Review:...and my title is saying a lot. What separates this from so many other mysteries, her own included, is the incredible character Chris Donatti. As fans of Justice can attest, Donatti is complicated, both ruthless and sympathetic. Here's hoping we will see him crop up in the future. He's worth a book all his own. Read more

Review:One of the stories that defined what a "classic" is. This is a very readable translation. Gilagamesh is one of the earliest recorded mythologies. The Epic is a must read for the history/literature buff. Read more

Review:The writing in this first novel is delicious even though the events are heart wrenching It is easy to believe that Ben the narrator is real and that this is a true story. Although the characters and plot are fictional, the author sets the story in a real place with actual external political events. This book was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, an amazing achievement for a first novel. The author is working on a second book. Read more

Review:Tyen, a sorcerer-archaeologist student at the Academy in Leretia discovers a mysterious book on a archaeology dig. He knows he should turn it in but first he wants to study it – only this isn’t any ordinary book. Vella was once a live woman, transformed by a famous sorcerer long ago into a book that records any information it receives from its holder whether spoken or thought and must answer any question they ask – assuming, of course, that someone else has given Vella the information sought.Read more

Review:There have been several excellent translations of Dante in the past few years, all worth reading in their own right. But I retain a special affection for John Ciardi's version, as it's the first one I ever read, at the unprepared & overwhelmed age of 15. I knew of its reputation as a major classic & I was ignorant enough to be unfazed by the prospect of reading it.

Well, to say that I was soon in over my head is an understatement! But Ciardi's fine, lyrical translation, as well as... Read more

Review:Peter Matthiesen's title comes from an apocryphal version of the Crucifixion story. Where in the Bible Christ promises the repentant thief hanging on the cross beside him, 'Thou shalt be with me this day in Paradise,' in this version "Christ shakes his head in pity, saying, 'You are in Paradise RIGHT NOW'." Strange to think that the extermination camp at Auschwitz, where Matthiesen's novel is set, could ever be thought of as Paradise; did not John Paul II, the first Polish Pope, call this site G... Read more

Review:Very narcissistic.It was all about Isabel A. and next to nothing about Paula.
I did not understand the point of this book when is named Paula and all the author talked about is Isabel's life,Isabel's romances,Isabel's sadness,Isabel leaving her home country ... I mean, i thought i was going to learn more about her daughter Paula and how the family dealt with her illness (Porphyria) and her childhood and so. It is very little mentioned her illness and for those no familiar with it ,it's confus... Read more

Review:The book was entertaining, but really surface I thought. And, I was angered by the treatment of the Israeli attacks on a clearly marked American military ship in International waters. That alone is sufficient to give this work a pass. Read more

Review:I just finished reading L’Amant (The Lover) by Marguerite Duras in the original French. I totally understand why Duras was so disappointed with the 1992 film that was based on her novel, saying she didn’t recognize her story at all. This is NOT a romance novel. It is a novel of self-annihilation, of existential ennui and alienation, of children from a highly dysfunctional home who become broken people, little bits of flotsam adrift on tropical waters between France and Vietnam.

To me, the... Read more

Review:This book was recommended by Tracy Chevalier in 'the last runaway', to get a better picture of the American Civil war period. (I am Australian!). It certainly did that! I was fascinated by the life and the hardship people and especially women and children had to endure during that time! The love story angle was perhaps a bit soft, but nevertheless gave it a nice story along side the horror! I liked the fact there were no raunchy pages and the reader had the opportunity to fill in the bits for hi... Read more