1 to 10 of 10
Review Date: 5/14/2009
This book proved to be a wonderful resource for my kids when they did their mission reports in the fourth grade. All the missions are included in this book with history on each one and beautiful pictures.
Review Date: 8/22/2009
I liked this book very much.
This to me didn't feel like a young adult book. The characters are actually adults whose lives ended tragically. They are burdened by a guilt, and they can't remember why. Not child like concerns.The sex scenes were pretty steamy though not detailed.
On the other hand, the emotions of the lead character had the feel of teenage love though - so obsessive, can't live without him kinda of feelings. They ACT young which I thought was strange for such old souls like sleeping together and not even considering the ramifications on the bodies they inhabit.
I loved the ending. So many books just fizz out or have too perfect endings. This one took a turn I didn't see coming. Would definetly recommend this book to high school age kids and up.
This to me didn't feel like a young adult book. The characters are actually adults whose lives ended tragically. They are burdened by a guilt, and they can't remember why. Not child like concerns.The sex scenes were pretty steamy though not detailed.
On the other hand, the emotions of the lead character had the feel of teenage love though - so obsessive, can't live without him kinda of feelings. They ACT young which I thought was strange for such old souls like sleeping together and not even considering the ramifications on the bodies they inhabit.
I loved the ending. So many books just fizz out or have too perfect endings. This one took a turn I didn't see coming. Would definetly recommend this book to high school age kids and up.
Review Date: 5/23/2011
I didn't finish it. Got throught the first 150 pages and decided I didn't need to see what happened. I might pick it up in the future and try to get through it.
Review Date: 9/15/2010
Helpful Score: 5
I really did not enjoy this book. The original title was Men Who Hate Women. There are 3 rape scenes in the book and two are sadistic. This is just not my idea of entertainment.
Also the book is translated from swedish and its so, I don't know, it's off, stiff and full of cliches.
And it was so slow. Hundreds of pages of back story that end up not having anything to do with the crime.
The character were shallow. I didn't really care what happened to them. Apparently, no one can resist this middle aged writer. Women he barely knows want to have sex with him.
Also, the killer lives with a women for years, and she is, what, oblivios or in on it? The writer doesn't even address the fact that he's married. How can his wife not know about this room in the basement. He must have disappeared there for hours. Isn't she the least bit curious about where he is and what he's doing? How can he disappear for hours into a room that she hasn't seen? Does she know what he is up to? Is she frightened into submission? The writer never addresses the wife. Also how can his neighbors not notice him dragging bodies around for 25 years.
The book is boring, poorly written and unrealistic.
Also the book is translated from swedish and its so, I don't know, it's off, stiff and full of cliches.
And it was so slow. Hundreds of pages of back story that end up not having anything to do with the crime.
The character were shallow. I didn't really care what happened to them. Apparently, no one can resist this middle aged writer. Women he barely knows want to have sex with him.
Also, the killer lives with a women for years, and she is, what, oblivios or in on it? The writer doesn't even address the fact that he's married. How can his wife not know about this room in the basement. He must have disappeared there for hours. Isn't she the least bit curious about where he is and what he's doing? How can he disappear for hours into a room that she hasn't seen? Does she know what he is up to? Is she frightened into submission? The writer never addresses the wife. Also how can his neighbors not notice him dragging bodies around for 25 years.
The book is boring, poorly written and unrealistic.
Review Date: 11/1/2010
I really enjoyed this book. It's the author's grandmother's stories written down in the first person. I didn't realize when I first started reading this book that it's not really fiction. Everything that happened to Lily are true. The part that is fictional are all the thoughts that the author, Lily's grand-daughter, probably didn't know and made up. Unless it was a part of the oral history told to her. There's no way to know what parts she made up and what was originally told in the oral history.
Still, I thought the format made the story much more interesting to read than straight history and since I love historical fiction, it was a great read for me.
Still, I thought the format made the story much more interesting to read than straight history and since I love historical fiction, it was a great read for me.
Review Date: 5/23/2011
Not a very good book. The character dialogue sounds so formal and unnatural. So much repetition. Too much detail about the flowers she was picking and how many leaves and the petals. I found myself skipping paragraphs to get to the plot.
I remember loving COTCB, but this book is just boring.
I remember loving COTCB, but this book is just boring.
Review Date: 10/22/2012
I almost quit reading this book after the first few chapters. Her descriptions of how obsessed she was with food and how much she ate was turning my stomach. She is a deeply unhappy person who was using food as a drug and companion. I was surprised by how brutally honest she was. It's about a person who spent so much money and time eating that she didn't know how to be a healthy adult. This is not a book about happily ever after, but about a woman discovering what she can do with her talents without her body getting in the way.
Review Date: 2/17/2011
I can't recommend this book. The writing was ok. The characters felt two dimentional to me. Matt was hardly a character at all. The story is nice and it does move along, but the plot felt artificially sweet. I won't be reading the rest of the series.
Review Date: 4/28/2011
Sword Song is my favorite book so far in the Saxon Chronicles. At first I didn't love the series. Ultred is not a good guy; he is brutish. But as he matures you can see him trying to do the right thing rather than just what he wants to do.
Also, there's a twist in the plot that I just didn't see coming and don't worry I won't give anything away, but I absolutely loved the plot in this book.
Definitely, one of my favorite historical fiction series.
Also, there's a twist in the plot that I just didn't see coming and don't worry I won't give anything away, but I absolutely loved the plot in this book.
Definitely, one of my favorite historical fiction series.
Review Date: 10/22/2012
The book was pleasant enough to read, and I have to admit the author had me enthralled in Eleanor's story. BUT the story she wrote was more legend than fact. SPOILER ALERT: Did Eleanor really sleep with her uncle or was incest a convenient charge to hold against her by her enemies? The author presents Eleanor as an unbeliever in Christianity. What basis in truth is there for that or is it more about a contemporary disdain for religion?
She could have dealt more with truth. For example she glossed over her mother's death. She could have dealt with that a bit more. What about exploring her relationship with her sister more?
I enjoyed the fiction, I just wished there was more fact.
She could have dealt more with truth. For example she glossed over her mother's death. She could have dealt with that a bit more. What about exploring her relationship with her sister more?
I enjoyed the fiction, I just wished there was more fact.
1 to 10 of 10
