kristinabrune_author's reviews
1000 reviews

I don't even really know what to say. Much of this book felt really convenient and some of it was annoying. But I did read it in two days, which tells me it at least captured my interest, and that's why I gave it 3 stars. I just feel like this is trying really hard and not delivering in depth of character or plot.

Classic King. Creepy, great characters, page turning.

I don't know what it is about these characters and this story, but it just gets me right in the gut. I think it has more to do with some personal experiences - it's likely not the best writing or the strongest plot - but to me, this was incredible. I read it in one day and haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

This is a 500 page book and I finished it in 3 days, so ... yeah, I LOVED it.

I acknowledge that it's probably not going to be for everyone - not everyone will appreciate the slight cheesiness of it, and historical fiction is not everyone's thing.

But I'm a sucker for historical fiction and for a good love story, so this book made me really happy. The story was fast-paced and kept me interested. I fell in love with the characters and learned a lot about history.

It's an easy read and just plain completely, thoroughly enjoyable.

Ugh. There is a reason I don't read classics - I just don't get them and find them almost unbearably heavy and prosaic and just - ugh. I'm pretty sure the fault is mine, though, and that I'm just not smart enough to get what makes books like this so great.

The concept was interesting and a lot of it definitely made me think, but beyond that I found the characters generally awful and the story lost in a lot of unnecessary words and explanation.

Again, ugh. I so wanted to love this one and be a classics convert.

I so wanted to love this book. And I was totally drawn into the main plot and found the apes the most endearing characters of the whole book.

But I felt like the characters and their interactions were much too simple and convenient, there were lots of hints about certain things developing but then nothing ever did, and I felt like the main story just could have been a lot more.

Basically, Life of a Doctor's Wife said it better than I am here:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/175979956

Anyway, I gave it three stars mostly because I loved the apes' characters so much.

I know that I shouldn't like these books - and admittedly, they're a little predictable and I frequently roll my eyes and they're not the best things I've ever read. But the story and the characters have sucked me right in and I'll keep reading til the end!

I'm going to have a to write a blog post about this one ...

It's not going to be for everybody and I was skeptical until about 1/2 way in. But then. Oh, man. If I hadn't been forced to read it in such small sections (darn kids!) I would have likely spent about 80% of this book sobbing.