DON'T SECOND GUESS THIS BOOK. I am a book ...
591042
DON'T SECOND GUESS THIS BOOK. I am a book fanatic and this book had me feeling so many things. You won't want to put it down. I have ordered 3 other of Hoover's books since reading this one.
I don't want to give any spoilers but all you need to know is that this book is fabulous. Please keep writing more Colleen!!!
951949
The most impressive book I've read in all my life.
3244547
I haven't read a book in awhile that I think about days after I finish it. This is that book.
51597
Sometimes, after turning page after page of a truly great book, you think, with total conviction: this book could change someones life. Thats how I felt more than once while reading SYMPTOMS OF BEING HUMAN. But not only thatI also had another thought. This book could save someones life.

The protagonist in SYMPTOMS OF BEING HUMAN, Riley Cavanaugh, is gender fluid and identifies as both a boy and a girl, depending on the day. Some mornings, Riley wakes up and feels more girl; others, Rileys compass is pointing toward boy. Although Rileys parents don't know the truth, Riley starts a blog anonymously, under the name Alix, to share what its like to be a gender fluid teenager. As Alix, Riley is open and honest and real, and begins to realize the number of gender fluid and LGBT people looking for someone who understandsbut Riley is still waiting for the right time to come out in real life. To add to this, Riley has just transferred schools and struck up a friendshipand maybe more with enigmatic Bec, who has secrets of her own.

Rileys voice is everything I could ever want in a YA narrator. Snarky, whip-smart, thoughtful, brave, and authentically teen. And I can honestly say that seeing the world through Rileys eyes opened mine. I loved that Riley wasn't perfect and at times, made the same judgments or assumptions about other people that people make about gender fluid or trans individuals.

There are so many brilliant lines in this book, so many powerful truths. But this is my favorite one:

People are complicated. And messy. Seems too convenient that wed all fit inside some multiple-choice question.

Nobody should be confined to identifying as male or female if that doesnt match how they feel inside. Why do we need to know whether Riley is a boy or a girl? What does that label matter, and what does it mean, anyway? Being a boy or girl isn't the body you were born with. Its what is inside you, and if you're gender fluid, it can be a spectrum that changes from day to day.

As I read, I started thinking about all the people who don't have access to the Internet, who may not have access to books like this, who don't know the support is there, who might need it most. The violence and hatred toward gender fluid and LGBT individuals breaks my heart and makes me both overwhelmingly sad and completely enraged. Im confident that this bookthis smart, sensitive, wonderful, courageous bookwill open up a dialogue that needs to be had, will open doors for people that were previously closed. I hope this book reaches every single person who needs it, teens and adults alike, because I think it has the power to change lives. And save them.
3119352
I am not a book reader. I bought this book from the author. I started reading it and could not put it down. I loved the candid and honesty of the book. Made me think about myself! Thank you for writing this book.
1986319
To say this book was not what I expected, is far beyond what I read.

I expected this to be a book suitable for children 14 and up. And perhaps in the nasty, sexual society we have come to call norm, it is.

Don't get me wrong. The author is fantastic! And spun a golden story that could leave you breathless! And given half a chance, most tween's or teens would find themselves lost in the imagery nthe writer is capable of!

However, what was not made known in the preview I read of the book, is that it deals with homosexualism coming of age.

As a Christian, I cannot find the book worth the paper it is printed on! I was compelled to put the book down in several areas, and ask the Lord to guide me to the next area that was worthy of my reading.

I believe the author is extremely talented. Her gift is very much akin to such great writers as Louisa Mae Alcott, as she wrote Little Women. Or even that of J.K. Rowling as she wrote the Harry Potter series. That's how great this author is, which is why I kept going back, and asking God for the review that was deserved, and not simply scathing because I do not see eye to eye with the author on homosexuals.

Believe me when I say that I love the homosexuals. Just as I love the drunkards and the thieves. God demands our love for people, all people. It does not mean that we have to condone their behavior. But through our love, help them to see His way, and how He can become all things to them.

I don't want to get into a religious debate regarding this book, which does not endorse any behavior. Instead, it is a coming of age book. The story is beautifully written. And just as beautifully told. Would I feel different if the two people were not homosexuals? I probably would. So, as a person who writes previews, let me take that out of the equation and be very fair.

The author is so talented, I can see her becoming the next great writer of our time, if handled by the right firm. Her work is exquisite. The story line is not only believable, but she takes you there. You find yourself in each and every seen.

At the very end, the main character has truly found herself, and is on her way to being the adult she was, perhaps, meant to be. The description of the bioluminescent ocean water is spot on! It does remind you of fairies dancing in the sky, only just beneath the waters edge! And swimming at night with it, is life changing! It really is!

Although I would not want my 14 year old to read this book, I still feel in fairness that I must give this writer Five Stars,

I also give it a big Thumbs Up.

I cannot however recommend it for those 14 and older, and Penguin Random House has done. For mature readers only.

Perhaps I am too old fashioned. But our children learn way too early about sex today. And let's throw in what it means to be gay, and accepted, or not. And why some people hate them for it. Well, it's a bit much. I know we can't keep them from learning about it. But I won't be party to putting this kind of material in their hands either. Let me keep them innocent for as long as I can. There's plenty of time for them to learn alternative lifestyles in just a few years.

I would not add this to my church library. And therefore I wouldn't add it to my home library.
1035377
I'm not what you would call a reading enthusiast. In fact, I'm pretty insecure about how little I read as an adult. I often break concentration when I'm reading and forget what I read as I go. I feel like I get nowhere every time I try to read a new book. To quantify it, I probably have over 20 books that I have started and never finished...

But this book is beyond what I would call gripping. I've seen the movie maybe 4 times and the book still had me with every turn of the page. I've never read a book this fast. Highly recommend it if you find you are someone like myself or if you just want a really exciting book!
83182
Ive felt this book in my bones without even realizing it. Some of the character names: Atticus Finch, Scout, Boo Radley may be familiar to you; they were to me. Perhaps I caught five minutes of the Gregory Peck movie on TV one day, or I might have seen the famous lawyers name revealed as an answer on Wheel of Fortune or during a trivia game. I cannot be sure. But one way or another, these characters have been around. Its as if they had somehow scaled the fence of literature and have been living close by all this time.

You can go your whole life (or 45 years as I did) without reading this book and still be affected by it. Its that powerful. I think that is so because these characters exist in every small town and every major city in this country and also inside us. Whenever you see ignorant hatred or witness someone standing up to do right even when right has not a snowballs chance in Alabama, Harper Lees characters are there. Whenever you see a complex, perplexing adult world through a childs eyes, this book exerts its quiet influence.

You will begin to wonder if you crack only the first page of Mockingbird: who is Boo Radley? Is he someone perhaps, to fear? You will also likely wonder why the name seems so familiar.

I will tell you: it is because the characters of great literature are elemental. They could easily appear on a periodic table of the fictional elements. They are upon which all of literature is based.

They are upon which we are based.
434267
Honestly I am not a avid book reader but this book is absolutely amazing . This book shows the definition of crazy.
1575792
If you have time to read no more than a handful of books this year, make sure this one of them. Yes, it's that good.

And to think I almost didn't read it. To get it, in fact, I broke one of my cardinal rules: Never trust gushing praise about a book when it comes from other authors. But in this instance, as a subscriber of email from David Baldacci, I got a message saying he'd read, and highly recommends, this one.

Just delete the message, the law-abiding side of my mind advised. Ah, countered my more adventurous side, but it sounds good, and besides, Baldacci is one of my top five all-time favorite writers. What the heck, I finally decided - I'll go to NetGalley and see if an advance copy is available for review. If it is, I'll request it; if I'm approved, I'll take it as a sign from God.

Well, apparently, somebody up there loves me; it was on my Kindle the same day as my request. I'm joking about the love from on high, of course, but I'm not kidding when I say I absolutely loved the book. In fact, I breezed through it almost nonstop over a couple of days - eager to find out how it ends yet not wanting it to end. The story drew me in from the start, and the well-developed characters are so real it's hard to avoid loving (or in some instances, despising) every single one. The only thing that's hard to believe, in fact, is that this is a debut novel.

The setting is the small Australian town of Kiewarra, a couple of hours from Melbourne, where Federal Agent Aaron Falk plies his trade of solving financial cries. Aaron, who grew up in Kiewarra, has returned after 20 or so years to attend the funeral of his best friend, Luke. Back then, a young  female friend drowned under suspicious circumstances, and when Aaron became the prime suspect, Luke provided an ironclad alibi. But many local folks weren't willing to believe Luke's story, much less let Aaron off the hook; life turned so uncomfortable that Aaron's father insisted that he and his son pack up and leave, vowing never to return.

Now Aaron's back and Luke's dead, but it seems local folks have clung to their old, unpleasant beliefs. Worse, Luke now is on a hook of a different sort; by all accounts, he killed himself after taking the lives of his wife and son - leaving only their infant daughter alive. But Aaron isn't so sure that's what really happened; and when he gets his head together with a local detective, he learns the detective has doubts as well. Aaron's intent was to stay just a couple of days, wanting to make a relatively hasty retreat from the drought-destroyed land and bad memories. Urged on by Luke's distraught parents, who have taken in their surviving granddaughter, Aaron agrees to give it a week - after all, he's got some vacation time coming - just to help with what's being deemed an unofficial investigation.

The more he and the detective poke around, though, the more the suicide/murder theory unravels - and suddenly, the loose ends begin to reach back all those years ago to when Luke's faithful buddy stood up for him. In retrospect, did Aaron and Luke's friend kill herself, or was her death a result of something more sinister? Could the events of the past really be tied to the here-and-now murders of Luke's wife and son? If so, how? And who?

The story moves along quickly, with chapters interspersed with Aaron's "recollections" of what happened back then. Little by little, everything comes together, building up to an exciting, and for the most part surprising, ending. I was left wishing there was more to read, but also with the thought that Aaron would be a great character for a series (what say you, Ms. Harper)?

The moral to my own story? Some rules, it seems, are meant to be broken. Get this one - you won't be sorry.
310
This is not my normal genre to read - but since it was a Ganshert book, I couldn't resist.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I could NOT put it down.  I am notorious for starting a book and taking weeks to finish it due to time constraints on reading or just losing interest quickly.  Not so with this book.  I finished it in less than a weekend and couldn't wait to start the next one.  I truly have no words to describe the talent of this author - she never fails to bring a story to readers that "has something for everyone".
4103634
I can only speak for myself. I am no expert in literature. But I do read maybe 50 books a year. I read War and Peace aged 9. I was very precocious. So when I say that I cannot recall being so moved by a book as by this, Arthuriad, I have a lot of context to make this claim, even if it is only for myself. Your taste may be different from mine. If I could give it 10 stars I would.

What was it that moved me so much?

First of the setting. We are at the end of Rome. It is a time of transition. As we may face ourselves in a generation. It is a time of transition from an ordered time to a heroic age. A time of paradox when the heroes of order are subject to the influence of a Goddess and so are the heroes of the new. It is a time when all about are the physical ruins of an age to be lost forever. Where all that the men and women have is their honour. Hagan describes this end and beginning of times and the physical and spiritual landscape in a high style. He is quite Bardic. The language itself is beautiful and the images are epic and strike deep into my psyche.

Then the people. Hagan's Arthur is vastly complex. A true "Greek" hero with all the flaws as well and the virtues. A man who stand on his deeds alone. Who requires no title or explanation. Who is also himself lost to himself. You will have to read the book to understand my point as I will not reveal the secrets that the reader has to solve. His Nemesis is a twin. Never have I come across a more noble antagonist. This is also not only a man's book. The main female characters are women who will define what is called a "Strong female Lead".  These characters include the Goddess. There is a significant supporting group. All have their own well drawn character. Hagan is Dickensian in his ability to draw characters who will stay with you. The death scene of Bedowyr and Durstan caused me to burst into tears on the plane - much to my embarrassment.

The book is about the truth. It is about people finding their own truth about who they are. It is about people who know that there is more to life than being alive. It is about people who will die for their friends. This is book about commitment where people go beyond what seems possible. It is a book about the joy of living life full on. It is a book about dying well. It is book about beauty. Beauty in nature and the beauty of the human heart when given to another and when it is true to itself.

I suspect that this book is not for everyone. But if you seek the truth, life, commitment and beauty, you will find it here. If you sense that we may be living at a time of transition and wonder how to live your life, you may find some guidance here.

The first 30 pages are a bit of a challenge - bear with the need to explain. Once we get into the first battle, the pace of the book picks up and Hagan finds his voice. Once we meet Arthur, we go where few writers have ever taken us.
1481683
Things are not as they seem . . . or are they?

I constantly asked myself that question while reading Nighthawks at the Mission. It's both the best and worst thing about reading this book. I loved that I had to think and try to figure things out, but I hated not knowing exactly what was going on. And forget about being able to predict whats going to happen next. Its not possible. Dont believe me? Read it.

The narrative is ripe with misdirection. Seemingly minor characters, not included in immediate action, have huge roles in the overall scheme of things. Its filled with hundreds of clues essential to the big picture, but they're hidden among seemingly insignificant details. The connections are there at the periphery of your mind, kind of like knowing the answer to a question but not being able to recall it at that exact moment. Not everything makes sense, but it's fascinating nonetheless. Thank goodness for the search feature of my kindle. It allowed me to go back to certain words, reread, and try to put the pieces together: active reading at its best.

I value art, imagination, creativity, and the confidence to be genuine and different. That's what this book is to me. Although I can't love it in a mainstream sense, I love it for the author's conviction to put it out for all to see.

Sometimes I get sick of being middle of the road, mainstream, and traditional. Books like this help me to believe I'm not. That's a concept I love.

If you enjoy writing that forces you to become an active reader, you may like this book. I did.

P.S.  The second person point of view almost had me quit this book, but it was too interesting to stop reading. As I got more into the story, the POV faded into the background. Thanks for taking some chances, Mr. West. It was worth it.
1932532
I nearly passed up the chance to read this book. With it's simple unassuming cover, written by an author I had never heard of... I nearly passed it by without a second glance. Especially as it claimed to be "The Must Read" of 2018. So many make that claim. Too many make that claim. I nearly passed it by. What a loss that would have been. What a flaming pile of Buckaroo indeed that would have been on my part to miss out on reading this novel. I just this minute finished it. I'm still stunned. Pardon me if it shows. I began this book a day or so before Thanksgiving. I kicked myself over that repeatedly. So much to do and so little time to read. It took me more than a week to finish it. I thought about it day and night when I wasn't reading. All through the holiday preparations I could not wait to get back to this book. Looking at that claim now "The must read thriller" I am nodding my head in approval. I'm applauding. Heck I'm cheering out loud. This was an incredible read. 5 out of 5 stars from me, and if I could I'd give it 10.

 I received an advance copy for review.
4313605
This is one time you can judge a book by it's cover. You are guaranteed to get lost in this book.  Half way through you have to remind yourself that this not a work of fiction. The detailed accounts are so graphic and raw, but they don't glorify the violence illustrated in this book.  Sample one chapter and you will be another "Reader Under Siege".  I give the author a lot of credit for baring his soul. I gave him 4 stars because I didn't want this book to end, otherwise it's a 5 star read.
3965168
I honestly didn't know what to expect from this book. What I can tell you now after finishing it, is that I will be thinking about it for the next 3 months. It makes you think about how well you know yourself, your family, and relationships with others. There is never a dull moment and I truly can't put into words how amazing this book was. I didn't think any book could captivate me more than Nineteen minutes by Jodi Picoult but she proved me wrong. Simply an amazing author. AMAZING.
1521043
This book is so unexpected.  I didn't think I would like this book.  But I still gave it a chance.  I purchased it yesterday afternoon, I finished this morning, and now writing a review.  I kept saying this book is so predictable, but was surprised a 1,000s times over.  My advice to anyone is to KEEP READING.  You will be left with your mouth wide open every page you turn.

Not that many books can keep the suspense going and entertain the readers.  You get this from this book.  It leaves you thinking.  Even the questions at the end of the book are exceptional.