donna
Perhaps two is too low ... but i'm tired of giving so many books a 3 & needed some way to distinguish. The book weaves in the story of 4 new mother's lives and their adjustment to life with a newborn and some other issue that each experiences (death, adultery, interfering mother-in-laws, lazy husbands). As a working mom I've experienced some of those same issues and could relate but I really just didn't get that interested in any of their lives and often got bored listening to the story on my drives to and from work and would switch to a music station for a break, whereas a book I'd rate a 4 I can hardly wait to have an excuse to drive so I can listen to what's next in the story.
Cute summer read ... definitely makes me want to have a rich uncle leave me a large home on land planted with vineyards in his will. Of course, guess I didn't need to read this book to want that!
I felt it was slow to get started but I did get to know the characters and feel for them, and even started liking Kitty Coleman, though was annoyed at how she ignored her daughter. The audiobook was well done. It was an interesting insight into the world of women fighting for their right to vote, and what life was like in the 1900s Victorian England.
She created interesting characters; however, there were many times listening to the audiotape that I found myself bored and just wanted to get on with it.
I wasn't sure I'd like this at first but after the first tape (I listed to it on 6 cassette tapes) I started caring about the family. It gave me insight into what it must be like to move here and leave behind all your family, customs, life you've always known, weather you've grown up with, etc., and adjust to life in a foreign country especially where, as in this case, you aren't able to speak with or visit your family or home country very often. And what it must be like for you as a parent to do that and then have children who are/act/feel american when you still don't, really. It's like you're living your life in some in-between place and you don't completely fit in anywhere. I was torn between 3 & 4 starts and would give it a 3+ but am trying to save my 4 ratings for books that are truly outstanding.
I “read” this audiobook because it was $2 in the library resale area and I probably wouldn't have bought it for full price, but it was entertaining on my drives to and from work this week. I found parts of the main character believable, but thought the fact so many extremely good-looking men kept falling in love with her was a tad unrealistic, though perhaps I was just jealous!
I wanted to read about Ms. Harriman because I've “run into her” in so many other biographies ... of Winston Churchill and of others who have had occasion to interact with her. She certainly had an interesting life!
Good insights and alternative view of Robert; however, I felt it took potshots at Stephen-Henry of Blois, never missing an opportunity to compare the two so that Robert came out on top. But much of the speculation re Stephen's motive is just as biased as the record the author is trying to correct on Robert. This extends to statements about his son Stephen's incompetence as a ruler. OK if true but it wasn't clear that the negative view of those two men was indisputable.
I wanted to dig into the First Crusade and it was hard to pick out the few parts specific to that effort from the overall discussion of the other Crusades. And I found it dry and not too interesting.
Great book about the power of the lords just under the rank of count in 11th century Francia
Very different ... at first I was disconcerted by the change in viewpoint in the different chapters, as well as the shift in tone, etc. But by the end I was intrigued by how the various stories wove together.
Just read his other book, Lost to the West, and you'll learn almost everything about Alexander III & Zoe that you'll learn here, plus much more.
Just read Lost to the West: The Byzantine Empire and you'll get the story of Leo the Wise plus many other stories – this didn't add much to what I'd already read in his other, more complete book.
I enjoyed this book so much I purchased some more from Sue Kidd. I could relate both to her search to find her “old Woman” as she entered her 50s, and her daughter's search for her purpose in life.
All the stars. I was bawling on the plane reading this. So many truths contained within. Characters fully realized. Loved it.
Very inspiring book about uncovering the purpose and meaning in my life and exploring how I can use that in community to help leave the world a better place.
It's lovely writing, but perhaps because I've just read Gilead again, and Lila, in the past few weeks I felt I'd already heard much of the same story. And I wasn't as interested in it as I was in Lila's story, though I do find Glory and Jack compelling, honest and interesting characters.
I ended up not liking the annotated version – too many distractions from the story for me, so I went back and read the unannotated version.
Some interesting insights and encouragement for a “doer” to learn from. Perhaps willing myself on, multi-tasking, being crazy busy is not the most productive way, and it's certainly not the most joyful one.
Another great book from Dallas Willard on how to get serious about your faith and how adding the practices of solitude, fasting, service and similar can help transform your heart and, therefore, your life as you grow in love toward others and God.