Review:The most notable aspect of the book is that a good portion of the book is narrated by a Ukrainian with an odd manner of speaking. He comments on Americans, their custome, and their pop culture, with a sincere but befuddled enthusiasm. Several times, it's revealed that the supposed author wants him to edit scenes calling the supposed author short, or foolish things he did.
If it sounds familiar, it's because the comedic device is about the same as that used in the old TV sitcom "Perfect Stra... Read more

Review:I wanted to review this book just after I finished it, but I could not. The Wind Up Bird Chronicle is just too much, and I mean that in the best way. Still, I really want to try and capture my feelings for this text (now six weeks past).

Murakami's story is actually dead simple: the main character's (Toru Okada) wife (Kumiko) leaves him and he spends the remainder of the book trying to get her back. At its core, this is just a love story. But this simple narrative is really a vehicle to d... Read more

Review:Surprised me how quick this book reads. The jumps between lives of aces and jokers just kept me interested. It never got too long for a single character, but continuous mentioning kept them close at heart. Read more

Review:This was the worst Crichton book I have read. The first half plus of the book was filled with slams on the Japanese which may or may not have been true at the time. At any rate reading these was not the least bit entertaining. The characters were dull and uninteresting. To me, this book was a chore to labor through and I was glad to finally finish (and hopefully soon forget). Read more

Review:The plot was somewhat predictable yet still enjoyable and entertaining. I loved the descriptions of sensory experiences, especially the food. I was invested in the characters' lives and felt immersed in Indian culture. Read more

Review:I started this book with a lot of interest and anticipation because I usually love books that deal with other cultures. The story premise was good, but the author belabored the story with way too much poetic description. I got tired of reading about the environment, humidity and light and wished to just end the story. I skimmed a lot just to see how she would finish what could've been a better book. Read more

Review:The best part of this book, the way Stewart provided the backstory of Constance's accidental stumbling into position of deputy sheriff. Constance evolves and ferrets who she is in her self-discovering sojourn as we read of one inspiring woman tapping into her authentic self.

Constance, a maverick, fascinating, in short a remarkable woman. A woman refusing to fit into societal expectations, norms. Constance wanted to pursue a career, however, her mother disagreed with her desires, as well ... Read more

Review:I'm a big Amy Stewart fan so when she took the headlong plunge into fiction, I came right along for the ride! I don't read a lot of fiction, but I'm definitely ready for book #3 in this series. Girl Waits With Gun had such great characters and I love how the story line in this second book gave Stewart the opportunity to shine a much deserved light right on Constance Kopp. The story is a period piece, but written with contemporary sensibilities... and that really appeals to me. Furthermore, any b... Read more

Review:The women in this book are either complaining, whining witches or simpletons (although good natured willing simpletons.) The Hispanics are mustachioed, tattooed. gang bangers. Welfare recipients are fat, dirty, toothless and lazy. Then you have the silly hippy dippy flower children who don't like guns. God help them. The only guy the main character can stomach is his acolyte Gary. I disliked the main character so much by the end of the book that I didn't care if he made it home or not. Read more

Review:The prose are spare and terse like the countries the story takes place in, both Iraq and East Texas. The characters and story grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go. Haunting and gritty, rife with life and death, hope and despair, an excellent read! Read more