Such a Sad Tale with an Incredibly Uplifting Result
595655
Thank you, Nujood, for sharing such a personal story with the rest of the world. Your courage has already begun to change the culture and laws your part of the world, as well as that of other lands you will one day visit. This book is yet another expression of the huge changes taking place in the Middle East. Is it any wonder that there is so much turmoil there, as the ways of the old are pulling in the opposite direction of the push of new ways? I can only hope that the violence that ensues from such change is minimized in the future.

I read this book in one morning. It is short. It is direct. It is cogent in its impact on traditional ways. It is also inspirational in its focus on the future, especially on the issue of the exploitation of our youth. Sometimes, innocence can bring courage, for one who is so young, she might not have understood the full implications of the power she was taking on. Let that innocent courage lead to a better world.
4640606
It is such a beautiful story and it made me so incredibly sad. When a person loses touch with their emotions and insticts, like a lot of us do nowadays, the consequences can be very destructive.
669724
this takes the reader to a very strange and dark place, but... in the end, I found it somehow enlightening and uplifting...
4974099
I won't retell the storyline of this book as so many other reviewers have done so quite adequately.  I will only say that I found this book to be heartbreaking, authentic, and somehow uplifting all at the same time.  I'm not 13 but I am watching a beloved parent fade from Cancer and so much of this book resonated deeply with me.  I understand the dread of the wait and the hope of a future you know isn't possible.  I share the fear of impending orphanhood and the abyss to come.

If you are looking for an uplifting, light YA read please don't bother with this book.  If you want to experience something profoundly moving and deeply meaningful then, by all means, read this wonderful story.
4161322
A sad story but also uplifting. If you need to be reminded of the strength of the human spirit, this will do it.
3119655
I enjoyed this book so much that I felt compelled to share my thoughts on it. Yes, as I've read in many other reviews here, this book can be extremely sad and tragic at times. Personally, I felt that it sometimes went even further than that, so much as to allow me to describe some of it as quite disturbing. But reading this story should not be avoided for fear of having to read a depressing biography. On the contrary, this is a splendid, uplifting story of someone who refuses to give up or give in while simultaneously fighting both internal and external obstacles. In fact, they are many of the very same obstacles that we ourselves or others we know have to face in their own lives.

This book also surprised me because of the various people and places that pop up unexpectedly and are a part of the author's life. I'm a big fan of Jerry Seinfeld, so it was fun to see an entire chapter devoted to how he and Jerry knew each other and what transpired. Quite fascinating!

Last but not least, I respect the honesty in which this book was written. There is no sanitizing going on here as the author reveals such deep, dark experiences of his to the world, which really makes this book even more entertaining.
4454056
I heard about Alice Sebold's story long before I dared to pick it up. When I ventured tentatively through its pages, I realized I'd made a find: a beautifully-written tale that encapsulates a horrible crime and a horrible person living in the midst of an ordinary neighborhood near unaware parents and children. Isn't that really how such things happen? While an indicting commentary on modern life, the author weaves the victim's experiences and thoughts throughout her exploration of the Susie's death on the rest of her family. If only Susie can have her wish and come back to life, but that's not in the cards.

Though bounded by grief and the need to heal, ultimately we come to hope, just as Susie does. Bravo!
4943546
Reluctance to read a book with such sad subject matter was replaced because my friend wrote the book
  I immediately fell in love with Daniel and his friends; and their heartbreaking journey. In the end, feeling like there is something good to come of something so sad.
  I sincerely recommend this beautiful story.
559771
What a beautiful true story that transcends two worlds and brings us to the place where we are all the same - people made in the image of God.  I was moved to tears more than once, I smiled, laughed and cringed as I read through this amazing tale.  In one way it was shocking to see that in my lifetime there have been people living in the conditions of one man while others are living in the "lap of luxury".  But not only did God have to bring them from two extremes and bring them together, but then a sad event unites them.  This is a touching story that has pearls of wisdom and spiritual insight wrapped in a covering of a story that will keep you turning the pages for more.  Highly recommended!
2469243
This is a rather personal review, in that I am a small part of this story, and it details an extremely sad and stressful period of my life, albeit with a message that is uplifting and perhaps comforting.  It can be viewed as an allegory since there is nothing as awesome and terrifyingly beautiful as the flames of a forest fire, the full fury of Nature sweeping its destructive scythe across the most beautiful landscape, and yet somehow, after the fury and horror of its effects, it is Man as a part of Nature who can emerge to continue working, and growing, building and loving, recovering from disaster, and affirming the possibilities and the beauties of Life.  Melissa captures that duality in her narration, the devastation of loss, and the promise of rebirth that for me included the death of my mother, and the comfort of her memory in work that one must do to continue, to move positively in the pursuit of what is meaningful.

The book is beautifully printed, with pictures, paper, typeface that mirrors the beauty of the story --- her life of Zen contemplation and work being suddenly interrupted by the power of a massive forest fire, threatening all of the mountain with complete destruction.  She starts with her identity as a mother of two vibrant young girls and her relationship with leader of the Zen Center.  And as quickly as one gets to feel her aspirations, you are interrupted by the reality of the Mountain Fire, a massive forest fire started by a malfunctioning well pump, and growing to one of the biggest in the history of the San Jacinto mountains where the Zen Center had been established over many years of careful and beautiful work. As she and all were evacuated, one senses the possibility of utter and complete loss, yet even as the fire rages, Melissa and her extended family move with a calm determination to do what can be done, to comfort each other, and prepare for what must be.  And so, as all watch the possible destruction of the mountain, wait for the results of the battle by Man to direct or mitigate that destructive force . . . much as I watched my mother (Melissa's close friend) in the last days of her life of beauty, and then, after we were able to return to the mountain, note the efforts to recover and rebuild. The pictures that are in the book show the destruction and the beauty.  The story establishes the truth that love and beauty can be recovered even in the face of utter loss.  And the Zen Center is being rebuilt with the sureness that Life prevails, even after a massive forest fire.  And the loss of a dear friend.  The story is a love story, and how one must love the Life that can inspire us, in the rocks and trees, in the mud slides, and the heat of a fire, in the efforts and success that hard work can deliver, in the beauty of a painting or a beautiful structure,and even in the death that must claim us all.  Thank you Melissa, for this book of Beauty and Love.
462474
I rarely cry when reading books, but this story touched me deeply. The consequences of impossible circumstances, poor decisions, and the cruelty of fate are paired against deeply rooted characters who hold unswervingly to the memory of abiding love. With just a little serendipity thrown in, the result is a moving story of unimaginable loss, long-time healing of deep wounds, and eventual reclamation of the essence of that which was lost. I would love to see this story made into a movie.
2228340
This was an incredible short story that held me captive throughout my reading. A tragically beautiful piece of fiction, yet truly cognizant of the feelings of life and depression. Astounding in its depth and description of the main character. E.S. Oakes has done a masterful job of weaving a formidable story. Anguishing and uplifting all at the same time! A very good read!
4178338
"Powderhorn" is a beautifully crafted depression-era tale of one man's journey into the consequences of not having any self-control.  The title character, Mr. Horton Moon, is at once as charming and disarming as he is loathsome and despicable--the reader finds it often difficult to figure out which at any turn.  Mr. McInerny's writing, carefully and slowly draws the reader into a lush and richly described story of sadness, poverty and struggle, but twists into it a lead character that the reader never quite fully understands, yet can't seem to get enough of.

This sleepy little story is filled with characters that are bold and strong survivors, that meander around Mr. Moon in a swirl of love, passion, sympathy, hatred, disgust and unknown fascination.  The reader is often along for the ride as Mr. Moon exposes his many sides.

Mr. McInerny has delivered a wonderfully sad tale that leads the reader into a bleak world of a hopeless man trying to deal with his personal demons and poor decisions.  "Powderhorn" is captivating from start to finish.
4541473
Despite its morbid premise, this book left me feeling uplifted.  This is a tale of a community's response to tragedy, the rape and murder of a beloved teenage girl.  While the aftershock of her disappearance has understandably negative results on her family and neighborhood, the story was crafted in such a way that it ended up as a narrative of hope, not depression.  More importantly, this was one of the better books I read in 2003.  It kept me riveted from the first page.  I would definitely recommend it.
2571574
This is a bittersweet tale, with a hopeful ending.
It's beautifully written in a way that lets you really get a feeling for the emotional upheaval a situation like this brings.
It's hard not to get emotionally involved with all the individuals enmeshed in this unorthodox love story.

Well done, Lynn Thorne.

Marc and Jennifer, I'm pulling for you!
3707446
Surprising!  Beautifully written story that I found uplifting and very touching
1309697
This book will easily be one of my favorite reads of 2017. I finished it nearly a week ago and I still feel inadequate to write a review that will do it justice. The plot has already been described by other reviewers, so I won't repeat it here.

This is a gritty and heartbreaking story, with writing so beautiful, a setting so real, and characters so well-developed, that I was completely immersed in the story from the beginning. My heart broke again and again for the people, alive and dead, who inhabit these pages.

Im not normally a fan of the magical realism of "ghosts", but in this case it works, and the ending - oh my, that ending - brought it all together so it made sense why it was included. Although the synopsis sounds unrelentingly sad and grim, with bad things heaped upon yet more bad things, it was never gratuitous. These are fictional characters, but there are real people who live this reality: the racism, poverty, drug addiction, injustice, abuse. But the story is also one about love and hope. There are characters who angered and disgusted me, but then there are characters like JoJo, Mam, and Pop who bring love and hope to these pages, and restores faith in humanity.
** I received my copy via Netgalley