, the main character. But I'm happy that I persevered. It turned into much more than a book I couldn't put down. It was a book that I stayed up late reading and one I snuck time during the day to read. And it was ultimately thought provoking and inspirational. It gave me some encouragement in my personal life. I'm glad I stumbled across it. So, if you are reading this review , you might be glad to read the book , too. It starts slow so if you pick it up, don't dismiss it too easily. Stay with it for a while. It is worth the time.