An outstanding novel that never has a dull moment.
598296
I am a big fan of the "Outlander" series and the audio books narrated by Davina Porter transports you in time and makes you feel like you are there with Claire and Jamie.  Very entertaining and never a dull moment.  The book flows with excitement and includes a great deal of history.  "Voyager" is as excellent as the first two books in the series and I can't wait to read "Drums of Autumn" the fourth book in the series.
3220726
A riveting book that i could not put down before the last page.
512611
A serious masterpiece. Not just one of the best novels about war but an outstanding novel in every way. The author should have followed with a sequel. I give this one five stars but it should have been ten.
4614709
There's a remarkable vitality and a colossal feeling of "heart" in this story.  As novels go, this one is alive & kicking, even though one of its main characters is eventually badly afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis.  The most impressive narrative element to highlight is that in "The Breakdown Lane," Mitchard has crafted one of those gripping storylines where two main characters take turns telling the tale.  It's a truly impressive tour-de-force literary performance, and the intensity never lets up. First there is Julieanne, who in her 40s is summarily dumped by a runaway husband just prior to her MS diagnosis; her chapters contrast with the point-of-view of Gabe, her alienated teenage son who comes through in crises far better than his father or any other so-called adult.  The novel's dialogue is sharp and thoroughly modern in its echoing of today's lingo (from teenagers' slang to the medical jargon, Mitchard has an ear for the idiom & it's downright flawless). Best of all is that the novel's large themes of love & loss, mortality, suffering, surviving and seeking redemption in the most unexpected ways--well, it's a book that touches the soul.
3863185
From the get-go, this incredible novel pulls you in and takes you on a feverish ride that you simply won't want to end. It's high-octane, no-holds-barred excitement. But to emphasize the action, the adventure, would be a disservice to you, the reader, and to the novel itself. This book is so much more than that.

The characters are so realistic, so flawed and human. The shining star is, of course, the book's hero, Lansing. Rarely have I ever come across a protagonist so compelling. And he's not the only compelling character, for The High Hunt isn't solely about Lansing but is really an ensemble piece, with a tight group of colorful players. As you'd expect, this group starts to unravel as the danger ramps up. The unraveling is brilliantly rendered by Mr. Connell, so fluidly drawn that you feel like you're there yourself, a member of this hunting party.

The High Hunt isn't just about hunting, as you have probably guessed. It's about honor, allegiances, right and wrong and the gray area in between. About what happens to good people under pressure, and also their emboldened enemies who have been allowed free reign for too long.

There is more narrative than in Mr. Connell's previous novels, which was fine with me because of Connell's linguistic prowess. Every sentence perfect. Where the dialogue kicks in, you'll find yourself amazed at the sharp banter, the very telling way in which each character reveals themselves, or hides behind, what they say.  And wow, the dialogue, on par with the likes of Elmore Leonard and Quentin Tarantino. Yes, that good.

So while the book is called The High Hunt, don't think it's inaccessible if you're not a hunter. I'm no hunter, but I found myself awash in lyrical bliss. In expert twists and turns you absolutely won't see coming. In this fresh world that is so utterly real, at times ruthless, at times funny, but so worthwhile. In a book that can rightfully be called a novel, because it is so new and vital and comprehensively entertaining.
1485171
This is by far one of the best novels I have read in a very long time. It's a true literary contribution to our understanding of what it means to be a human. Wecker offers the reader a vivid journey through vintage New York City. Most importantly, Wecker provides a historical novel that explores good and evil and the importance of a well-formed conscience.
4760249
This novel gets better with every page. I felt myself really growing attached and sympathetic to the characters as the book unfolded. The author's ability to color a scene is impressive, but more impressive is the way the story is a reflection on time and our small places in humanity's long journey.
4018675
This is a novel whose prose is astounding on every level. Robert Penn Warren was an immensely talented writer and poet, and he brings these gifts to bear in this wonderful novel. Rarely would I say that a 600+ page novel  doesn't have a few words to shave here and there, but I can't say that about All The King's Men. I would not want to be the editor who thought he could whittle down this writer's great work.
ATKM is the story of Jack Burden (metaphor of a name) and  his long (too long) growth process. Jack has what we would call "issues", and like most of us he has the ability to overcome them, but first he must grow up.  This novel is the story of that process.
ATKM has been called a novel about politics, but I think that politics serves a secondary function in this text. It is through his involvement in the underbelly of the political world that the narrator (Jack) learns how to live in the real one.
Even though there are a multitude of characters in this text, each one is finely wrought and Warren never seems to delve into caricature. With the huge cast of characters in the novel this is no small feat. One of the greatest glories in this text is that there is not a single character who is likable or without flaws. And yet, as I read I found that I really did not hate any of them. In fact, I felt I knew many of them. That is because they are so lovingly and accurately crafted by the author. Jack states towards the novel's close about one of the text's more dastardly characters,  Tiny Duffy, "and for the first time I saw him as human." That really is one of the main themes of the text. How all of us, in all of our ugliness and beauty , are still divinely human. When we see the good and ill in others and don`t pass judgment, we can then recognize and accept it in ourselves. Jack Burden is the unique narrator in that his almost passive views of others allows the reader to engage with them without prejudice.
The colloquialisms and speech of the deep south in the early half of the twentieth century are delivered here with the accuracy and the warmth of someone who knew intimately the world which he was writing about. Rarely have I read a novel with such a keen sense and development of time and place.
ATKM also has many subplots and diversions that are complete narratives in themselves, and are satisfying to that end. Yet they all also tie into the larger themes of the novel as a whole.
Read this novel closely, be prepared to reread certain parts, and then sit back and lustfully digest one of the greatest of American novels. You will learn something about yourself along the way.
971789
This book is an outstanding read which you will be unable to put down or walk away from untouched. The protagonist is real, with the kind of strength and character that is difficult to find. It is much more than a war story. It is a journey of self-realization. Do yourself a favor - read this novel.
2196965
Amazing how a novel of which you know since the first page that the characters (but two) so alive on the pages you read will die, but you are still riveted to these pages and flip them with hope against realistic hope, that by some miracle one or the other will miraculously be saved.  A very well crafted novel, suspenseful and thoughtful and fitting our superficial age, where so much is manufactured in the media to get higher ratings and materialism triumphs. And then there is the one true voice in the wildernessand that gives this reader hope for others, in our sadly confused world.
3791921
Daisies Are Forever is one of those books that is destined to leave a lasting impression on its readers. I have read many excellent novels with World War 2 settings but I don't think any of them felt quite as personal as this one. The authors depiction of the horrors faced by innocent civilians who are caught in the path of the invading Russian army was so intense that I was relieved to look up from the book and find myself in my safe and comfortable home.

In this narrative, an unlikely group of refugees flee across Germany during bitter winter conditions as they attempt to stay ahead of the cruel Russian army but one catastrophe after another seems to hound each step. Each member of the group has a different story and sometimes different agendas. The two primary characters, Gisela and Mitch are compassionate and courageous as they attempt to protect the weaker children and the two elderly sisters who suffer from dementia. Two other members of the group have plans of their own that are not in the best interest of the others.

The plot is one that grabs the reader from the beginning and holds on until the very end. Despite the seemingly hopeless situation the characters find themselves a part of, there are small touches of humor and glimpses of hope and faith.

There is absolutely no way my review can do this book justice. Take my word and pick up a copy for yourself. I don't think you will be sorry if you do.

This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
1492010
This is a truly mesmerising novel.  One can safely call it a spiritual novel.  That's not to say religious.  However, the audience for this book will include those of the Christian faith.  And of the Jeewish faith.  The Muslim faith, The Buddhist faith.  Okay, of all faiths.

Heart-warming is indeed a suitable way of describing this.  Deeply thoughtful is another.  Enchanting?  Yes.

However you choose to describe it, this is a must read for any intelligent reader.  You certainly won't forget this one.
2414715
Riveting novel that had my attention grasped from the minute I opened the book and made it hard to put it down.
4718587
I have never read a Brooks novel I did not love, and this one is no exception. The story of art forgery, book illuminations and conservation, centuries of possibilities for the provenance of the Serbian Haggadah, and the challenging circumstances of life during the Spanish Inquisition, Serbia during WWII, the Bosnian conflict, and other very trying times not so often encountered in novels were gripping and enlightening. Brooks' careful research and attention to detail are, as always, impeccable. I can highly recommend this novel.
1732529
A good novel that holds your interest from start to finish, one of those books that you cant put down until the finish.
3232686
This novel is nothing short of epic. You can't put it down. I will read it many many times.
1091778
Really engrossing novel, couldn't stop reading