1 to 5 of 5
Review Date: 1/1/2010
I can't say enough great things about this book. It's a little out of my normal reading range, I usually gravitate towards stories with strong female lead characters, but based on the excellent reviews, I picked this one to try out.
I'm so glad I did! This is a great first book which is turning into a really powerful trilogy. Robin Hobbs writing will suck you into a whole new world and the life and trials of the central characters. I found that the themes are very identifiable and thought provoking. Great read, you won't be sorry you picked this one up!
I'm so glad I did! This is a great first book which is turning into a really powerful trilogy. Robin Hobbs writing will suck you into a whole new world and the life and trials of the central characters. I found that the themes are very identifiable and thought provoking. Great read, you won't be sorry you picked this one up!
Review Date: 12/8/2009
Helpful Score: 1
Really great story and pretty true to what historians accept as fact. Wanders a bit at the end, but you just can't go wrong with a good Borgia story!
Review Date: 12/19/2009
Helpful Score: 3
This book was not exactly what I expected and I have to say I was more than a little disappointed. It did give some interesting backstory to one of the best known families in the US, but it was full of some cringeworthy writing and stories.
I won't question Kate Gosselins supposed Christianity, but the scriptures and spiritual references thrown in every other paragraph came across as a not-so-subtle attempt to suck in their target demographics. If you're a fan of the show, or have followed any of the media stories, it will leave you scratching your head and checking the cover to make sure this is indeed the same Kate Gosselin you've heard consistently being verbally abusive, dismissive and flat out rude.
The title was also a little strange to me- "Surviving to Thriving". There's no thriving in this story. Their's just a lot of complaining and justification for bad behavior. She even complains about the volunteers who gave so much of their time and money the first few years, expressing distain when a group of them made small-talk about mundane matters.
I don't know that I could recommend this book. It made me really dislike Kate Gosselin more than I already did. This book should have been titled "How Not to be an Ungrateful Shrew".
I won't question Kate Gosselins supposed Christianity, but the scriptures and spiritual references thrown in every other paragraph came across as a not-so-subtle attempt to suck in their target demographics. If you're a fan of the show, or have followed any of the media stories, it will leave you scratching your head and checking the cover to make sure this is indeed the same Kate Gosselin you've heard consistently being verbally abusive, dismissive and flat out rude.
The title was also a little strange to me- "Surviving to Thriving". There's no thriving in this story. Their's just a lot of complaining and justification for bad behavior. She even complains about the volunteers who gave so much of their time and money the first few years, expressing distain when a group of them made small-talk about mundane matters.
I don't know that I could recommend this book. It made me really dislike Kate Gosselin more than I already did. This book should have been titled "How Not to be an Ungrateful Shrew".
Review Date: 12/8/2009
Beautiful story, well written. This one sticks with you after the last page has been read!
Review Date: 1/29/2010
Helpful Score: 1
This book was a quick read but packs quite a punch in those pages. It tells the story of a peasant girl in England who has had nothing but trials and tribulations in her life. She is an unlikely hero who, despite losing everything, becomes stronger than anyone around her. Great story and worthwile read. Not for the faint of heart however. It does contain some pretty graphic descriptions of plague symptoms and events, but the unflinching descriptions just add to the reality of this story.
1 to 5 of 5
