Masterfully told complex story
589306
14 years late, I say not too late. This is as masterful a depiction of raw life as I have ever read. Page Turner supreme. Well done!
3727658
For those in love with science fiction at its best, The Last Summoner its a complex story of ignored responsibilities and their dire consequences, of love and betrayal that span centuries and multiple worlds. Time travel, multiverse travel, immortality, alternate history in which the Nazis have won, not in the twentieth century but way earlier, in the Teutonic age. Angels and mutants, utopias and dystopias, even a Tesla occurrence, everything a science fiction reader could ever desire in a book. A masterfully told compelling story with great characters. Nina moves flawlessly from a medieval story to a modern one and everything in between.
43630
In "Lobster Boy," Fred Rosen executes brilliantly the essential elements of a provocative story: strong character development, suspense, and attention to detail. The characters have distinct voices and successfully serve as foils and mirrors against each other. All of them reflect pieces of ourselves.
All in all, it was beautifully written; Rosen's crisp, poetic imagery and fluid language create a lush and present environment for a complex, deeply disturbing story.  I was fascinated by how well Rosen navigated layers of psychological/family dynamics in this book. An incredibly realistic account, psychologically speaking, of the haunting emotional devastation wreaked upon a family given a father's narcissistic investment in his own fame --and a mother's passivity. Rosen's writing enables us to strengthen our awareness of political and sociological issues present in patriarchal culture, social class, and sideshows. This book had me turning one page after another, unable to set it down. When finished, I spent a long time discussing it over coffee; I was so moved by the book, as well as energized by Rosen's storytelling ability and insight.  Highly recommended.
1254762
When Breath Becomes Air is a very complex and engaging read.  I'm a college educated navy veteran and I kept telling myself that thank goodness my kindle had a built in thesaurus because I was constantly looking for definitions to the words that were written.  That said, Dr. Kalanithi goes into grave detail how he becomes a neurosurgeon and his thought process of dealing with his career choice, the tolls it takes on a marriage and ultimately dealing with death -- including his own.  His wife masterfully ties up all the loose ends and her epilogue is one that the reader will read time and time again.  There is little doubt I will be reading this one again to truly appreciate and grasp his message..
3672424
This book hits so many emotions on so many levels, I find it hard to pull my thoughts together to tell readers how beautiful this story is. Grace and Eisav's story is as heartbreaking as it is beautiful. The story is full of secrets and lies that impact so many of the characters and complicates lives that should have been left untainted.
Grace loses so much through the course of this story. After losing her mother, her city life is uprooted and she is plunked down in rural Iowa. Keeping silent in her grief, the eleven-year-old only child slips silently into a large family that harbors so many secrets it is hard to figure out who is hiding what. The only person who can reach her is Eisav, one of the twins. A strong friendship develops between the two that over the years turns to love. Forbidden by the father, who hates Eisav the couple struggles until circumstances tear them apart.
This beautifully written story is a unique puzzle of interwoven pieces: part love story, part intrigue, part heartbreak, and part a redemption story. There are so many layers to this book and it is told in both the past and present. The storyline is intricate and the characters well developed. I had difficulty putting this gorgeous story down and it left a book hangover for days.
2660175
Sweeping, epic, ambitious, multi-layered, intelligently written. Puts one in mind of Michener. A big book that spans generations, begins somewhat slowly, but relentlessly pulls the reader in until he/shes immersed in the threads of the multiple POV narratives, all of which are masterfully executed and riveting. Can be somewhat depressing in places, as can be the human condition. Ultimately a four and a half star read due to, in my opinion, too great an emphasis on detail that bogged the story down in places and a somewhat anticlimactic conclusion.
4906542
Complex and beautiful story--rings true to me, a history professor--even though it is historical fiction.  I marvel at Alvarez's talent in bringing the sisters to life. Perhaps not as they exactly were, but as real people with distinct and limited perspectives that shape their actions and world views.
3390303
This is a beautifully written, heart-felt and complex book.  TTW moves flawlessly from surface topic to the deepest parts of what this book is really about.  She is a master at weaving a whole story and creating an extremely vivid and accurate picture of times, events and place.  I found this to be a haunting narrative and learned more about Genocide than I ever thought I could or thought I wanted to.  She is amazing.
2864553
This story is written so cleanly and so honestly that it reads as though it was spun in one piece out of thin air; this surely belies the extensive research and hard work that underpin the work. Making language read as effortless requires enormous skill, which Dave Eggers has in spades.

This is a story that encompasses many perspectives and many facets, and they're woven together masterfully here. I can't say it was a purely enjoyable read as it made me feel so many emotions (including rage, shame, and despair)--but it's both important and hard to put down. It should be unthinkable that this could have happened to Mr. Zeitoun today in the United States, and the fact that it isn't tells us we have an awful lot of work to do here in our own backyard.
2555444
This book I wanted to read slowly so that I could soak in every detail in hopes that the last page would never come. After reading the introduction though, I never imagined that I would soon be so captured by such colorful characters in this story; it was so much more than the synopsis stated. The descriptive writing and characters created cinematography in my imagination and the arrangement of each individual scene was so well expressed. The writing was detailed in such ways that the prose came across the page almost visibly in my mind. This novel was richly complex but simply layered at the same time. I was enticed from the very first page until the last.
3124714
I was pulled along in this novel by the thick and rich story lines that were woven into an intricate narrative, with characters I cared about and loved.  The details--such as the broadcasts and the two gifts--tightened the warp and woof of this book.  I did not want it to end but I raced to the last page and then felt satisfied.
114916
I loved this book. It's a complex plot intertwining past and present.
2573311
This is certainly a complex book, reminiscent (for me at least) of Faulker's "The Sound and the Fury".  Several characters tell of the budding, ominous, and inevitable conflict between the town of Ruby and  the nearby women of the Convent.  The town is the epitome of male-dominated  order, and the Convent is the home of women seeking refuge from that order.  "Paradise" is the story of their creation, how they evolve, and  how the town eventually must destroy the Convent for its own perceived  survival.
  This is an amazing book, extremely well-written, if  extremely confusing in parts.  The narrative is constantly switching hands,  and the story is not told in chronlogical order.  Combining this with the  many characters in the story can lead to a pathological chaos.  But the  book is worth it, largely because the prose is so magical and poetic.  The  biblical and mythological themes are not on the surface, but give a rich  backdrop to the story.  The characters, especially of the town (for me) are  memorable.
  This is definitely more complex than "Beloved".  But the complexity, which forces concentration, does create intrigue and  subtlety that rewards.
2793970
I must start by saying this was an intense read, not suitable for someone looking for a quick-fix, pick-me-up, put-me-down kind of book. It is a wonderfully complex read, with great character and fantasy world building. Sex and power struggles are the dominant theme - the heroine Estri is complex and expertly drawn, and the author never drops the ball as she weaves expertly through emotive issues. Engrossing and unforgettable.
339371
The story is solid and well written, but complex and intense, especially as it reaches a crescendo towards the end  there is a lot going on, but KC Ann Wright does a good job of weaving it all together by the end. Characters are very well developed, which will become even more evident when the final twist surrounding her first husbands death is revealed. It completely blindsided me  I typically can predict whats coming, but this slant was brilliant. Second chances is the theme of the day for both Nick and Alexis. Nick harbors a lot of resentment against his first wife who left him alone with their young daughter so she could start over with someone even wealthier; Alexis first husband, her high school sweetheart, died in a tragic accident. Sparks ignite a passionate relationship between Nick and Alexis, but soon things start unraveling. Alexis dives back into her camp, which Nicks young daughter attends. Tragedy strikes, but Alexis quick thinking not only saves Nicks daughter, but eventually herself even though she is severely injured. Readers will be rewarded with a very satisfying HEA.
527547
A gripping story, beautifully told, with well drawn characters and a wonderful central concept  that will continue to haunt you.
3880313
Expertly plotted, not a false step anywhere, this is a complicated story full of twists and turns, psychological insight and wry humor. And heart. Caught in the cross-hairs of two worldviews, its memorable characters take us on an amazing journey that poses questions for each of us. What would we ourselves go through, what would we ultimately sacrifice to survive  and be happy?  Its a book that strikes deep and makes you think, even as you're furiously turning the pages, anxious to see what blow fate has in store next.