Maine Books

This book was basically a filler for me. I was waiting for another book to come in the mail and this one came first. I was impressed. I have never really touched on the topic of HIV and i think this opened my eyes and created a real person in my mind and their feelings. Ending is predictable but i felt good about it. Days after finishing I kept thinking about the book.

This story started out strong but was incredibly predictable. I kept reading because I thought it would get better. It didn't. What bugged me the most was that Eddie was ready to kill the teenage hoodlum for throwing a bottle thru the window - yikes!!! The teenager was completely unredeemable to him, which was totally weird since Eddie did much worse in his lifetime (that's putting it mildly), and he seemed redeemed. In fact, he had become a saint of sorts. And what about crazy church lady's motives? That part of the story was weak and just did not make much sense.

I wanted Ava to continue doing hair - that was much more interesting than her ridiculously perfect romance. I gave it two stars because I did chuckle a few times, and some of the story was original and interesting. Sorry, Oprah, this was a dud.

My cousin suggested that I read this novel a long time ago. When she told me what the title of the book was, I was immediately interested. First of all, it's a lengthy title. Secondly, I was internally wondering, what does look like crazy on an ordinary day? I asked my cousin to give me a brief synopsis on the book, and she did, and I was even more interested after listening to the synopsis. After reading "What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day", I was intrigued more so than anything. One critic said Pearl Cleage tells a story better than Terry McMillan. Terry McMillan? Really? I have read a plethora of books and not many authors can tell a story better than Terry McMillan, and honestly, Cleage didn't even come close. However, the plot was brilliant. The story could have been executed better, though.

"What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day" is the story of Ava, a hairdresser living with AIDS who resides in Atlanta. She used to be a very promiscuous woman and decides that she wants to inform all of her sex partners of her diagnosis so they can get tested, too. The wife of one of her old sex partners reads the letter and comes to her salon and tells everyone that she has AIDS. Embarrassed, Ava decides to visit her sister, Joyce, in Idlewild, Michigan. While she is there, she meets Eddie, a Vietnam veteran and former murderer. Eddie is attracted to Ava, but shows her only subtly. Their relationship begins by the middle of the book. Pearl Cleage created one of the most beautiful literary love scenes I have ever read with these two people (when they have their first sexual encounter.) There are many subplots in this story. Joyce is the foster mother of a crack baby, Imani, and she does any and everything to keep her safe.

Collectively, this is a beautiful story and I highly recommend it. Cleage did a very nice job.

I am currently working my way thru this book right now. So far, I am really enjoying it. It is a down to earth, REAL telling of what this woman is going thru. So far, so good. I would def. recommend to a friend.

Pearl Cleage's What Looks like Crazy on an Ordinary Day is the
story of a young woman who finds out that she's HIV-positive.
She leaves Atlanta and comes home to Michigan to live with her
sister. The novel deals with a small-town's reaction to finding
out about her illness; her sister also is a widower trying to
rebuild her life. The novel has just enough Terry McMillan-type
drama in it to be engaging but doesn't become too over-the-top
or too preachy. Cleage's gift is in her ability to write a
story with very subtle messages. A surprisingly refreshing book!

Retired CID Officer Paul Brenner is called by his superior to return to Vietnam to find a North Vietnamese solder who witnessed an American Captain murdering an American Lieutenant in 1968. Brenner knows that there has to be more to the situation (and there is) but he takes on the challenge and returns to Communist Vietnam. His task is daunting but he receives help from the beautiful and mysterious expat Susan Weber.

Now the beginning and ending of the book focus on this issue while the middle strays more into the realm of Brenner's past tours of duty in Vietnam (in 1968 and 1972), the history of the war, and culture and geography of Vietnam. The last few hundred pages are great. I liked most of the middle although I could see others getting bored (if you aren't into the history and culture of Vietnam). I did get a little bored with the narrative when Paul and Susan were finishing their travels around central Vietnam. The other part of the book that was somewhat disappointing was the ambiguous ending.

I think Up Country is a more heartfelt and thought-provoking novel than its predecessor The General's Daughter. It raises complex issues of law and order, justice and duty during war. In this way, its similar to DeMille's earlier classic work Word of Honor. It was interesting to compare and think about the issues and situations presented in both. But for me, Up Country didn't reach my three favorite DeMille novels (Word of Honor, Lion's Game, Gold Coast).

As someone who is too young to know much about Vietnam from personal experience, this book provided me a great historical escape into Vietnam and the effect it had on the men who were there. It is a little slow in places, but it still provides a great story and great historic context. It also explains a great deal about what it is currently like in Vietnam. This is not a high octane action book, but it is very powerful and creates a great setting.

That's besides the pompous main character's use of racial slurs, which the Vietnamese by and large dismiss as the mouthing-offs of immature children. Name calling doesn't impress them much. What troubled me more about this book were the many errors in language, culture, customs, etc. that it made me wonder how an experienced author like Mr. DeMille failed to catch these in his research. He did not acknowledge any Vietnamese person at the end, so I would have to deduce that no Vietnamese person was consulted for a book that was 90% about everything Vietnam and Vietnamese. So you can learn from this mistake, Mr. DeMille, let me point out a few of the errors you made.

1. Ethnographical error: There are NO Montagnards in northern Vietnam. Montagnards are a generic grouping of a few dozen ethnic groups living exclusively in the Central Highlands of southern Vietnam.

2. Linguistic error: "Biet" means "to know," but the author seems to think that it means "to understand" (the word for which is "hieu"). "Biet" is misused not only by the non-Vietnamese speaking main character, but also by the "native" Vietnamese characters in the book.

3. Cultural error: Vietnamese women are properly respected in Vietnamese culture. They are not ignored when men talk (what?). They do not walk on their knees with bowed heads to bring tea to their husbands (ridiculous!). I'm surprised Mr. DeMille missed the patriarchal/matriarchal balance of Vietnamese culture, despite having spent time there both as a combat soldier and when researching for this book. Read about the Trung Queens and Lady Trieu Au, Mr. DeMille, and you'll understand what I mean. Vietnamese culture is not at all like the more strictly patriarchal cultures in the Sinosphere.

4. Personal name error: There is no Vietnamese name spelled "Lee." The nearest sounding equivalents are "Ly" and "Le."

5. Locality description error: Hoi An is NOT a Chinese town. It was once a Cham port, which attracted settlers from all over Asia, including different groups of Chinese, but also Japanese, Indians, Malays, and the majority Vietnamese.

6. Historical error: The Citadel of Quang Tri was built in 1824 during the reign of the famously Francosceptic Emperor Minh Mang. It was NOT built by the French, who didn't successfully occupy the city for another 4+ decades.

And on and on it goes. Next time, just have someone who understands the subject culture edit your manuscript first, Mr. DeMille. Yes?

Listening to this audio book compelled me to write a review. Overall an awesome story and audio book -- I highly recommend it. This despite the lead character who has to be the most arrogant, conceited, self-centered, thoughtless, stupid and `socially blind' (I can't think of the words here) character I've ever seen in a story. `Paul' (his name) almost manages to completely ruin an otherwise breath taking story.

He is a completely unbelievable and over the top character. The type that is a boy scout as far as `truth and justice' (this is okay) while at the same time, is the unstoppable force who does the most stupid things no matter what he is up against or, despite what the consequences will be to himself or other people. One inch away from himself and his girl friend being tortured then killed, he does everything in his power to enrage and spit in the face of his capturers and he does this every chance he can in ways that are so stupid and simply ridiculous that it makes you shake your head and roll your eyes. And of course, for reasons never made clear, he always gets away with it. It is definitely the same character from the Generals Daughter only this time, he's on steroids.

What the author was thinking I can't imagine but what you're left with is the feeling that this character is the author's alter ego therefore making the author arrogant and conceited beyond belief (sorry Mr. DeMille but that's what comes across to us).

Normally it would be good for a character to have this much impact -- good or bad -- on the reader but this isn't the way of it here IMHO. His stupidity and arrogance ruins an otherwise awesome story. If you could edit out the leading character, it would be a far better book.

Also, the way the book ends makes no sense to us though this may be our fault for just not understanding it. I would have re-listened to the end but cringing at the stupidity of the main character prevents me. If anyone can tell us why they told their bosses that they had hidden the evidence instead of telling them the truth, please let us know. Telling the truth seemingly would have let them both off the hook as far as everything goes and, the truth is almost sure to come out anyway! Lieing the way they did only gets them in trouble and puts them in great danger. Make no sense to us anyway. I'd love to understand what the thinking was here.

Also the book ends with all the loose ends... remaining loose ends and I never like that kind of cop out. Does he get the girl or return to his former squeeze? Does he or the Vietnam Secret Police go after the murderer placing themselves in mortal danger? And so on...

Finally, the Nelson DeMille has many brilliant works and is one of my favorite authors. However, in this book, he has the opportunity to pull off some really cool knock-the-reader-for-a-loop situations in several places and, at least for myself, you can even feel them coming up on you...but no, zip, nothing but the flattest uninteresting thing happens. Well at least I thought so but, this kind of thing is probably not fair or even proper to bring up (perhaps the main character has rubbed off on me a little!).

RW

Up Country is Nelson Demille's suspense thriller set in post-Vietnam. Full of exciting escapes and tense drama, Demille takes the reader on a dangerous adventure through a country teaming with ghosts from previous wars. Superbly researched. Brilliantly paced. A must read for DeMille fans.

Donald Gallinger is the author of The Master Planets

Stephen King is a genious. This series is fantastic. This series will blow your mind and keep your imagination running! If you like the idea of an alternate reality this series is really for you!

I won't rehash everyone's opinions on what's wrong with this book and the way the series has turned with book 5. I'll just say books 1-4 are definitely worth reading, but 5 dragged like nobody's business and I don't like where King is dragging me. From the way the plot is going now, and King's "old man trapped in the '70s-'80s" and repeated writing style/themes, I will NOT be finishing the series. I read enough spoiler reviews to get a gist of it, and don't like what's going on. What a waste of a good beginning (books 1-4) of the series. Especially dissapointing after the awesome book 4 (my favorite in the series).

I will preface my review by saying SPOILERS!

I took a long break after reading book 4 "wizard and glass". For some reason, I had an especially hard time with Susan Delgado dying - not that it happened, because I knew it was coming, but dang it! I liked her. I found Roland's story in that book awesome, and was disapointed when the narrative came back to the 'ka-tet'.
After taking a year, I picked up book 5, which was not even close to the length of time between those two books' publications.

When the katet came to the Calla, I enjoyed every minute of the story. I really feel like King explored what it would being a gunslinger actually involved. What feels like a detour to some (and even characters mentioned this) Roland describes as their duty. The answering of the three questions, the investigation and the plan to ambush the Wolves was great. I enjoyed the dialogue and vernacular of the Calla people.

I didn't mind all of the back story with Father Callahan. I have gotten used to the fact that storytelling is a large part of the Dark Tower series, going back to book #1.

The parts of the book where the group goes back to New York were a little out of place. I didn't mind them because it felt as if King is now moving his readers toward the end of the series, as the last three books I believed were published right after each other almost in a trilogy format. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't as good as the story in the Calla.

The biggest gripe I have with the story, is that after hundreds of pages of buildup to the Wolves attacking, the fight is anti-climactic. The Wolves are almost too easily disposed of. Yeah, I realize that's a spoiler, but I did warn you :).

I don't think it will be a year before I read the sixth book. I enjoyed the fifth, may it do ya fine.

Honestly, I feel like Wolves of the Calla was by far the weakest in the series so far. I know a lot of people who really loved this book, but I just can't understand why. It felt like a 700 page sidetrack of plot. Only once or twice in this entire book is the Dark Tower itself even mentioned. Flagg is left completely out of it, and they get absolutely no closer to the tower itself.

I'm a huge King fan, but sometimes there are little ticks about his writing that bug me here and there. This book was chalk full of them. I felt like if King would have removed all the character's dialogue of "aye, do ya well" "do ya ken" " "see this very well" "hear him very well" over and over again the book would have been several hundred pages shorter. Also the writing is packed with rhetorical questions. How did Jake feel about this? What about that? What did Roland think of this? Again and again. It just felt forced for the sake of King finishing the book.

The idea of the wolves was cool, but after 700 pages of build up I just didn't care anymore. I wanted them to get back on the track of the tower, not mingle on some farm in the middle of nowhere.

There were elements of the book I really liked. Callahan's story, black thirteen, sussanah's situation...they all kept the story flowing at least...but I feel like if this book was cut in half it would be a lot better. This book really frustrated me.

Wolves of the Calla is the fifth novel in Stephen King's Dark Tower series. It is also the worst book in the series thus far. There are a ton of small plot holes here, and quite a few things that happen are pretty convenient. King tries to create suspense by hiding the main characters' knowledge from the reader for hundreds of pages. But this is just tiresome and amateurish.

This book takes about five hundred pages to get going. It's bogged down by a large amount of back-story and general farting around, much of this having to do with the homoerotic vagabond adventures of Father Callahan, who makes his first appearance since `Salem's Lot, the second book King ever published. And Callahan is written inconsistently. He really doesn't believe in God much, if at all, yet he staunchly holds to Catholic positions (seemingly for no other reason than the sake of the plot).

King continues his highly derivative, winking-at-the-reader "homages" to various other sources: this time it's Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel Comics, and even King himself. When you combine these (Doctor Doom in the wilderness with the lightsaber and the exploding Harry Potter ball - it sounds like ridiculous Clue), the effect is exponentially worse.

If this were a stand-alone novel, there would be no compelling reason to read it. Unfortunately those committed to reading the Dark Tower series through don't have a choice.

Has there ever been a person who did not wish For One More Day with a deceased loved one? This little book is a bit of wish fulfillment that is filled with hope and love. Charley Benetto is fortunate enough to get one more day with his deceased mother, as he lay dying in the grass after a botched suicide attempt. His mother teaches him lessons that help him to turn his broken life around, allowing him to reconcile with his daughter and begin leading a productive life. This is a wonderfully-intriguing story that is cleverly fashioned and highly recommended.

I would recommend this seller to anyone. This book was in great shape and it came in no time.

This book was so wonderful! I read it in one sitting and then cried when it was over. I am no basketcase; it is just that good. I recommend it to anyone with a mother and a heart.

Writers love books that inspire and force them to write, but certain books do more than inspire. These force you to study what the novelist did and train your eye for technique. For One More Day does all this.

The plot tells a universal tale about family and regrets--about the things you wish you did and those things and words you wish you could take back. Minor themes in the work became major insight that surprises and delights readers.

I wish I wrote this book. I will buy this Mitch Albom's other works because writing like this makes you a fan for life. Buy it and get ready to call your mother so you can tell her you love and appreciate her while you can.

I did. No regrets.

Wolfe

I read this book for a book club meeting and must say that our group discussion turned out to be more interesting than the book itself. I read this book and couldn't help but see this grown man's attachment to his mother as a little abnormal. It seemed as if he contstantly pined for her as if he were still a little child. Although this story was told from his point of view, I actually related more with the mother - her pain, struggles and fears that he never saw while he was growing up. It was an okay read but may be a bit more interesting if you have people to discuss it after.

I'm a history geek and I love Beowulf and those sort of lyrically prose of the olden days but this was just too boring for me. I finished the book just out of principle but I think this one is overrated.

The premise takes quite a while to get under way and the characters are very comic bookish.Maybe I'm being a bit harsh but I wasn't really involved with the story. Didn't grab me, the style was interesting but not nearly enough.

I read this directly after finishing Sphere. It's a very fun book and Crichton does a good job getting you into the culture. Good action and good character development.

Ugh. No wonder it was on the list of "The Great Bores". Michael Crichton had a chance to give it life, yet it still reads just as boring as the original Beowulf. The one fun thing about it was all the "fake" footnotes and sources that he inventively quotes.

This book reads well but leaves you alittle short in parts. This is the book 13th Warrior was based on worth the read in any rate

Its good. In corporating history and science, he did a great job. Superb!!! I hope there's a sequel for it.... (^-^)

I'm fussy, but love funny books. Sophie is spot on with this laugh out loud book. People at the beach must have thought I was insane, but it was very funny! Loved it! Nothing life changing, just sweet entertainment. Well done Sophie!

The Shopaholic series is fabulous, but in the Undomestic Goddess Kinsella takes a different turn on learning a life lesson in a fun, fluffy way.
In this book Samantha is high powered lawyer living in the city who has been working her way toward a partnership in her law firm. When this seems in grasp, her life takes a turn. She runs off the the country and is mistaken for a housekeeper, and she does not tell anyone else otherwise. In this new life she makes for herself she realizes what really is important is spending time with friends and family and having time for yourself.
This one will have you taking a step back and examining what you really want out of life.
A funny and uplifting read, I could not recommend it more!

and all of her other books (Can You Keep a Secret and the entire Shopaholic series) so I figured this one would be just as good. It is good and I did like it, but not nearly as much as I enjoyed CYKAS and the Shopaholic series. I would really give this book 3.5 stars, but that's not possible and I don't think it was bad enough for 3 stars so I bumped it up to 4.

I did not like the ending of the book whatsoever. It left me thinking - okay, what's next? What did they decide to do? I would love to have some sort of closure, but it didn't happen at all!

However, it's still a good story and worth checking out!

Samantha Sweeting is a Type-A, workaholic lawyer for the most prestigious law firm in London, Carter Spink. For seven years, she has put in long hours, worked through the night and basically gave up her life for the firm. Samantha thinks it has been worth it because she's about to become a partner.

On the morning her partnership is to be announced, she discovers a memo that was buried on her desk. The deadline was weeks ago and she is frantic. Samantha never misses a deadline nor does she make a mistake. In just a matter of minutes, the life that she knows is over. Feeling out of control for the first time, Samantha escapes her office and finds herself on a train to the country. She has no idea where she's headed; all she knows is that anywhere has to be better than facing the other partners at her law firm.

She stops at the first house she comes to, only to rest and ask for a drink of water, when she is mistaken for an applicant for the housekeeper position. Soon Samantha finds herself working as a housekeeper. Only problem is Samantha doesn't know anything about cooking, vacuuming, chores, etc. Little does Samantha know, this will put her on the path she's been striving for.

When Samantha accidently learns information regarding the day she was to become partner, she has a choice to make: return to her old life or stay with the one she is just starting to make.

The UnDomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella (Hardback Edition)
Review by K. Haney
If this is your first encounter with Sophie Kinsella's joyous writing, you will not be disappointed and will be eager to read more of her work. For those fans of the Shopaholic series, this book will be another addition to your collection of fabulous, fun reads in the Kinsella style! However, be warned that Samantha Sweeting is not Becky Bloomwood. Although Bloomwood from the Shopaholic series is great fun and addictive reading, with Samantha Sweeting, Kinsella brings more depth to the main character.
Sweeting is a lawyer nearing her 30's and on her way to becoming a partner in a prestigious law firm. However, her work is her life spurred on by an over achieving mother and what Samantha has thought is the life she really wants. When she discovers a crash-and-burn mistake she made at her Carter Spink Law Firm, and that it will cost the firm dearly, she flees London with no thoughts in mind as to where she is going or what she will do.
This is what brings Samantha Sweeting to a tiny suburb of London and to the home of Trish and Eddie Geiger. The Geigers mistake Samantha for a housekeeping job applicant they had been expecting. In her frantic need to get away from the problems in London, Samantha goes along with the mistaken identity and takes the job thinking it will at least give her a place to stay for a few days to think things through. She fails to consider the fact that a housekeeper is expected to cook and clean, something that is low on Samantha's list of qualifications. Cooking to her means "order in", and cleaning is something that miraculously has happened when she gets home from the firm and the help has taken care of things. With the reader's imagination allowing for a few impractical and unreal situations, Samantha is able to fool the Geigers with her quick thinking and chicanery.
Things go fine for a bit until Samantha encounters a wise and dreamy gardener who is not so blind to what she is doing. With "creative" genius, Samantha keeps things going in the house for a while but the gorgeous and clever gardener becomes a problem as she finds herself attracted to him. The hilarious situations, quirky almost believable characters, and a Samantha that you care about, is what Kinsella creates in The Undomestic Goddess and what makes for an enjoyable, funny, and light read that will entertain you and keep you turning the pages to find out what happens to Samantha.

Very Honest and inspiring. Just when she gets whiney she deflects you. A great read overall.

First of all, I would like to thank Jane Fonda for sharing so much of her spirit, self and life. Reading her book made me feel like I was a time traveler as she took me back in time to when she was a liitle girl and traversed along side her throughout her life and into her third act.

I most definitely could relate to some of the same issues Jane Fonda dealt with in her life. For instance the lack of love, compassion and acceptance in the home while growing up.
The uncertainty about her sexuality.
Questions concerning the Vietnam War.
Jane Fonda's relationship with her father or lack thereof. Unable to connect with her father on any level (no fault of her own). All these issues I to combatted in my life and just like Jane I am a fighter and a survivor.

On another note, I have a favorite actress for each decade going back to the 30's. For instance Merle Oberon is my favorite actress of the 30's, Ginger Rogers the 40's, Kim Novak the 50's, and Jane Fonda of the 60's and 70's. I have not been able to choose one since Jane Fonda retired, but I am so happy to see that she is making a come back in movies. I so missed her presence on the big screen.

In closing, I believe this book has something for everybody. I highly recommend "My Life So Far" to everyone.
Thank you Jane Fonda for sharing so much of yourself with family, friends and fans.

For a love story that is unlike anything you've ever read check out D. W. Gutridge's Captured by a Smile.Captured by a Smile "Imprisoned by Love": A Memoir of Young Love that Refused to Die.

Jane is a pretty misunderstood woman. People make judgements about her based on stories they see in the media, and based on the rhetoric of those who oppose her. I learned a lot about the real Jane Fonda in this book. Her childhood was not that pretty. Her relationship with her father was strained at best, and this book delves into that with the insight and sensitivity of a person who has learned to accept parents who are not perfect, and who has come to understand how those early years shaped her life and the decisions she made throughout.

- C.A.Wulff, author of Born Without a Tail

I "met" Jane Fonda at a book signing in Pasadena, CA. I was immediately taken with her graciousness. She appeared beautifully poised, content and unpretentious, before a packed gathering. She was irreverent, intelligent, insightful and candid. As she sat at the signing table, she immediately commented that she thought my blouse was gorgeous. While this may seem like a very minor thing, having been to countless events of this type, I was a bit taken aback by her focus on me. This was supposed to be about HER. This is a huge part of her charm; the ability to look outward, instead of being obsessed with herself, the way that so many of today's celebrities seem to be.

As a child of the civil unrest, disobedience and rights movement, I had always related to what she stood for. I could always distinguish between being patriotic and simply disagreeing with the way that the government was handling things. Therefore, it was my belief that she had been demonized needlessly, and that ignorance and the inability to understand how caring for one's country, is what makes one passionate about what is happening in the first place. This is what has made it so difficult for people to look past what happened during the Viet Nam era.

There are still many people who hate her for her activism. And it is a shame that those people will miss out on what truly is, an astoundingly insightful book. Jane Fonda is not just someone who is a famous actress; she is a woman who is living a very full, informed, and turbulent life, and took the time to really learn from it. And she is sharing her experiences in such a candid, forthright, refreshing way - that anyone could benefit from reading about them.

You do not have to have been famous to have the kinds of experiences that she describes. While some celebrity autobiographies drone on and on about all of the other famous people they knew and know, very few actually tell about how they felt, and what they learned in the process. And many still have the fear of telling the truth. Because Jane Fonda is where she is in her life right now, she has the luxury and ability to be as honest as she wants to be. She has reached successful pinnacles in her career, that few rarely achieve.

As I read each chapter, I could see my own life in parallels. I did not have the privilege that she did, however, I understand the same struggles that she had, as a woman. I could even see similarities in the kinds of men that she has had in her life, yet, I have lived worlds apart from her.

This is a true, unabashedly truthful memoir, that does not scrimp on details. It is entertaining, candid, informative, while being stunningly, strikingly provocative, and enlightening. This is a book that I will always cherish. The revelations that she shares, have affected my own life, and will continue to do so. It is the most insightfully enlightening autobiography by an actor that I have read thus far. But that is not surprising, given that Ms. Fonda is much more than an actor. First and foremost, she is a human being who has always cared about humanity, and it truly shows in her life's experiences. I am so grateful that she decided to share it with us.

Different FlagsI have read Jane Fonda's Autobiography and find it a very interesting book. The parts telling about her mother's mental illness, her suicide, her brother Peter and her relationship with her stepmother are the ones I enjoyed most. I was able to relate to the things Jane Fonda should have said to her mother but didn't. Her father's depression was described in a touching and honest way. Having lived in another country myself, I really liked Jane Fonda's description of France back in the 60s. I will read it again. Eugenia Renskoff

This was a wonderful mind bending story full of emotional highs & lows. Patterson has created another fascinating and thrilling book and I would recommend it to everyone. I wish they would make more of the Alex Cross series into movies. S.L. Chessor author of Poodlums, Boogeymen and Booglers and My Tongue Fell Out. Poodlums, Boogeymen and Booglers: A Poetry CollectionMy Tongue Fell Out

James Patterson's "Mary, Mary" is a return to the interesting Alex Cross books that Patterson wrote early on in the series. This novel, the 11th in the series, hits the ground running practically from page one. Cross, while on vacation in California with his family, is thrust into a serial murder mystery that consumes him professionally while threatening to uproot the harmony in his family.

In "Mary, Mary", Patterson spins a complex plot that dares the reader to try and figure out the ending. One or two killers? Male or female killer(s)? These are just a couple of the questions that the reader must try to answer while speed reading through this novel. The usual short chapters and rapid-fire delivery of thrills and chills will keep the reader glued to this book.

If you are a fan of the early Cross novels, then you won't be disappointed with "Mary, Mary". Here's hoping that the 12th entry simply entitled, "Cross" will be just as strong.

James Patterson hits it right on the mark once again with his newest Alex cross novel, "Mary,Mary". The plot twists and turns to a thrilling climax and the characters continue to develop.

Once again we find Dr. Alex Cross torn between balancing his life with his family, significant other, & his work. Never boring, Mr. Patterson starts off & gets us to the mystery very quickly. We believe the serial killer to be a woman until the Storyteller appears. One goes through the novel mystified as to not only the identity of the killer, but the gender, as well. It all comes together very well at the end where all the loose ends are tied very neatly. The identity of the true killer is quite a surprise & unsuspecting. The end of the story gives the belief that Dr. Cross is headed for retirement to spend his time with his family. I doubt & hope that's not the case. As usual, you can't miss with an Alex Cross novel

I haven't read too many James Patterson mystery novels, but I love his love story-type novels. This was very entertaining and I stayed awake way too long each night because I wanted to know "what happens next." It's not the deepest novel I've ever read and doesn't require all that much thinking, but that's what I'm looking for at this stage in my life. I think most people will enjoy this.

I havn't read it yet, but I've seen my dvd of it (at least) 3 times already. Let alone, on tv a few times too. ;)

~a Stephen King Constant Reader

I've read many of Mr. King's books and I believe the reason they are so long is because he spends a great deal of time talking about trivial things such as the color of eyes, shape of eyes, length of hair, color of pants, etc. In this book Croatan is mentioned at least twice (and in the movie), but neither explains what a Croatan is! It's a werewolf! If you want true horror and excitement, try Clive Barker and I would suggest your first experience with Mr. Barker be "The Damnation Game". It's FANTASTIC!

Let me start off by saying that whatever else he is, you have to give Stephen King credit for doing innovative stuff. His serial novel "The Green Mile" is a good example of it, and releasing Storm of the Century as a teleplay is another one. I had never read a teleplay before, and it was definitely interesting to see the different format.

The novelty of the format alone was enough to hold my attention through what was, essentially, a pretty standard King story. King trots out all the hallmarks of his "schtick" here: supernatural tragedy comes to small insular town. Seen it in the Castle Rock stories, in It, in the Tommyknockers, in Salem's Lot, in Bag of Bones, in From a Buick 8...etc. I'll also point out that the insularity of his towns grows increasingly less believable in today's modern, wired world, but it's as if King's idea of what constitutes town life is stuck at say, 1950 or so--has he ever written a character who is a web-geek, for example? For that matter, has he ever *shown* a character using the Internet?

But anyway, all his standard cliches are here: Small, somewhat improbably insular Maine town? Check. Townsfolk hiding secrets? Check. Stranger with mysterious and evil powers showing up? Check. (Shades of Mr. Gaunt, Randall Flagg, etc.) Stranger knows and publicly reveals folks' secrets? Check. Odd nursery rhyme or saying repeated at intervals throughout the story? Check. Stephen King's stock characters trotted out? Check. The reenactment of Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" at the end was about the only thing here that seemed somewhat fresh, and even then, Stephen King's fascination with that story has been demonstrated in many of his other books (check out the Dark Tower III, for example).

I don't mean to sound as negative as the preceding might come across; it's just that this struck me as a fairly standard (and mediocre) King outing that basically rehashed a lot of material that he had used before. Perhaps after having written for such a long time, he simply doesn't have that much original to say anymore. *shrug* Nothing much to see here, folks; move it along.

This is the first screenplay that I read of S.King., it is so well written that you can imagine it as if you were actually seen the movie. The story is so good that it keeps you interested at all times, without a clue about what is going to happen at the end.

First I need to say that I was not very excited to read Stephen King's "Storm of the Century" because I was afraid that the screenplay format would strip away all the character building I enjoy in Stephen King's writing. Secondly, I have never liked many of his works written for, or adapted for, the screen. I began this book with some serious concerns.

No worries were needed. After I got through living with the residents of Little Tall Island for two nights during the biggest storm ever to hit the island, and the visitor who chose this time to rip the island's community apart, I was more than satisfied that I picked up "Storm of the Century".

The characters were stock King characters, but the anti-hero, Linoge, was actually even creepier because the screenplay format would not allow a deep dive into Linoge's motivation. All his physical actions, with no understanding (until the end) of his intentions, made Linoge unpredictable and a very strong evil character.

I also enjoyed seeing how Stephen King structured the suspense visually. From the quick cuts showing scenes of a town slowly being swallowed by the storm (and Linoge), to the great scene where Mike is chronicling the crime scene at Martha's with a Polaroid camera and each flash of the camera reveals new details of the crime. I thought his creative use of a visual medium was very good.

There were also enough pure Stephen King lines in the screenplay that you never forgot who the author was. The dialogue was not great, but some of the throw away direction is priceless. For instance, when one of the characters gets an axe to the face, Stephen King describes how he wants it sound (the action happens of camera) "it's like someone slapping mud with the flat of his hand". Or when he writes how the Town Hall should be depicted as the final safe haven in Little Tall Island and then adds "Of course the Titanic probably looked the same way before it hit the iceberg".

The theme of guilt within the tight family of islanders was also interesting, and I am glad the ending had a glimpse into the future (present) so we could see what happened to some of the main participants of the final tragedy.

All in all I enjoyed it a lot.

wow!
another page turning, thrill a minute tale by james rollins!
and another few sleepless nights for me!
i just COULD NOT put this book down!
highly recommended!
looking forward to reading mr. rollins' new book!

this was my first james rollins novel, and it was hard to put it down. it would make a good script for a holywood sci-fi movie-- with all the actions and somewhat cheesy humors. thumbs up from me. i will definitely seek out more of this author's other books.

If you like other books like this you should definitely be reading James Rollins. His books read like a movie.

Just the biblical research on this one must have been time consuming. Would that I had his imagination!!! Great book!!

I have really come to love the SIGMA force novels from James Rollins. They have elements of a Dan Brown novel mixed with a Tom Clancy-esque team of commandos. I read them backwards accidentally (starting with the Judas Strain) and I've ordered all three since and can't wait for the next installment. If you like Clancy or Brown or even Cussler, you will love Rollins' SIGMA novels.