cgj13's reviews
587 reviews

I've always had a fascination with Frank Lloyd Wright. Well this is fiction, based on real facts, the author portrays a wonderful story, leading you discover more about the personal life of Frank and Mamah

Very interesting look into Ernest Hemingway's life with Hadley. I love a book that makes we want to find out more about the people in it.

It's not my favorite. I am currently on page 164 (according to the nook) and so far I find the delivery of the story to hard to enjoy. It's written almost in a manner of disconnected thoughts. In all of his realness, I currently find Dave is shallow, and self-centered in a poor me kind of way. and definitely very raw and angry. As to be expected with everything he has gone through. I am plodding through hoping it gets better. Based on the hilarity of the preface there is hope that once Dave gets through his grief and starts to emerge again that the story will improve.

This was a fun little book. I loved Don, so quirky. It was fun to see how his carefully, planned, rigid, OCD life was turned upside down and how he learned to balance his scheduling and learning to love life and the moments around him once he met Rosie.

My only complaint about the book is the warp speed with which it ended. Why do we have to be subjected to having several years of life crammed into one neat little package comprised of so few pages. Maybe the author never intended to write a sequel and wanted to finish the story so the reader would be satisfied know everything turned out ok.

Okay, actually I have a second complaint. It's not so much about the story, because without this detail, the story wouldn't exist. But I hate who was determined to be her father. It's sad to think that so much of Rosie's life was based on the poor relationship she had with Phil, and it all could have been better.

What a compelling read. I felt like nothing was happening,as the story only takes place in a few short months, yet I couldn't put it down. The author does a great job telling the story from the different female perspectives. I loved how she went back and forth, first with Rachel and Megan, and then the addition of Anna. The characters were so complex, so that you love and hate them at the same time. And you really don't know who to root for and who is the heroine. The end quite surprised me with a late player entering into the equation that I had not expected.

In a comparison to Gillian Flynn's "Gone Girl" I felt that "The Girl on the Train" was a much better, more suspenseful story that didn't leave me with such a bad taste in mouth. I just couldn't' put it down--hence the 8 day read time.

Oh man. Some parts of this ring way to true... fun quick read.

It's been such a long time since I read a Dean Koontz book that I can't quite remember if this deviates from his normal MO or not. Over all, it was a great book and kept me interested. I thought it could have used more of scifi aspect to it. And I was left wanting more of that. Other than the light touch of Miss Pearl and the "magical" lucite heart. I really thought there would be something more mysterious behind the dealings of Lucas, Fiona and Tilton. That left me let down and they never really explained the cause.

I am happy to note though that Jonah's dad did not bring him to his demise or I might have thrown my nook across the room. But I guess as I was reading it, I knew it couldn't have happened because we know that the narrator lives to be much older and see many things. I feel like that main theme in here is that even though fate may have something in store for you, You do have the power through your actions to change your destiny.

I love the intergenerational friendship that developed, and that it became a source of comfort and healing to both of them. And the easy friend ship of Jonah and Malcom.

Some great quotes in here:

"The next day was better--magical, one of those days that my friend Malcolm calls a butter-side-up day. Trouble was coming, sure, but it's always coming, and meanwhile it's best to live with a smile."

"the truth is, to this day I still pretty much operate under that assumption. If chaos plagues the world--and it does--and if there's any benign power that wants the world to survive, then stability will be encouraged and rewarded. Maybe not all the time. But most of the time."

"The news isn't all the news...It's just what the reporters want to tell you about...Millions of people are doing nice things for one another, making, sacrifices, mostly small things, but it's all those little kidnesses that hold civilization together..."

"Surrendering to fear destroys many lives. Indulgence in Stubborn anger destroys even more. But guilt, Jonah, is no less a destroyer of lives...Fear can be overcome. You may let go of anger. And guilt can be forgiven."...."You must remember the love you had for the one you lost....Remember that adoration Do not let your feelings of guilt turn her out of your heart. Open your heart to her, and bring her back...Guilt forbids her entrance. Sorrow instead would be a gift to her, a way forward that allows the hope of happiness."

And my favorite:

"One of the many wonders of this world is that, if we allow it to happen, anyone newly met can all but overnight become a central figure in our lives, hardly less essential to us than air and water. Although we've made it a world of hatred and envy and violence, the preponderance of evidence proves to me that it is a world created to inspire friendship and love and kindness."