stop griping and enjoy the book!
593731
Many people have called attention to certain changed aspects of the book to reflect a modern audience.  I don't find this detracts at all.  We are buying these books for our children, not for ourselves.  Frankly, the children do not notice anything. I bought this for my brother who is in 3rd grade, and he absolutely loved it, next to Diary of the Wimpy Kid.  He did not complain about the contemporary references.  If he enjoyed it, then Judy Blume still has the power to entrance children, whatever CD, cassette or whatever it references.  Fudge is a great, down-to-earth series, like Diary, that pulls kids away from television and the computer: this is an incentive to buy this for any child, in itself.
3657666
I did really like the story telling and the funky and weird characters. I got completely captured by the story and could not put the book away. It is well told and beautiful in a way. Often in the book you feel disappointed that a certain phase in the protagonist's life finishes and another one opens but then it turns out that the new one is a lot of fun and interesting in a different way. I also liked the fact that the characters are not at all black and white and give you a lot of meat to chew on. I don't agree with some of the reviewers that the book seems to consist of parts that are too independent and I liked it that the book was so long (so it did not end so early ;). A lot of the fun of the book is to detect the fundamental strands tying the experiences together and think about some of the underlying points to enjoy and learn from.

However, this is also related to my big beef with the book: The last one or two sub-chapters are a long and boring explanation about what the readers have just read, about what the reader ought to have learned from the story, and about what the official moral of the story is.

I can not describe how angry and disappointed that made me feel.

First of all it seems to be a sign of incredible insecurity on the  author's side. You feel like telling her "if you wrote a good book, it will speak for itself, if not, no explanation will help - so why the heck to you feel you need to spend two chapters to tell the reader what he/she was supposed to have learned?". The second - even worse feeling is the fact that I was feeling extremely patronized by that. If the author gives me a story, I feel it is my right to create my own world of imagination around it, my own judgement of the people and my own understanding of the morality. If the author than says "no, you got that wrong, this is what you are supposed to feel and think" I feel cheated out of my experience. It is like the stereotypical bad high school teacher that believes that there is only one correct interpretation of art and/or literature and it is not your right to feel what you want.

I have a hard time to even give it 4 stars because that was so annoying but everything other than these two last sub-chapters was excellent. So my advice:

- read the book it is great!
- once the actual plot is winding down and kind of resolved and there are only a couple of sub-chapters left, be on guard to the onset of reflection on the book / i.e. the onset of the protagonist reflecting on his life
- STOP reading there! I promise you there are no plot twists anymore (in fact there is no more plot)
- bask in that great feeling that you just read a truly captivating book that transported you into a quirky and interesting world
- reflect for yourself
- Write a 5 star review ...
3825770
What can I say? I liked this book as much as the others, and the last section was quite the surprise. Will be interesting to see where things go from here. I can say I will be buying the next book as well.

A couple quick notes about the editing issues...I have seen some others mention continuity problems, and there were at least two that I can remember (Marc and Ward / Konya and Number One locations). Some stronger editing I am sure could help keep the continuity in line. The more annoying thing, and again, I want to emphasize this is a relatively minor problem, is that the words "quipped" and "chortled" were both significantly overused. I can say that sometimes it is perfectly fine to keep it simple and say that a character laughed at something! No need to get fancy with the wording :)
3127405
The thing  I like most about the book and series, is ,besides being fun,  I  do not feel worse after reading it ,than I did before starting to read!  There are many books and series out there , that are not that way.  I spend much time trying to see where the world is going, economically, politically, sociologically.  Don't need any additional burdens in my recreational reading!  Although there is plenty of opposition to the good guys in this series, there is more friendship, fun, and cooperation. It's a fun read.
4110899
I, being a very fickle reader--meaning that if I don't like something about the book, or something about it rubs me the wrong way--or if it is unbearably boring, I will stop reading it--found this book to be almost perfect. It kept me held tight until the last page. I bought it because I buy anything with a multi-cultural character make up--and I was even happier to discover that there was an IR relationship involved. But like another reveiwer said, the IR relationship took a backseat to the general greatness of this books' plot. It was really good, interesting, fast paced, and I loved the characters--all of them. I especially loved Fu Hai's journey for freedom, for wealth, for something different from the hardship he'd been accustomed to his entire existence. Cannell's writing is airtight, and he knows what he's talking about--which is another plus. My only qualms, which constituted removing one star from my rating--was the horrible slang he used for the South Central characters--including the main character Tanisha's dialogue at times. It was laughable, and I, being an African American female, didn't know what the people were talking about half the time because they were saying things I've never even heard before. But, I didn't grow up anywhere like South Central L.A. either so maybe I'm just not hip enough... Anyway, the book was great, go get it.
1549021
In the endless flood of the parenting books, "Instinctive Parenting" is a nice breath of fresh air. Ada Calhoun writes about all the issues most parents nowadays worry about to the point of panic, but she manages to find balance. Additionally, her light pen makes the book a fast, enjoyable read. It is not a reference book neither does it contain medical/developmental advice (for this please refer to the specialist ho will see your child, not to any kind of books) so some critical reviews are surprising.

If you read this book as an opinion book from a parent for other parents, it is a warm, reassuring, fun piece. Do not take everything literally! The whole point of this book is to tell you you can relax, stop comparing your family to others and stop panicking about the way you bring up your child. Admittedly, the author must have used it to reassure herself (there are a lot of chapters, which are just justifications of what she did differently from other people and it was a tad annoying), but there is a lot of common sense. It is true that many people (apparently, generation X, where I belong, too) are trying to be perfectionists (not only in parenting), finevitably failing, and getting massively frustrated (especially in parenting - a very bad outcome). So, Ada Calhoun's book can, at least for a while, let these people diminish their guilt.

The chapters are grouped in three parts: Shelter, Food an Love. However, the topics vary from annoying parents at the playground and birthday parties, to abuse, vaccination and circumcision (incidentally, although the author`s personal choice in the latter differed from mine, like in a lot of other issues, the chapter was really reasonable). There are also many references, if anyone wants to dig deeper into a particular subject and do their own research.
2114644
This is author is a Great stort teller! I really enjoyed this book, I laughed with character's and at them and at the same time I scold and wanted to hug them too! Remember this si not a Novel or a Autobio its simply a good story. So, sit back,relax and enjoy.
1187845
Why would anyone give this book a low review? The content is powerful, with the potential to free you from almost any phobia or anxiety, backed up by psychology and science. Give it a shot. Yes the reading is not smooth sailing and it gets a bit tedious but you're missing the point. You want smooth reading go read a novel.
3107489
This book is not just the second greatest book...it's also a book that people can just relax and read whenever they want!
4789058
Leave me alone, I bought the book. Stop asking questions about how I feel about the book LEAVE ME ALONE!!
1304470
Whew ok.
First off this is a long book, so you are going to want to get comfortable. Also, have a stress ball, wine, and gum or chocolate on hand when reading.
Sheet Music is a very complex and involved story, spanning several years. It's not a wham bam, little romance, little sex, happily ever after, the end book.
It's gritty and not pleasant at times. The female lead is going to piss you off and you are going to want to shake her and/or punch her in the face more than once. But... it's REAL.
The male lead is a rock star and not a likeable person. BUT... between the two of them, again it's real and you can relate.
Their relationship is not really healthy, but it's an excellent representation of many very real relationships out there and everyone has at least one like this.
I don't want to spoil the book for readers.
I enjoyed the book, though it's not a happy, butterflies and dreams, unicorns and rainbows, A+B=C book.
I give it 4.25 stars because I've been there in some form or another and I could not stop reading this book.
I would recommend it for those who like angst and REAL life books instead of pretty fairy tales wrapped in a bow.
4.25 Stars from me!
2233432
I've read the first two books and started on the 3rd - I'm really liking the series! My only worry I'm going to get through the 3rd then have to wait 6+ months for the 4th

I'll also validate the language issue brought up by previous reviews. Trust me when I say I'm not easily offended by language, some is not a big issue at all, but I felt like yelling out a few times to the Mom and say "remember your 5 year old is sitting in the BACKSEAT!!!!" if anything would have been appropriated for her to do such a reminder to Will.  And the bomb drops started at some point became so many that it just started to feel like to much and almost just like they were trying to add text/words/pages to the book an no value add.

Other than use of Fbomb and numerous other terms - it's a great book!

----------------------------------
Language update- it calms down after the first book and a noticeable difference in the 3rd. Maybe the word got around and was tamed in next editions?
20987
I really appreciate what I gained from the book and being able to put into practice most of the things that were in the book. Some of the wording that others have found kitschy or childish like telling your purse thank you for serving you that day, or holding an article of clothing and if it effects emotion then its something to hold onto, otherwise get rid of it. Overall, looking at the bigger picture and meaning behind her intent and focusing on that made the book a much more pleasurable read. I also feel like I am in much more control over my things, I don't feel like I have to search my closets or my home to find things because they are all in one place. I have even found I have taken this into my workspace and done the same giving my office much more productivity and success as finding the things we need and putting things away, everything has a place and when consistently done, has measured out to us being able to quickly find what is needed and everything is together instead of scattered throughout our office.
1987474
Don't let people bully it you ! If they don't like your book, it is their problem. Ms. M. Leighton stand by your work and art!
Best wishes.
2941945
As for me, I'm taking the bright side and am truly loving this book.  That isn't to say that I agree with the POV's of these stories, but they involve me emotionally, some haunting me and some amusing me.  I'm not Mormon, but I am gratified by the insight the author gives me of that faith.

Read these reviews, both by those who loved the book and by those who hated it along with the smaller troup in between.  And then, read the book itself and enter into the discussion of it.
3717738
I admit I can be a little contrary.  Let a book become popular, or win awards, and I almost want to know what's wrong with it -- perhaps because I see so few people reading and talking about books as I go about day to day activities that it feels almost disingenuous when a book suddenly captures so much attention.  As a result, I've put off reading Ancillary Justice until now.

If, like me, you've put off reading this book, don't.  Get a copy and start now.  I can be pretty sure you won't want to put it down and will be cranky with the people around you who interrupt your reading.

I won't give any spoilers.  But I will say this: if you've been put off by the literary-minded comments about gender and society, intelligence, AI, politics, set-knowledge that this book has triggered, don't be.  It's not a heavy-handed philosophical treatise.

Read it.  You won't be sorry.
1717137
Very simple instructions, get the book, read the book,put the principals of the book into practice. Quit complaining and do something for yourselves and your family.