I am not a semi professional book reviewer. I think I have fallen upon  a gem.
597636
I should not be writing this it's to early on in the book but I'm totally fascinated.. I'm a self proclaimed Indophile, no doubt I'm missing some of todays jargon as used by the metro's of Mumbai and Delhi but I love the writing. Some of the paragraphs leave me breathless. I wish I had purchased in hard copy some books are better to be able to mark and or flip back to kindles have their limitations. Yes, you are right I'm not Indian, I will never understand, but out of 1 billion + you can hardly find 20 people that agree on anything, except maybe the current PM.

Note: Please read  Fiction Fan for a complete and wonderful review. I know I'm going to follow this person from now on.
2128341
Fantastic! Don't let the cover fool you, this is not "chick lit."
4905658
I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I started this book....  It is not like anything I have ever read before and it is not a genre that I usually read or enjoy....  It is not an action packed book by a long shot....  In fact it is a subtle story with strong characters and it really grew on me....  I love the author's writing voice....  I loved the characters....  I love the story even though it wasn't a big ah hah type story but more of a fiction biography of sorts....  I find myself thinking about these characters and missing this book even though it has been weeks since I finished reading it....  I loved the book, the mystery of it, the rich character development, and the story which simply tells India's struggles and reality....
3055309
I typically go into a book looking for that one gem that will really make a difference and that I will apply in my life. The only problem I had with this book is that there were gems galore. This is a book I will read again just so that I make sure not to miss anything. Well written, well thought out and extraordinarily helpful. I am better for having read this book.
313375
This is not my normal book type. But, I jumped on it when Wickedly Innocent Promotions did the book tour. Jennifer has yet to steer me wrong. And this was another time I was glad I took a leap of faith.

Coming from divorced parents, this spoke to me. I could relate, as can so many of us, to one or more of the characters. Either as the kid from a broken home, the friend of one, or the friend of a friend and so on. All of those are here. There were a couple of times I did have to put the book down and walk away because I couldn't read through the emotions or tears. That is how well written this is. She brought me to tears, more than once. On the up side, I did laugh a lot too. And I also fumed at my phone. My husband says that watching me read is quite entertaining!

I don't tend to review the plot or characters of the books as much as I do the writer and their style. There are only so many stories out there, it is all in how they are told. And this was told artfully. Her turn off phrase is amazing. She has you feeling for the characters, they are people, not flimsy constructs.

Though this is a bit out of my wheelhouse, I think I will be picking up more of Ms. Walter's books. Now, I don't think I can binge on her work, I think my nose and eyes would look like I have the crud. I think her work will be great to break up some of the fluff binges I go on.
1884434
I am not a big reader.. I saw there was a free weekend so I picked up the ebook.. I through first few pages and thought it was rich/pretty cool/weird..Saw it was a local author (Philadelphia) - So I bought the book to show support.
661629
I'm a judge in a couple different awards programs this year so I've been reading a lot of books. We're talking quantities that limit my ability to be a functional human being. I have been relegated, rather happily, to the role of literary hermit. But it was a random tweet that brought the title of this particular book to my attention and, despite my monstrous "To Read" pile, I immediately added it to my collection. And in the space of one day, read the whole thing.

I'm kind of ticked off that the book doesn't qualify for the awards programs I'm judging because DAMN, was it ever a compelling read. Intelligent, zany, evocative, and thought-provoking are only four of the many words I could use to describe this fascinating narrative.

But perhaps the highest praise I can give this book or any other, is that I can recommend it without qualification to any of my friends. It holds true universal appeal, and is literally my favourite of all the (many) books I've read this past year. Highly recommend!
1002043
I bought this book on the spur of the moment, attracted by ...my need for some light summer reading for the beach last weekend.  Rather than rehash the plot for you, I will just say what I got out of it.  I could not have been more surprised at how much I enjoyed it.  "Luminous, brilliant, astounding..." are not overstatements.  I felt the whole book had a glow to it, and this reader, far from a mushy book lover, not a chick-flick type of girl, fell hard for this book (For the record, I'm a Roddy Doyle, Salman Rushdie, Ian McEwan fan, so this is out of my usual author pool!).  I could barely put Lovely Bones down for two days long enough to reapply sunscreen.  There are so many thought-provoking angles to this story.  The exploration of the different family relationships, the adolescent realtionships and of perceptions of death and heaven made me think, but not in a depressing or morbid sort of way.  This is such a wonderfully, beautifully written story that I can't say enough about it.  Highly recommended.
2907632
This book caught me by surprise because I had never heard of it before and it showed up on my Amazon recommended books. I read the sample and immediately bought the book. I could have read it in a couple of sittings but I wanted to savor it.
It's not an easy book to summarize but I'll try. Clay Jannon has been working as a programmer for a Bagel Company that goes under. He has a hard time getting a job and comes across a bookstore looking for a clerk for the night shift. Clay is intrigued by this huge bookstore, it's eccentric owner, and the customers who come in late. but not to buy books, they take books out from the Wayback Books as Clay calls them, books he has never heard of that cover several stories of shelves, and they exchange them after they are finished. Clay eventually takes a look at these books even though he isn't supposed to and discovers they are all in code. To tell more is to give spoilers that you might not want though are easily available in other reviews. I read this without knowing anything and I want others to have that option.
The author uses the love of old books and history and the powerful technology of Google and computers to create a story that is exciting, meaningful, and incredibly enjoyable.
It is just one of those books that you want to tell people "Read it, you'll love it". So yes, just read it and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
518193
I like the way the author is not afraid to use, even overuse, dialogue, and without a lot of superfluous feelings following.  After all, those feelings come through very well on their own.  Sometimes, in the reading of a book, I find the proceeding use of a handful of words meaning said, replied, explained, retorted, insisted, etc. to be redundant, and most times I simply pass by them.

At this point, I am over half way through the reading and am enjoying it a great deal.  I have, over the years, not been much of a mystery reader, but this is the book that has gained my attention enough to want to extend my reading list to include more books of this genre.  I sneak in a chapter or two at work during breaks and look forward to them.  Kindle, I'm finding, is a great way to take my reading with me.  I can't sing enough praises for the Kindle app I downloaded onto my tablet.

There are differences I see in how the parents of the boy accused are at odds, and I anticipate they will survive the storm.  Whether or not the trailer trash who is suspected by the father, a lawyer and self taught detective, it feels like he will play a bigger part as the story unfolds.  It certainly has my attention.

This is a book selection made by one of the members of my monthly book club.  I'm far too glued to classics to have come up with this one.  I'm glad someone suggested it.
1416155
This a gem of a book that I frequently share with friends.
147723
I am now officially addicted to this author and have been searching for more. The story is captivating and it actually made me rethink my own life quite a bit, even though it is a fiction. I would venture to say, it even created change....
As an author myself, I am often critical, and I had a somewhat wary eye, as I am not a fiction fan -- this book first impressed me with it's authenticity, then, it's credibility to ethics and virtue, then the mystery and romance of it all. It really blew me away.
A Child of Compromise is actually a luxury for the reader. I'll reread this and making this my first book club book!
4080443
I finished this book yesterday and ruminated on my thoughts for a while, wanting to provide the best review possible of a book that has rekindled my faith in romance novels and reminded me why I resumed reading after a decade hiatus. But, no matter how I try to plan, I just can't seem to get my thoughts in order so I'm just going to ramble and hope it serves as testimony to how utterly breathtaking this book was for me.

I love romance. All genres, sub-genres, and sub-sub-genres. That said, it seems as of late that I've fallen into a pile of surface-level romance. Ones where I have to suspend so much reality that it almost seems ridiculous. I still enjoy them, don't get me wrong, but I found myself longing for a book that went deeper than that basics. I wanted characters that I could see myself in, in some way. A storyline that sucked me down to a place where I couldn't get enough.  I wanted connection. I wanted honesty. I wanted imperfection. And Amy Harmon delivered that and so much more.

I was hesitant to read this book at first. A little skeptical of the premise and a little fearful because I was certain that no book could top the way Making Faces made me feel. I've re-read that book multiple times and each visit is just as powerful as the first. Infinity + One has demolished my fears, surpassed my hopes and has found a home right next to Ms. Harmon's other works in my all-time favorites collection of novels. This book is an absolute work of art.

Amy Harmon has a way if writing a story I want to believe in. She gives me characters that I can love despite all their imperfections. Her words are magic, creating this universe that I feel a part of, like I'm right there beside the people I'm rooting for. I'm the third wheel but in the best possible way.

For me, Infinity + One is a story of being lost. Of being sad. Of being lonely. Those are emotions that we can all relate to at some point in our lives and she has eloquently given them a home in this novel. She's shown us that it's okay to feel this way. More than that, it's normal for anyone, anywhere. It also shows you that you can't judge someone's life by what you see. Because most of the time, it's only a fraction of the truth that's hiding beneath the surface. Everyone's pain is different.

This book is enchanting. It weaves a tale of two lost and lonely souls trying to find their way, their own happiness, in a world where pain, sadness, and sorrow seem to always outweigh the good stuff. Books like Infinity + One are the reason I read. It is a shining example of the novels I long for.

So, thank you Ms. Harmon. You make me think; you make me feel. And those are the two things I long for in books I read. My life is enhanced by books like this. And for that, I am forever grateful.
4305657
I wasn't sure I would like this book at first for a couple reasons.  First, I don't normally read nonfiction.  Second, it read kind of like a paper for school at first.  But, it didn't take me long to get wrapped up in the world of rare books and book theft.
  I've never given much thought to rare books.  Sure, I collect books but that's about it.  I was completely amazed at some of the books and the stores/dealers that carry them in this story.  In fact I might make a trip to Salt Lake City to see Ken Sanders store sometime in the future (it's only 2 1/2 hours from me so why not!).  It actually made me want to find out more information on rare book (not that I plan on collecting lol!)
  I've also never thought about book theft.  I know about the destruction of books throughout history.  But, people actually going out of their way to steal one...wow.  I was enthralled with how Gilkey would research out a book and then go about adding it to his "collection".  I was even more amazed at how he never felt remorse or that what he was doing was wrong.  If anything he almost felt it was the dealers fault for putting his beloved books out of reach.
  The only thing that bothered me was at times I wasn't sure whoose side the author was on.  She does mention taking to lawyers about legal responsibilty in reporting Gilkey, but I never felt like it really bothered her.  And I'm pretty sure she should have reported when he admited he was violating his parole.
  Overall, it was an interesting and enlightening read!
2525999
Wow. What a great book! It's not that often that I feel so at home with a writer. Paul Auster has that power over me. Douglas Kennedy as well, to a lesser extent. I love many others, but more in part, not word after word. Well, I guess Robert J. Duperre has just changed this state of things. It's like he's writing exactly what I wish I had written myself. If I had the talent.
About one-third into the book, I thought: "it's really well-written, and profound, and I like the characters. But I think I know why it's not more famous: it stays too much in one, very domestic, place." I just literally had to turn the page to lose all my bearings. What already was a good book became an amazing one.
Not just for the sake of imagination, because too much of that can result in a childish accumulation of outlandish scenes. Everything that had been mentioned, had been mentioned for a reason and was used again later in a way I would never have imagined. Silas is not only a kick-ass adventure story, it's a truly literary accomplishment. First, it's told from a first-person point of view, by an old man recounting his past, which offers a first post-modernist and metafictional element: he might be lying to us, the reader, or at least altering the facts. I'm not saying this just to sound clever (though I like that too): not to spoil the story, but it does have its importance toward the end when the narrator decides to keep a part of his adventures to "himself" (which means us too...) and tell his wife an edulcorated version. Who is to say he hasn't been doing the same to us all along? (which he has, of course, because this is FICTION).
But enough with this metafictional stuff... Silas is pure pleasure too, not only (but more than it might seem) highbrow stuff. That's something I really like too, when an author combines pop culture and more "difficult" things. Here, Star Wars and Jean-Paul Sartre are mentioned in almost the same breath.  Passages reminded me of Wells's The Time Machine or The island of Dr Moreau. I thought of the series Lost at times, but I won't say why because you need to discover that amazing story for yourself. The book / movie Silence of the Lambs too. There's a "lost children" aspect of things that hit close to Peter Pan too. Many other works come to mind, but I'm not trying to make the longest list of references here, I just want to show why this novel is ambitious and why it's such a more than satisfying read. It really is a modern tale, with real feelings, action that keeps you on the edge of your seat, suspense that does just that much, a good sense of humour, .... It's got everything.
Finally, what about Silas, the narrator's dog, then? Well, his name is the title of the book, right? So it won't surprise anyone if I say he's just key to the whole story. And don't expect a simple buddy / sidekick with the wonder lab Silas. He's much more than that. Let's just say that this tale / adventure - science fiction - thriller - action - suspense story is also (!!!) a picaresque novel of homeric proportions, a coming-of-age novel, a quest in which the narrator finds his true self, a feat he would never have been able to accomplish without his precious animal. Transformation / metamorphosis is indeed one of the main recurring themes throughout the story. As well as evolution, from one state to another, and creation (another metafictional element, as it sends us back to the act of writing in itself). All said and done: great book, highly recommended. Congratulations to its author, Robert J. Duperre, a really great writer.
407690
This book caught my eye in the grocery store. It was $11 and it just looked good. It kinda beckoned me. I usually don't even go down the book or magazine aisle. But for some reason I did. I saw it was a true story and I am all for a true story. There was a blurb on the front stating that readers who liked Eat. Pray. Love. would like this book and because I want to write a New York Times Bestseller and this one was one, I bought it. For research purposes. I love paperbacks. I also love books that are mine and not from the library. I find I read library ones gingerly. My own books I caress, devour, fold, eat with, bathe with, take to bed with me and put them underneath the pillow next mine. Library books have to remain on the nightstand and aren't allowed to rest on my belly in the bathtub like books of my own. So maybe you might not want to borrow my copy of this book, but it was a decent read. And I can say I recommend it. She is a good writer, but not great. It is far from literary genius, but she is well educated and well in touch with her feelings and emotions. I liked it because it is like reality television without commercials. You get a front row seat inside this woman's monologue as she pours her heart out to you.

The story itself was good, not great. I mostly liked her talking about various parts of her life, growing up wealthy, her family, their vacations, life in New York, and the home she remodeled with her husband. And all the emotion and joy and pain of life and marriage and children and being a wife and mother.

By the end of the book I thought the woman may have gone a little crazy. I don't want to give away the story, although you can find the plot on the back cover, but it is about D-I-V-O-R-C-E. Raw, and real, but entertaining as you get to lean on their new kitchen counter tops in their 100 year old brick house and watch them fight. I read it one Saturday, opening it with my morning coffee and didn't put it down until I went into the kitchen to make a tomato sandwich and finished it by 5:00 and even put it down to mow the lawn. This means I couldn't put it down. It was good. I liked it.
2808560
A tome worth browsing through for there are gems to be found here