Cindy / Coffeelatte

• Rated 4 stars

“I know some Dahlia's, and real life experience made me believe in the character as written. Sort of coarse, not overly sentimental. A couple plot lines were on the far edge of believability, but I was compelled to keep reading.”

Cindy / Coffeelatte wrote this review Friday, June 26, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Loved it, even with the few uneven segments that some might criticize. Portions of this book were beautifully written and almost mystical. The author created a very real seeming world and characters that were vividly drawn. The story is about the nature of both people and dogs -- flawed as we all are. Edgar, Almondine (and my other favorite, Henry Lamb) are characters I will carry in my memories. Several passages brought tears to my eyes as they were so in tune with how I've related to my own dogs.

I'd heard about this book because of Stephen King's recommendation. His picks are often ones I enjoy and I had high hopes in that regard. But I'd also held off because it is also an Oprah Book pick, and that sometimes those aren't as good reading for me. This turned out to be a REALLY GOOD popular read. I enjoyed every page.”

Cindy / Coffeelatte wrote this review Saturday, January 10, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Intense, dark and grisly. Billed as a murder mystery it's more gritty crime and psychological exploration. There is no question about who done it in regard to the murder that kicks off the book. What drives things is whether people are what they appear to be and how much they can take before they break the rules or change their ways. Beyond graphic descriptions of violence there are intriguing story lines that include themes of isolation, dependency and inner strength. There's an edge of sickly outrageous and twistedly funny. Somewhat like "A Simple Plan", as more characters became involved and more secrets were revealed I wondered how anything good could come out of this situation. Even the "good" characters may initially deceive -- in the end all are found flawed, damaged and wonderfully drawn by this author. A compelling page turner by an author I had not tried before. I will read more.”

Cindy / Coffeelatte wrote this review Tuesday, January 6, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“A very interesting book that made me laugh AND made me cry. The whole TV documentary aspect (promoting American meat cooking) was wild. Thought provoking and a quick read. I've recommended it to several friends.”

Cindy / Coffeelatte wrote this review Thursday, January 31, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Read the book first - thought it was terrific. The film was a fair to good translation, but I'm not sure what I would have thought if I had seen the movie first...

PD James is a talented author. This book is one book that I've thought of over and over since I read it, and I would read it again. Similar in theme, in my opinion, to "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood.”

Cindy / Coffeelatte wrote this review Thursday, January 31, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“My husband bought this book while we were on a lay-over flying to Cancun. He couldn't stop reading until done and when he finished I picked it up. Same thing -- I couldn't stop! We're both long time readers of graphic novels, and this book reads like a very wordy one (and a good one.) The story-line seems just on the edge of possibility, although some situations were so over the top that I wanted to laugh. A pretty dark & disturbing beach read -- but we're still talking about this book 2 years later. Interesting characters and "psycho-analysis". Definitely in the same vein as Lord of the Flies and I wonder in coming years what the readership will be for this one. After we finished, the book went on to our 20-something son. He and his friends are crazy about all things Japanese and they are giving this book a thumbs up, too.

As noted by others, there is a movie version. It doesn't progress exactly the same but follows most of the book's path. In color, it's even more of a bloody mess - and, for me, had that same twisted pull as the book. ”

Cindy / Coffeelatte wrote this review Saturday, January 12, 2008. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 5 stars

“Just got this book as a gift -- can't even begin to say how much I enjoyed it. I've collected comix for years, and thought I knew quite a bit about "The Bunch"...this memoir filled in a lot of details. Made me laugh out loud at points and transported me back in time. This book is very colorful & full of vivid memories, as well as glimpses into the current lifestyle that the artist/author fully enjoys. ”

Cindy / Coffeelatte wrote this review Sunday, December 30, 2007. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“I held off on this one for a long, long time. When I finally pulled it off the shelf, I was awed! Frank McCourt writes so vividly and unflinchingly details his early years. Even thinking about the book makes me feel gratitude for what I have in my life. I could not stop reading this once I started, even when the pages were often desperate and sad. What surprised me was that many points are also humorous (or hilarious!) I am still inspired by this book -- about people who keep moving forward to overcome many obstacles in their way.”

Cindy / Coffeelatte wrote this review Sunday, December 30, 2007. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“I read this book around the same time I read "Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson. "Devil" gets lots more notice. "City of Light" is absolutely under-rated. Read it!

This book is rich with beautiful details and descriptions. There are a number of interlocking plot lines and, for the most part, the story-line is compelling. The main character faces social, political and personal challenges, and seems to authentically respond these.

It's a book about secrets & power. And it's on my list to re-read at some point.”

Cindy / Coffeelatte wrote this review Sunday, December 30, 2007. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Fot this as a gift, and read it cover to cover the next day. It is absolutely going to be a book I go back to again and again. Wonderfully inspiring, great pictures and back stories on how the artists designed their hourses. There are techniques applicable to many projects. This book is going on my shelf of absolute favorites!”

Cindy / Coffeelatte wrote this review Sunday, December 30, 2007. ( reply | permalink )