Greg

Every now and again I feel the need to get back to some of my early genre reading in fantasy and horror. This was the perfect scratch for this itch. Mr. Gregory's use of language was surprising (like a cartoon elephant's trunk) and kept my interest throughout. The ending was a bit formulaic but for some reason entirely forgivable.

I'm having trouble starting this review...

A Jinni, a Golem, and a Rabbi walk into a bar...doesn't seem to cut it..

Lyricism, mysticism, and magic are the warp and weft that will weave you through an inner and outer journey of discovery in Helene Wecker's debut novel. Along the way we examine the threads of free will, pride, arrogance, zealotry, mono-maniacal focus,inflexibility, devotion, emotion, and of course love at it's purest and it's most damning.

Remarkably hewn characters complete this literary tapestry and make “The Golem and the Jinni,” a true magical carpet ride!

So when my book buddy Emma told me I had to read Jonathan Carroll's books somehow I heard her say Charlie Huston. I haven't read Mr. Carroll's books yet but I'm so glad I screwed up.

Six Bad Things is definitely “dick” lit as opposed to “chick” lit.

If you are looking for a funny book where bad things happen to good and bad people this is it.

Food, love and family. Sounds scrumptious and indeed some of the writing is lyrical and I can appreciate the taste of the phrasing.

BUT....

Ms. Sunee appears to be a hot mess who never finds happiness during the book and presumably long after the book was written if ever. Again some of the writing is magical but I'm left feeling like I am hungry but can't eat because of an overdrawn bellyache that no attempt at soothing will ever cure.

Non-fiction book about one woman's year long journey into creating her own reality. Mostly a good book although some of the folks she quoted I resonated with more than the author. One quote in particular was delightful and I paraphrase...“How can you open yourself to abundance if your heart is closed tight like a fist?” Again, I'm not looking at the book so the quote is probably just close but I love the lesson.

If you believe in creating your own reality this is a quite good reference.

Always a delight!

I'm sorry I waited so long to read this book. This book is a wonder. It makes me want to take the words in this book, toss them in the air and let them shower me with their perfection.

Highly recommend!

Kid's book. Very easy but for some reason it resonated. I liked it.

Listened/read this book and thoroughly enjoyed.

meh...Just didn't enjoy the writing, nor the attempts at dialog, and frankly was put off by his “tricks”. However it was compelling enough that I finished the book so it get's a three.

Delightful. At first I wasn't sure about the format (written as a series of letters, telegrams etc.) but once I got started it was fine. This is a very satisfying tale of love, loss, acceptance and ingenuity all fine elements of a fantastic story. If you love books and reading then I highly recommend this one.

Let me start out by saying I loved Mr. Allen's first book “Getting Thing's Done” and have put the practices in to place, have sent employees to his seminar, and have generally been a cheerleader.

This book falls flat. This is what it felt like Mr. Allen was saying to me.

1. You DIDN'T understand what I was trying to say in my first two books.
2. You CAN'T understand what it was I was trying to say in my first two books.
3. Let me make this more academic and less understandable so I can write another book to tell you how you don't understand the complexity of simplicity.

HOWEVER - I would highly recommend getting the book from the library, skipping directly to the appendices, and making copies for personal use. There is some real value in those last 8 - 10 pages.

Loved it. Funny, cynical, and shows personal growth even though you may not agree with the fork it took. I would love to know this guy as a friend. Great book.

Down under coming of age story of two surfer boys and their relationship with their mysterious mentor and his limping American wife. Storyline was OK and I learned some things about surfing.

Incredible writing! Witty! Fun!

After all these years I finally read it...excellent.

Western's aren't usually my genre but this long, somewhat slow amble through the waning of the West in Montana and the growth of our main character Rossie as he finds his place in the world is ultimately satisfying. I generally liked the book but the politico turn almost threw me off like an ill fated buckaroo. If you hang on though, this is a power filled novel that you will ultimately enjoy.

Cohen's a funny guy, and writes well, but this book is showing it's age.

It was good enough to finish but I can't say I would actually recommend it. If you grew up in the South or have Southern roots then the characters are very recognizable as having come from the more rural areas. But otherwise the story was somewhat disjointed and the ending was all “and they lived happily ever after”. It seemed as if the author had reached his word quota and decided now is the time to stop the story whether or not it has reached a suitable ending.

I adore Christopher Moore. There I said it. Every book I read of his I laugh out loud and sometimes holler at the characters. I want him to write forever!

I hate books that can't come up with a better way to end than it was all a dream...or was it - and yet there were some very well developed characters. It was good enough to finish.

I hate dialect writing. It didn't work this time either. The “scuse my language” felt forced and off. I read it to the end because it was easy but it was like eating stale chips, they're not good but your too lazy to get up and get some good ones.

Heavy handed supernatural mystery. Shape shifting cop and a psychologist human profiler with extra-sensory talents team up to solve a series of murders. The shifter is not well drawn - just all beast, violence and sexuality. The psychologist is much better drawn but is pulled down by the other character. Hard core sex scenes also lie on the side of pure animalism.

Nevada Barr has left the wooded trail that we have become used to in her Anna Pigeon, park ranger books and gone down a completely different path where the murderer is no longer cozy but is dark, dangerous and depraved!

When I first picked this book up I was discouraged that I wasn't going to get a feel for another one of our national parks while I also got to enjoy a well written and gripping mystery. The disappointment lifted quickly and I found myself staying up just a little longer and lingering just a bit more till I was able to finish this book.

I'll be sad if there aren't more Anna Pigeon novels but I'm ecstatic that Ms. Barr let us see the scary, depraved, twisted, messed up part of her writing psyche. Not just a good read but a Great Read!

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