This story stayed with me.
585405
Not many books stay with me after I have read them.  This book really made me think about our veterans and how we treat them when they come home.  A  must read!
53839
I read this story when it first was serialized in a national magazine many years ago.  At that time I was moved to tears and the story stuck with me ever since.  I have tried to relocate it several times over the years.  When I found it available online through Amazon.com I ordered it immediately.  It still moves me ... its an insightful representation of the feelings of a woman who is dying and the emotions of those around her, family and friends.  A beautifully written story.
4121814
I picked this book from the Kindle Lending Library and 24 hours later I'm done with it. I kept putting it down to pick it right up again. Haunting, mesmerizing, and unforgettable. I don't know if I loved the story, but I won't forget it.
2099528
This story really hit home for me.  Having two children myself it made me reflect on their relationship growing up and how they have evolved into friends.  It's a beautiful story of understanding autism in particular but it's also a story for anyone with a heart. The illustrations let me wander into my own thoughts of the words.  From the dedication to the author's note every word took me on a journey. It may have been written for someone younger than myself to read but I think anyone who reads this story will never forget it. I'm glad I had tissues nearby.
510843
I shall be following this author's stories from now on. This story will be a reread for me
4386939
This is one of those stories that really gives you food for thought, much in the same way that On the Island did for me. I was constantly putting myself in the scenario, wondering how I would respond in the same situation. I have always felt that I have very strong feelings as it relates to marriage, fidelity, and trust, and they still remain; but what this story did was helped me to see the subtle nuance and fragile nature of a relationship. I mean this book really made me think, and examine the nature of infidelity and the importance of communication in a committed marriage/relationship.

The author slowly and meticulously drew us into the life and of Claire and Chris, and helped to paint the picture of how they made it to the point of being ships passing in the night. What I always find fascinating when authors give the male and female POV, is that the male is usually thinking on the right track, but they don't often verbalize it. It was also intriguing to see how they each dealt with stress; initially Claire would reach out, but Chris would close up, even getting to the point of asking Claire to basically leave him alone because he was so depressed over his unemployment. With a year of unemployment, and then another year of working a stressful job that kept him away from his family, Chris drifted farther and farther away from Claire.

Meanwhile, enter Daniel;  a sweet, gentle soul, who picked up on so much of what Claire needed and desired, and still managing to be a gentleman. Okay, now here is where me gauging my moral compass gained momentum. I knew that the direction of the relationship between Claire and Daniel was not healthy and extremely dangerous and I knew that it was wrong, but I understood it. The emotional bond that they created, is much more intimate and stronger than any physical relationship could be. I just kept holding my breath, because I was afraid of the outcome, and I cared enough about all three in this dynamic that I didn't want anyone to get hurt. Was it nave of me to want to see them all happy, especially Daniel?  In the end, I felt like my heart was a bit in limbo ; I was hopeful and optimistic, but a little sad and I wasn't really sure why. I felt like this story was a tool to recalibrate that moral compass, WOW Tracey, that some powerful gift you've got there. Thanks for a thought provoking read.
2276696
The story grabbed me by the heart and wouldn't let go.  I had to read it from start to finish immediately.
1856547
I really enjoyed this story. Despite a slightly confusing beginning that reads like a continuation of another story, which is now confirmed and I would now love to read, the characters held me captive until the end. The confusing part being introducing the characters into the story read like you should already know them and their relationships to each other mainly with Tina and Kevin, I went though most of the first half thinking they were already married. Same for the other characters. I could really relate to Tina and her emotional state when she lost her dad, the denial, confusion, and guilt especially. I lost my dad earlier this year and more recently my grandma and I could feel her emotions as she went through them while remembering my own dad and what I went through. Besides some grammar and wording problems I would recommend this book to others and would love a finished copy.
190046
This was a story that is still staying with me. It is such a good story. One that really made me think about how hard life can be and how determination can help you get where you want to be.

It will make you laugh in parts and cry in others and when you get near the end you better have a box of kleenex handy. Joe/Steve ran away from a father who was so abusive. He was only 15 and made his way from Nebraska to Alabama. He met an older woman and they became quick friends. He worked 2 jobs and a lot of side jobs to save money for college while attending high school. He worked so hard and made the best grades of anyone in his class. He had a few friends but only told one about his true identity and what happen to bring him to Alabama.

It is a very touching story that I recommend to everyone that loves to read. It had me from the very beginning to the very end. I could not put this book down, even when I was crying and it will make you cry, laugh and cry some more. The end is very unexpected. You will not see it coming. I sure didn't and I can usually tell where a story is heading. It's on I will not soon forget and if possible I would definitely give it way more than 5 stars. I LOVED IT!
3960708
Captivating story that I could not stop reading
2785306
This story remained with me long after I read it. As a mom of three girls, the slow boil of "not any one thing, but all of them together" was haunting. Highly recommended.
2767547
At least, this book has stayed with me...for a very long time. I first read it back in 2008, and I still remember it. I don't remember all the plot details, but others have commented on those - and you have the book description for that. What I do remember is how I felt while I was reading it and how I felt after I read it.

As I was reading, I couldn't wait to turn the next page. And when the end came? I was sad. I wanted more. I was thoroughly invested in the characters and their stories. Ms. Penney has a wonderful way of using words to covey character and atmosphere without spelling it all out for the reader. She lets you use your imagination to fill in some of the all important gaps.

There's magic in the storytelling of this one. It is a beautifully written book (even years later), and I highly recommend it!
4301248
After I closed the kindle on this true story I kept thinking about it. Later at night in bed, I was still thinking about it. A couple of days later, flashes of scenes from the book come back to me. I am unsure how to convey what this story meant to me, but it is excellently written, intriguing, memorable and haunting. Some scenes were so brutal and intense I wanted to look away, but I stuck with it and will always remember Amanda Lindhout's tale of courage. A 5/5 star.
3654006
This story was beautifully written and it stayed with me for days after I finished. Was so depressed when my head was still stuck in its world and I kept thinking there was more but then I'd remember that I finished it. I can't wait to read more of this author's works. Am seriously about to go look for more of her books.
3464179
I don't even know where to begin. This is the type of story that stays with you long after the last page. The story follows the lives of two girls in India and shows vividly the dire effects of the caste system and tradition can have on these women.

I'll be careful to avoid spoilers. The story begins in India in 1986. We meet Mukta who is a 10 year old girl living in a small village, the daughter and granddaughter of temple prostitutes. Although the story is fiction, this tradition is apparantly still occuring even today in small villages. Mukta's mother wants her daughter to not follow this path, but her grandmother convinces her that she will save her mother by being dedicated to the temple goddess as well.

We then meet Tara, an 8-year old tomboy living in the city. Her father helps children in need find there way to places where they can have a better life, often briefly fostering them. One day, he brings home Mukta and the girls become unlikely friends. Unlike the others, Mukta stays with them for 5 years. Then, a bombing kills Tara's mother, setting into action a chain of events that pulls Mukta back into a brothel. Tara and her father emmigrate to the US. It is 11 years later that Tara, full of guilt for what she believes is her role in Mukta's fate, returns to continue the search for Mukta that her father began.

This story is heart-wrenching and powerful, and yet somehow not a difficult read for me. The characters were beautiful and strong, and I feel changed for having read their story.

Full disclosure - I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
3429312
This was a wonderful story. It was one of those books I could not put down. I was sad when I was done. The story was so unique and I loved the way it evolved. This book will stay with me for a while.
528331
i read this story as a little girl and it stayed with me for 20 years!!! thank you so much !!