"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." Groucho Marx
This is a very hard novel for me to rate. I appreciate the history. I knew absolutely nothing about leper colonies and the struggles faced by the afflicted. I'm grateful that Brennert gave victims of leprosy a voice that could reach so many. That said.... a great deal of this made for a very long and boring read. The plot of the novel jumps from one loss to another leaving the reader very little to look forward to. There isn't a noticeable climax; the story goes on and on-then it's over. I am glad that I know more about this chapter in history but I greeted the last page of this novel with a wide smile =0).
You will find an official plot line description at: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3273.Moloka_i
The first in a new series, I'm not sure I'm sold on this one. Mickey Bolitar, Myron's nephew, has the potential to become the next Myron and the world can definitely use more Myrons :0). I don't know if I have what it takes to stick it out with Mickey until he grows up though. I didn't appreciate the young adult fiction ambiance of this novel. I missed the adult Bolitars and their humor.
You will find an official plot line description at:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9838800-shelter
I believe I have outgrown Nicholas Sparks :0). He writes the most moving stories but I'm swearing off of him-this time for good maybe. I find that I am not the youthful romantic I once was and I no longer enjoy sobbing for hours over a heart wrenching ending. This is a lovely father-daughter story with a very typical Nicholas Sparks-y ending that I cried over for hours. I did enjoy the points of reflection that he brings up throughout the novel. Sparks has a brilliant way of making readers look at their own lives and characters through his fictional tales. Despite this value, I am no longer young enough to relish applying mascara more than once a day....
You will find an official plot line description at:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6400090-the-last-song
The premise of this book is a fascinating concept and I was kept guessing throughout. I found myself getting a little frustrated when parts of the novel seemed to unravel and lose momentum. When circumstances started to get redundant my attention drifted but Watson manages to snap you back for a dynamite ending.
You will find an official plot line description at:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9736930-before-i-go-to-sleep
Historical fiction is my all-time favorite genre. Add to that a little mythology, magic, and mysticism and I'm head-over-heels. I anticipated being completely swept up by Lord of the Silver Bow but sadly found myself a bored by it. The story is interesting but it drags on. I suspect that this first novel is setting the events and characters in place for the following two but I'm not intrigued enough to continue.
You will find an official plot line description at:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/257149.Lord_of_the_Silver_Bow
