My Sister's Keeper

This book is FANTASTIC! This is not the book I thought I was buying but it was a dollar so, what the heck, I'll try it. I didn't want to put it down. Great story, suprises and twists everywhere! I can't wait to see what else Bill Benners has written.

absoutly loved this book. deff a page turner. kept me guessing and kept the suprises comming and comming. loved the ending to. i have called all my friends that read and suggested this book to them. good job BILL BENNERS!

I agree with the other reviewers who gave this a low rating - been there, done that. I'm a reader who really gets into my books, I laugh and cry and yell out loud at times. With this book I found not only could I not connect with the characters, I didn't even want to. There were no plot twists, I saw everything coming a mile away and then got annoyed at how stupid the characters were for not seeing it...I found myself rooting for the bad guy, hoping he'd just kill off the main character and be done with it! When I finally got to the end I was actually relieved it was FINALLY over.

i am a advent reader and i must say, i dont like thriller type suspense books but i picked this book based on title and absolutely loved it, it keep you thinking and in the same token took a twist that wasnt expected , a must read book

Benners's My Sister's Keeper kept me from doing housework and other chores I needed to do. Once I started the book, I couldn't stop reading. Not only does Benners have a literary flare, but he's from North Carolina, writing about my old stomping grounds. A great first novel. Highly recommended if you like characters in constant turmoil.

The writer droans on...the book goes in too many directions at one time until the reader is left feeling drained and frankly just not caring how it ends. Any one of the story lines would have made a good story...as is its just too much trouble to follow.

The hero???? in this book suffers through so many tragedies ,both physical and psychologically, that I was exhausted just reading it. He was drugged by a young girl,became a murder suspect. suffered intense physical pain while pushing his crippled sister around in a wheelchair (also suffered great psychological pain from the fact that she became crippled). was arrested for murder. brutally attacked as he entered his home and needed 11 stitches, wrecked on his motorcycle and needed injured his left leg, was shot at by a stranger and had multiple wounds from rock salt that was used in the gun, spent time in a barrel that was sinking to the bottom of the river while it was being shot full of holes. This is only a fraction of the calamities that befall this man-doesnt' count the fact that his father turns out to be something other than he thinks he is and that he (hero??) also throws up about 4 times during this whole hideous ordeal. The more I read, the funnier it got. JJ

I just finished reading this wonderful book... it is very fast paced and next to impossible to put down! The characters are fully developed, the plot is full of twists and turns and the story is intense! If you like suspense and drama, you'll love this book!!

I highly recommend this book! I can't wait for his next book!

Seriously? This reinforces my suspicion that the reviews on the store are largely planted by friends of the author. This was one of the worst "books" I have ever read. Rife with misspelled words, grammatical errors, and completely random use of italics and bold type. An idiotic main character, hackneyed plot, and an overabundance of over-the-top purple prose. This guy sweats like a pig, weeps constantly, vomits frequently, and doesn't have the sense God gave a tree stump. I don't know who should feel worse...me for reading it, or the author for writing it.

As a mother who still tries to screen everything her almost-14-year-old daughter reads or views, I've received some flack over the years for being too protective, especially from people who have no real clue what kids, especially advanced readers, can sometimes get their hands on. My personal recommendation for like-minded parents or mentors is to pass over a majority of the so-catergorised "Young Adult" books (not all) and jump straight to some of the more socially-conscious adult ones, like "My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult. Yes, there are some adult situations, and some adult language - but they are kept in context, and whether or not I may personally agree with the moral tone of this book, there is much room for discussion. As a matter of fact, since this book is now also a movie with a completely different ending (the book's ending is more in line with my own beliefs) the experience is, for us, a whole-family one: we all read the book, watched the movie, and discussed the issues at length. In any case, "My Sister's Keeper", read in tandem with "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green (previously reviewed), opened the way for the continuing, intermittent thoughtful dialogue on what life really means. Below is said daughter's review:

"'My Sister's Keeper' by Jodi Picoult is one of the best, saddest books I have ever read. In my room, I have a special shelf dedicated to books that make me cry. Seriously, I have everything from 'Marley and Me' to 'Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters.' This book, though, made me cry a whole ocean of tears, as oppose to just a river...

"12-year-old Anna is amazingly good at hockey, has a sweet laugh, is very clever, funny and kind. Unfortunately, not many in her family notice: all they seem to care about is that Anna can save her other sister, Kate, from dying, if she donates various body parts, from kidneys to bone marrow.

"16-year-old Kate just wants to be normal, and for everyone in her family to be happy. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like she will ever see that happen, considering that she is probably going to die soon.

"18-year-old Jesse is the family black sheep. Already a juvenile delinquent, now he's setting fire to schools and getting severely drunk. Not that anyone in his family cares, of course - well, except for Anna. Their parents, though? They've already given up hope.

"Sara think's she's done a pretty good job as a mother, considering one of her daughters is dying, her son will probably be in prison by the time he's nineteen, and another one of her daughters was created for just one reason.

"Brian hopes he's done a decent job as a father, even though he knows that his job as a firefighter might sometimes get in the way. But he's only just realized that one of his daughters plays hockey, and is actually pretty darn good at it. What does that say about him?

"Campbell Alexander is a lawyer with a service dog. Why he has a service dog, no one knows. But even among lawyers, Campbell is considered a jerk.

"Julia knows Campbell better then anyone - they were each other's first love, and first heartbreak. Now, though, she has to work with him in order to help out a 13-year-old girl.

"These people are soon all pulled in together when Anna decides to file a lawsuit against her own parents, so that she doesn't have to give up her kidney for her sister, Kate. Sara thinks that Anna is just doing it for attention, that no one in their right minds would kill their own sister so that they could live. Brian thinks Anna might have a point. Campbell and Julia have their own problems. Meanwhile, while families are broken apart and some things that should have been left unsaid are said, Kate is dying. And Anna is the only one who can save her.

"I would give the book five stars: two stars for the plot, two stars for the characters and one star for the ending."

Riveting - to say the least. I bought the ebook - accidentally. I like ebooks - I just didn't know this article and don't know why I bought it. It got pushed aside for awhile. I started it a few weeks ago and it may be the most riveting book I have ever read! I am a big John Grisham fan and I would compare this to his books. I would wake up at night and grab it and start reading. I carried it to work and everywhere - reading in lines, in waiting rooms - any spare minute. I missed a lot of sleep but can't say I regret it! The suspense kept me glued to this one. A good ending too - but I did not want it to end! I keep looking for his next book - Trunk of Secrets, I believe. I can't wait til it is out. I highly recommend this book! 5 stars from me!!

Here is a typical chunk of prose from "My Sister's Keeper." If you like this sample, you will love this book:

"She pulled me stumbling into a nearby bedroom, shoved me onto my back, and took control [control in italics] of my mind and body. Falling on top me, she redirected the storm raging inside me re-channeling my pain and fury into passion and desire. Icy hatred [italics] melted into flaming love [italics]. For the next hour the fire and the cold swirled through me ripping me apart as she held me down, kissed me, and took me to a final release that shattered every obstacle I had left to becoming the man I was born to be."

My Sister's Keeper by Bill Benners grabbed my attention on the first page and kept it page after page as I wondered who did what to whom. The motivation of the characters, their searches and the things they found in their own past and the past of others kept me on my toes. The sleuth of the criminals, the affection made ovious in the interactions of the characters, the negative reaction of the townspeople was frightening. But I like action, adventue, with romance and I found it all in Bill Benners book, My Sisters Keeper. Edwin P. Cutler

I must admit, I purchased 'My Sister's Keeper' because it was on sale and just before payday. I was captured from the instant I began to read. Mr. Benners' style and knowledge of his subjects will keep even the most critical readers turning pages.
His first novel? I am surprised! There are many authors who have graced the NY Times Bestseller lists repeatedly that do not come close to this level. I have become a fan! I hope there are many more offerings from this author.
My favorite author list (Stuart Woods, J A Jance) just expanded by one.

I have no idea why this book has such a high rating; I can only assume that most of the reviewers are either friends of the author or have never encountered decent literature. The prose was terrible, the characters unbelievably stupid (particularly the narrator and his supposedly brilliant sister), and the plot convoluted and absurd. The only good thing I can say about it is that it is a page turner, but by page 100 I was really just skimming to get the basics of the plot without suffering through all the terrible phrasing and long expositions of the various characters' woes.

A terrific read, one of the best books I have ever read. I really enjoyed the fast pace writing and his straightforward approach to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the way each chapter seemed to end as a separate story, keeping the reader on the edge. The shortness of each chapter left the reader with good stopping points, but once I was halfway through I could hardly put it down. The book had just the right amount of description, and the detail entered into each page was astounding. I will definitely be on the lookout for more of Bill Benner's books.

This book was definitely worth the .99 I paid for it, if not more. The story line was unbelievable at times but still entertaining. I can't say I liked the end all that much, felt as if it left me flat, but, that did not ruin the story for me. I would like to read more of this authors books since I know each book an author writes gets better with the next one.

I have read this book and it is fabulous. I have so enjoyed his book and hope he is in the process of writing another book. The character development is great. My Sister's Keeper

"My Sister's Keeper" is a thrill ride with more twists and turns than the ultimate roller coaster. From the moment Richard Baimbridge returns home to help care for his invalid sister, the suspense doesn't let up. If you're looking for a heart-pounding page-turner that keeps you on the edge of your seat, this is it.

The excerpt quoted by reviewer LPG back in 2007 still has me giggling. If that is seriously how the book is written, then I'm no longer tempted to spend even a dollar. The quoted lines from the book are hysterical. Of course I'm sure they're not meant to be funny but if the intent was sexy and hot, oh boy, not even close. "The man I was born to be"??? Seriously.

Wow. Do free kindle books never cross and editor's desk?

negative opinion, totally overdone with brutallity and silly connections to the past, happy ending not convincing, only read this by mistake anyway, wanted to reade the other one by Jodi Picault, which is surely a better choice.

For those of us who have or whose family members/friends have had cancer or similar illnesses; the ending of the book makes zero sense. Survivors of childhood cancers FREQUENTLY get other cancers and suffer multiple health problems for whatever remains in their lives. Fertility is a big problem as is puberty (treatments can delay onset or interfere with proper development ...)

This book completely minimizes the experience of childhood cancer and should be listed as a Walt Disney Fairy Tale.

Someone showed me this book a couple of weeks ago and I got hooked on it just from reading the first two pages. Benners skill with words is exceptional. I ordered the book and once I started reading I really got hooked particularly with the story within a story technique. The only fiction I've read in recent years are Harry Potter and the C.S. Lewis' Narnia series. The poetic cadence of the language and the thrill of the story was certainly comparable.

This is a book with a lot going on! It is definitely one you don't want to put down. It is also one you want to own so you can read it again in the event you overlooked something that was going on the first time around. I would definitly recommend if you want a mystery novel that gives the reader a suprise at every turn.

absoutly loved this book. deff a page turner. kept me guessing and kept the suprises comming and comming. loved the ending to. i have called all my friends that read and suggested this book to them. good job BILL BENNERS!

For those of us who have or whose family members/friends have had cancer or similar illnesses; the ending of the book makes zero sense. Survivors of childhood cancers FREQUENTLY get other cancers and suffer multiple health problems for whatever remains in their lives. Fertility is a big problem as is puberty (treatments can delay onset or interfere with proper development ...)

This book completely minimizes the experience of childhood cancer and should be listed as a Walt Disney Fairy Tale.

Someone showed me this book a couple of weeks ago and I got hooked on it just from reading the first two pages. Benners skill with words is exceptional. I ordered the book and once I started reading I really got hooked particularly with the story within a story technique. The only fiction I've read in recent years are Harry Potter and the C.S. Lewis' Narnia series. The poetic cadence of the language and the thrill of the story was certainly comparable.

This is a book with a lot going on! It is definitely one you don't want to put down. It is also one you want to own so you can read it again in the event you overlooked something that was going on the first time around. I would definitly recommend if you want a mystery novel that gives the reader a suprise at every turn.

As soon as I sat down and cracked the cover, the novel carried me through an amazingly well-written chain of twists, turns, and surprises. The story found in My Sister's Keeper is a welcome shift in the paradigm of suspense novels.

If you enjoy a good read, do yourself 'good' and pick up a copy!

This is absolutely a 10 star book!! This is THE best book I've read and I read about 2-3 books a week!! It was fast paced...I loved that the chapters are no more than 2-3 pages long. Every chapter had a twist that made this book IMPOSSIBLE to put down! The writing was superb...not a lot of chatty descriptions...it's a very TO THE POINT style of writing..his grip on the emotions of the characters is right on target and pulls you right in...whether it be fear, anxiety or compassion....one of the key characters is a paraplegic young woman...being one myself I can tell you the character as he wrote her was totally true to form...to read this book was like being a fly on the wall and watching the entire story unfold...a wonderful experience and the story was gripping and real...
Do yourself a favor and don't miss this one...Bill Benners is the new James Patterson!!

This novel was indeed filled with suspense and a good first attempt. Toward the end the events began to become too fantastical and almost superfluous, such as the bus accident. There's no need for this event (and some others) at all and it actually detracts from the building tension, just sort of puts it over the top and takes away from the believability of the story. The author should keep trying because I'm sure he will get better with time.

This was a superb first novel from new author Bill Benners. It was hard to put the book down because you always wanted to know what was going to happen next. The book had several great storylines that wove together to an unexpected suspenseful end. Can't wait for his next book.

This is THE best book I've read in a long time! The fast-paced whirlwind of suspense kept me flipping pages from the edge of my seat. I enjoyed it so much that I ordered five more copies to give as Christmas gifts this year! This is only the first in what's bound to be a long list of best-sellers for this exciting, new author!

This book is predictable from the first paragraph. It's not a thriller, it's not interesting. It uses the same tired storyline we've all seen and heard a million times. The prose is juvenile. It's reads like it's written by a 7th grader who has just discovered adjectives and how to use a thesaurus.

"Hate" is a strong word, so I'm giving it two stars.

An exciting suspense thriller that pulls you into the story. "My Sister's Keeper" was a very easy read that flowed from page to page keeping me in suspense. I am ready for his NEXT book! GREAT job!