Great tale...and it is true!
586642
Great sequel to Spiegelman's "Maus."  A must read if you have only read the first.
2438345
Just looking at the excerpts;
As I said saw the TV movie last night, and toroughly enjoyed that.
  If the movie was true to the book, and I'm sure Mr. Cruver told it like it was, since the movie was pretty true to the news reports I read ever since the story broke two Decembers ago.  This must be a thoroughly riveting story.
Not hard to beleive corporate, and government (which I work in) maagement can be like that.
Good job, Brian.
1525067
I liked this story so much, that when I finished it the first time, I read it again. I may have done this once before in my life, but I currently cannot remember what book that was. This tale was very well-written. It made me laugh, cry, and recoil in disgust, but I never found it boring or trite. The character development was well-done, with the stories coming to life, causing the reader to think about these individuals as if they have really known them personally. I had a lot of fun reading this book ... twice!
289114
Splendid! Real people, real situations, real mystery, real pleasure to read. This is definitely a "WPB" ('way past bedtime) story. Comparisons are said to be odious, but I found myself thinking "Hmmm... Dorothy Sayres..." (I haven't read any Agatha Christie in so long, I hesitate to make that comparison.)

One very interesting feature of this tale: it has no villains. (Well, Zenobia, maybe, but she's merely misguided.) With that one -- maybe -- exception, the folks therein are simply very human beings, trying to muddle through as best they can. And they do, in fine fashion.

I'm also quite taken with Mr. Freer's scene settings. There's enough physical description to one to vividly imagine the locale, but it never, ever, intrudes.

Bravo, Dave Freer! Strongly recommended.
485091
I felt she didn't really need to use Ahab to tell the tale of this very strong main character. But it was what initially drew me to the story, so... there's that. And after reading her interview and thoughts about having written it, I was more drawn into what I'd read, than during it! It was a sweeping tale, going into details about each person represented in the story, making sure all their lives were recapped by the end. The author did her research, it was impressive to read about afterward. Sometimes the story dragged on for me with how many social issues one can pack into one life; but hey, it happens and, I did enjoy it. I recommend people read the physical book, rather than digital, it's part of the aesthetic. This tying into a major Classic tale, just would have felt better holding the real book. There are many layers to pay attention to. I gave it 4 stars just for the length, reading digitally you've no idea how far you are; and there were a couple times I thought I was reaching the last chapter, to find there were more. Kindle is convenient, but it loses some of the gratification one gets when seeing how far along you are, and being able to gauge ones place in the story, is part of the fun of reading a novel. Anyway, I'd give it a 4 1/2. okay... 5.
3234388
The old maxim is true: fact is stranger than fiction.  Such is the case with much of antiquity.  Harris picks up on the best of the many colorful anecdotes that inform the period of the fall of the Roman Republic, and builds them in to a superb narrative in a fashion that would make Plutarch himself proud.  Although much of the tale, and the side-tracks (all true) that make the tale interesting, will be old news to classicists or devotees of the period who have read too much Suetonius, it's still wonderful reading, and those who have never seen the Loeb Classical Library will be very, very pleased to see the depth of political gossip recorded for posterity on the fall of the Republic.

Only one true complaint with the book: it ends far, far too soon.  How one can end a life of Cicero upon his election to the consulship is something I'll never understand.  If anything, Cicero's life becomes much more exciting during his consulship!  Harris gives us a taste of Cicero's long-standing enmity with Catilina, but never gets to the true conspiracy, Cicero's famous denouncement, and the political fallout that ends in the dramatic year in exile.  We meet Clodius, but never see him burn down Cicero's house... the list goes on!

The quality of Mr. Harris' writing, and the stellar subject matter, together demand a sequel to finish the story.

Quae cum ita sint, auctor, libellum secumdum faceas (write a second book, Mr. Harris!).
2854115
I've heard that this book was based on a true story.  If this is correct, it's one heck of a tale.  How did anyone live through such child abuse, and yet still laugh and see the world in a good light?  The fact that the guy is ALIVE is a testament to something.
3866731
A wonderful read (even with the translation)!

Flaubert has written an engaging tale (set in 19th century rural France) that is beautifully written (or a least translated). The quality of the prose of descriptions of persons, places and things is  of the highest quality; however, some of the conversations between characters, may have lost a little something in the translation. Nonetheless, this book had no trouble keeping my interest and provided me with a dramatic tragedy that was, to say the least, memorable.

This book must have caused quite a stir in its day, due to what would have been considered a scandalous topic at the time of its original publication. (SPOILER) It is the story of a beautiful, but bored and unsatisfied housewife, paired with a naive, cuckold husband; both of whom unwittingly conspire (her actively, him passively) to lead their marriage on an ever downward spiraling path to ruin.

Simply a superbly told tale! 5 Stars.
4913829
The great thing about the stories are the truth behind them...
In the vernacular phrase of our day, "It is what it is...", great stories, by a great author, written in a great part of the world as back drop.
Bravo Kristin for living your dream and telling others about it!
2907373
I am in the twilight of my life, reading books I should have read many, many years ago, but did not.  I believe there is a lot of truth and fantasy in this book...the characters are well known to us as they, by their traits, have been woven into our societal buzz words..to me that means the book has meaning and depth to last throughout the decades...it shows the good people, and their antithesis; it compartmentalizes people by their accident of birth, and those who were innately good, and those who practiced evil purposely...it was thoroughly entertaining, historical in a sense, has a spiritual bent, and also a well-woven story...I thought the ending was left fluttering in the breeze somewhat...don't know what I would have thought of it had I read it 60 years ago...in this "politically correct" age in which we live, as a literary work it would have been damned with faint praise, if at all...the conditions at that time were so different, (or were they...don't we still have slave traders in this day...same stuff, different day!)
3938849
First of all, it's hard to believe that the characters in this book are real!  This is not a work of fiction, but based on true events.  I am not sure that any author could have created more colorful characters themselves!  I was completely pulled in by this intriguing tale and the masterful storytelling of John Berendt that bring this book to life.
2401136
This is a timeless tale for anytime anyone. Check it out and I think you will agree with me, yea!
3096212
Awesome tale from a talented writer!  Recommended this book to my father and he..devoured it in one afternoon, now that says a lot !
902872
I have no reason not to believe the story. It sounds very true to me. Well worth the read even if it does  ot tie into the conjouring (maybe for copy rights reasons?!). I would have liked to have actually heard more about what happened when Ed and Laurraine showed up. I was left a bit wanting in the end. You can also tell that it was not written by a professional writer, though the story in and off itself actually really deserves 5 stars! I for one would like to see a second book to tell the story of Ed and Laurraine's involment - I mean 'All hell breaks loose", that is just not fair to the rreader! Give me the details baby!
4493574
Wonderfully done in true story telling style. Reminded me of Huckleberry Finn, the boys relationship regardless of species, is sweet, innocent and very much the viewpoint of these boys, they are on a true adventure, from start to finish, I was pulled deeper into the story and felt connected or better, immersed in it. When I realised what happened at the end, it's significance hit me suddenly and left me wanting to go with them on their adventure!
I never saw that coming and I PREDICT the end to most books!!! Wonderful, this is a book I would have loved to read in paperback, scribble my review in the front cover then pass on to someone, great for all ages! I am hooked!
2853740
Good story, well told. Jules Verne backs up his imagined story with real facts...too cool ! Readers will enjoy this !
3553346
I enjoyed this book immensely; both the story and the scientific lessons it attempts to inculcate. Unfortunately, the tale is all too believable. The day after I finished, a headline on CNN.com proclaimed "Global Warming is Real, Human Activity to Blame: Scientist Claim" Indeed!