Tim

Excellent

When I first started to read this book I was unsure I would finish. Boy, am I glad I continued. This book reminds me of old sci-fi shows like The Prisoner or Westworld. I especially enjoyed the nod to Blink from Doctor Who. Granted this book may not be for everyone but I really quite enjoyed it.

What a fantastically researched novel. The story was good but the amount of detail of Jeju island through the decades paints a fantastic picture. These are the type of historical novels I enjoy reading. The story of everyday people and what they witnessed not only on historical events but day time day. The daughter that is interested in sociology at one point reminded me of myself. Great writing. This us my first Lisa See novel but will not be my last.

Pretty good read

I enjoyed the book. It was a fast read and not overly heavy. Sometimes you just need a light read and this is a good light read.

Fantastic book.

I was not too sure what to expect from the book description. It seemed like it would be a novel about revenge. But what we have is a fantastic character study not only of the women but also the West Texas town of Odessa.
You feel for all the characters in the book.

I can't believe how quickly I finished this book. It definitely challenges your perspective of the justice system in general. Bryan Stevenson us a fantastic story teller that is able to convey his beliefs through different stories. I like the way he intermixed the long story of Walter McMillian along with other cases in between. Some of this was very difficult to read. Very thought provoking. After I finished the book I watched 13th by Ava DuVernay. The documentary really reiterates the book. Bryan Stevenson makes an appearance in the film. I recommend that as well.

Perhaps I am missing the point of this book. I thought the first half was so slow it took me weeks to get through as nothing seemed to happen. The second half was better. I never felt a connection to any of the characters and to be quite honest I really did not care for the main character. I think when I read the description of the book I was expecting something different.
The book was just okay in my opinion.

Felt like propaganda

So this book was written in 1981 and honestly it feels like propaganda. You should enjoy your lot in life and don't try to make yourself better. If you are from the country stay there and life will be less tragic.
That is basically what the book is an almost Shakespearean tragedy when no one gets what they want but gets what they deserve. Is it a masterpiece? I could see people using this in a high school literature course so maybe.
Did I like it? It was okay

These books are so well written. There is nothing about these books that should appeal to me but for some reason just resonate the human spirit. The ups the downs. So much happens in this but you don't want to give any of it away. People are just terrible but you have hope and that is what this second novel gave. A little hope in a hopeless world. I can't wait to start the third book soon!

Not ever book is for ever person. This book was not for me. At all! I read a types of books and I really have no way to describe this book. And unfortunately the further along I got the more disappointed I became. The author came up with a really interesting world but I could not really see how it all fit together. I still have no clue what any of it means. Perhaps I am just not that bright.
Oh well, there are other stories to discover.

Growing up in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago in the 80s I found this book intriguing. It is hard to believe that this was going on so close to home but it seems like a world away. I was aware of Boys Town in the city and that was pretty much it. I knew that AIDS was a terrible disease but seeing tit on the news made it almost unreal. This book really put it in perspective for me and that it was (is) close to home.
I usually read books to see a different perspective on life that is different from my own. I am not a gay man but that did not make the reading any less compelling. I think reading a book like this one leads to more compassion and a better understanding. The more I read the book the more I saw it was about love and family whether that family you chose or related by blood.
I would highly recommend this book to everyone.

I had read The Night Tiger last year and absolutely loved it. This one not so much. I felt it dragged and the conclusion of the mystery was unsatisfying.And the love story made zero sense as it seemed to come from no where. I really like some of the visusals used in the novel and can't wait for Yangsze's next novel. I hope it is more like The Tight Tiger and less like this one.
Kind of feel bad for this review but I finished the book unsatisfied.

All I can say is when is the next book coming out. Love the fantasy/industrial revolution spin. Characters you are familiar with take a backseat to the next generation. Now I need to go back and reread the First Blade trilogy and read the one offs as well. I going to be a good year

The book was good but i think I need to research some of the symbolism as it is deeper than what it appears. It did start out like a lot of other slavery era books but I did like the journey aspects of the book. Reminded me of books like Huckleberry Finn or as the book stated Gulliver's Travels.
I think this book will be one of those that gets better with subsequent readings,
I liked it but did not love it. I would sat 3.5 stars.

I found the book to be just okay. I thought the villain's plan was a bit over the top (but not in the good Bond way).
I did enjoy the character of Sixtine she was a a very strong female heroine ut was still a great Bond woman.
Enjoyed the read but did not love it. It will be forgotten soon enough

I have read so many positive reviews on this book I thought I would give it a whirl. This book was not for me. It felt like reading a transcript for VH1's Behind the Music for a band I had no idea even existed. Way too many drugs and not enough sex and rock n roll. I can see why some may like the book but given amy of the books I have read recently this one just did not hold up. The last book said there are many books that are one book. The one the author writes, the ones each reader reads. I guess I just did not read the same book as eveyone else. And that's okay with me.

This book was really boring. Just not a book I would normally read. Wanted something light but this was very light on story and kind of dragged. I guess it is an okay book for fans I just thought it was an okay version of a Dan Brown or Clive Cussler w hock I think both do better.

Not what I was expecting

This book when it is good is really good. When it is so so it is very so so. I felt like I was reading 2 books one an action adventure book and another a character piece. Unfortunately the two did not mesh as seamlessly as they should. Certain parts of the book seemed to go on and on never truly getting to the point or if she did I missed it because the author dragged it in too long. I think this would be a great 500 page book but goes on for 774 pages. I really enjoyed the first half the second half not so much.

Wonderful Story

The story to be told about Pino is amazing. As others have said the writing seemed a bit amateurish. I will say it did keep me engaged. All and all a solid read I would recommend.

Another fine book in the series

Great book for a causal read. Granted Magdalena is a bit harsher in this one. But I really enjoyed that this was set in a different town. And the characters are written so well. Wether it is the Milanese dignitary or the beggar king himself. I kind of hope we get to see these characters again in a future novel. Keep up the great writing can't wait to see where the next book take us. If you like an almost Bond like book set in medieval Germany, this series may be for you

Just when I thought I was getting out of fantasy comes this thrilling new take on fantasy. I truly enjoyed R. F. Kuang's writing style. So many times reading books with battles the author seems to forget they are also telling a story. I loved this book. I almost put it down when I saw it was the first in a series but now I cannot wait until the next one comes out. R. F. Kuang is not only a great new fantasy author she us a great young author.

This book was just okay for me. Not my normal type of reading material but I thought I would give it a whirl. I think my biggest issue with the book is I never felt liked I cared for any of the characters. They just kind of drifted through life. Sure there was some neat history of Vegas but even the big time mobsters seemed small. I thought I would like it more than I did given the golden age of Hollywood and formation of Las Vegas. It was just a pale history.

For the most part I enjoyed the book but sometimes i was utterly confused as to what was actually happening. It seems some of the story lines just kind of ended without a conclusion. What happened to the dual? Did they no longer fight? Why bring in charecters that just seemed to he in a couple of chapters and never really heard from again. Just a bit confused. Will I read the next book, absolutely.

Nice story.

Really enjoyed seeing a different side to an Imagineers. His art outside of Disney is what is truly inspiring. Wish I had an imagination like that. Rally you need to get into the T-shirt and poster business

Great book 2

Bernard Cornwell knows how to write a battle scene. This book reads like a great movie but you know there is a sequel not too far behind. I really enjoy this series and can't wait to see what book three is going to hold.

Not a bad read. Fairly quick, I rather enjoyed the portrayel pf Patton but sometime O'Reilly just adds a snide comment at the end of a chapter that really have no place in this book. One of the main issues I have about this book is it is a book about Patton yet there are a few chapters where the authors go away from the subject matter and they really do not add to his story. I am not saying they are not interesting but he seems pre-occupied with the Russian invasion of Germany and the raping that went on. Again these were terrble acts but what did Patton do about it?

I did enjoy this book but it was not the best book about WWII that I have read.