I've never been a huge sci-fi fan but a co-worker pestered me into reading his copy of Ender's Game. I am so in love with this book that yes, I'd like to marry it.
Ender is a tragic hero. You can't help but love him even though you know the adults in his life have ruined any chance for him to truly feel loved or accept love without suspicion. The recruiting officer, Graff, grows heavy with guilt throughout the story and it's interesting to see him physically gain weight as his role at the Battle School effects his conscience. Ender's peers are each fascinating and you continually marvel at the brilliance and maturity they display at such young ages. Ender's brother and sister play important parts and are complex and compelling. Peter, the eldest, is horrible but you almost root for him to succeed. Valentine, the middle child, is lovely even as she manipulates her beloved brother, Ender. Mazer is the necessary tough-love mentor and the buggers provide a thoughtful commentary on xenophobia.

All of these characters combine to form one far-out, interplanetary plot. I especially love that I never saw the climax coming. It's so refreshing to be surprised by a plot twist.
I enjoyed this book so much. In fact, I was reading Ender's Game in the dreaded prison of a physician's waiting room and felt intense irritation when they finally called my name. I had my eyes dilated and gripped my book, squinting and blinking, until the very end when I simply couldn't see the words clearly any longer. At that moment I despised the eye doctor, a perfectly nice man, for even momentarily robbing me of my ability to read.
The end of the book peters out, but after all the suspense and excitement, there had to be an emotional let-down. Not that it's a bad ending. It makes sense and was necessary for Ender. I'd like to know what the heck happened to Peter, but perhaps it's in a sequel edition. Another thing, if the planet's been attacked twice by aliens and everyone's afraid of being wiped out if it happens again, why are population control measures in place?
Anyhoo, it's a great book. Very entertaining. I loved it. Thanks Mr. Card.

If you've read other reviews or the back cover of this book, you already know the basic outline of this story so I will not repeat it here. I just want to say that I read this book weeks ago and am already reading another one, but Forever is still buzzing around in my brain. I can't stop thinking about it, which in itself is evidence that this is a book worth reading.

I chose this book because I read a review that favorably compared it to Harry Potter. I think that's misleading. This book is definitely a winner, like HP, but for different reasons. I think it's more accurate to compare Forever to Forrest Gump. The difference is Gump is a historical accounting of modern America while Forever is limited to NY and covers a much longer time span.

Having been granted eternal life (with conditions) Cormac has the unique opportunity to describe the development and growth of New York from 1741 to 2001. Though the book concentrates on this span of time in Manhattan, the introduction of Cormac as a wee lad in Ireland and the events that lead him to New York are equally as fascinating and magical. As an animal-lover, I found the story to be even more compelling and endearing with the added characters of Thunder the horse and Bran the dog.

The biggest complaint I've heard about this book is the jump from circa 1900 to 2000. Granted, that's a lot of lost time. Certain events during the century are described as a series of flashbacks, but it's not as thorough as earlier accounts. My defense is that today's reader is probably familiar enough with American history of the 20th century and how it may have impacted NY that it was unnecessary to devote numerous chapters to it. Also, if the author included everything that happened during this time the book would have lasted, well, forever. I believe the book is just fine as it is.

One aspect of this story that keeps returning to my thoughts even after finishing it is how much we, as modern Americans, take for granted everything we have, from running water to our very freedom. Cormac comments on a young man's disproportionate reaction to a mild inconvenience as if it's the end of the world. Cormac's observation is that the young man has never and most likely will never experience true hardship or disaster and has no idea how fortunate he is to be alive today. The truth of that has made such an impact on me and I am trying to be more appreciative of the things I have and less affected by daily events that, when compared to facing a bayonet in a battle of the Revolutionary War or having no supply of fresh water, seem quite inconsequential.

Don't get me wrong. This book is not preachy at all. I just felt it important to mention the impression this book has had on me. My husband and I actually spent several minutes in deep discussion about the novel while attending a Red Wings game. As dorky as that sounds, our conversation honestly distracted us from the excitement of the game, which only further illustrates what a great book this is. I enthusiastically recommend it to anyone, especially if your family contains Irish or African ancestry.

Bravo, Mr. Smith, for creating such a delightful character in Precious Ramotswe. A plump divorcee in her early thirties, Mma Ramotswe decides to open the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency in her small village near modern Botswana, using the inheritance left by her loving father upon his death. The unconventional act itself of creating a detective agency, when she has no experience or qualifications other than her calm self-assurance and determination, right away conveys the message to the reader that we're dealing with a special woman worthy of respect and affection. Using instinct and good old-fashioned common sense, Mma Ramotswe solves one case after another. In the process, introducing us to colorful characters in interesting circumstances, sometimes comical, sometimes horrible.
The setting only increases the book's lure. Smith describes Africa with great love and reverence. Seen through the eyes of Mma Ramotswe, the beauty and mystery of Africa vividly appears in the mind. I found myself feeling almost ashamed of the self-imposed hectic life I lead in the sterile corporate world, constantly striving to attain bigger and better yuppie toys like leaf blowers and snow mobiles. I cheered Mma Ramotswe's scolding of people like me who fail to notice the beauty of our surroundings or to appreciate a good bowl of stew and a long chat with a friend while sitting on the porch watching the sun set.
A refreshingly original story, simple and sweet. I can't wait to visit Mma Ramotswe again.

I can't think of a better way to spend a weekend then curling up with this book. It sucks you right in and makes you want to read the whole thing in one sitting. Sure, the prose gets a little histrionic at times but it's easily overlooked. And yes, the big "coincidence" is a little hard to swallow as well as the assertion that those molested all become molesters, but that's easily forgiven.
I especially enjoyed the exploration of different marital and family relationships and the poignant portrayal of the haves vs. the have-nots. As far as the characters go, I defy anyone to not love the Savages. The importance of each wife's supporting role is particularly brilliant. I also love Jimmy's character and the final emotionless acceptance of his true nature.
All in all a dang good read!

I realize this is a fictional account of court life during the reign of King Henry VIII given from the POV of Mary Boleyn, younger sister of well-known Anne, but enough facts are included in the book to make it all the more fascinating.
Mary, a young recently-married teen, is depicted as the innocent pawn put into play by her calculating family with hopes to gain the attention of the young, virile king and secure a higher position for the family. Court politics decree that Mary is better suited for the task as she is already married and once the king has tired of her she can return to her husband. However, an unmarried maiden taken mistress would be "ruined" and unfit for marriage once discarded. What's more, Mary's husband doesn't dare speak out against the arrangement. Instead he must freely give his wife to the king and is compensated with a new title and land. The children she has from the "royal union" bear her husband's name. How generous.
And that's only the beginning. The book abounds with the constant rivalry between the sisters coupled with the unbreakable bond of familial unity, all witnessed within the setting of the strictly choreographed and often corrupt court.
As fascinating as it is to peek into this amazing world of court life with all its intrigue and outrageousness, it's also interesting to read about Mary and to follow her as she matures into a woman who discovers true happiness in the simple pleasures found with a loving and beloved spouse and children, free of the choking ambitions imposed on her by her greedy, power-hungry family.
Overall a delightful, hard-to-put-down novel.

This book is dreadfully dull. So dull, in fact, that I actually felt angry when I finally reached the last page. Not only did I waste money buying this drivel, more importantly, I wasted several precious hours of my time that would have been better spent picking up dog doodoo in the backyard.

The entire story, save Part III, is a collection of flashbacks and "current" events. It's like a tennis match. The reader's head is uncomfortably jerked side to side in an effort to keep track of the rocketing volleys between past and present. It wouldn't be so annoying if we could at least see an impressive overhead smash in the storyline once in a while. Unfortunately, little excitement is found during Julia Glass' emotionless depiction of the McLeod family and the events (or lack thereof) of three different summers.

The Scottish patriarch, Paul McLeod, is a good man, reserved, a little sad, a little lonely (during his marriage as well as after his wife's death) and a lot boring. The mother is somewhat distant. She is not a traditional cookie-baking, over-involved mother. She breeds and sells dogs and is perhaps more dedicated to and affectionate with the dogs than with any member of her family. There are occasional references to her likely infidelities, but we never get the whole story. The mother could actually be quite interesting, but the author only allows us glimpses of her. Instead, she focuses on the eldest brother, Fenno, a reserved, lonely gay man living in NYC who is, what else, bloody boring! Afraid of the HIV/AIDS outbreak during the 80s, Fenno protects himself by avoiding promiscuous sex, effectively isolating himself from significant relationships. I was thrilled when the AIDS-stricken Mal, Fenno's friend and neighbor, finally commands him to LIVE! I thought, "Thank goodness! The author DOES realize how boring a character Fenno is. She's finally going to get things moving." Alas. It is not to be.

Fenno's younger twin brothers and their wives offer a bit of a distraction. Dennis' controlling French wife, Veronique, is entertaining while David and Lil's childless circumstance and proposed solution provide a much-needed rain shower in the otherwise endless expanse of dry desert. However, both distractions dry up and evaporate quickly, leaving the reader feeling cheated and still parched.

The last "June" introduces a new character, Fern. Who is she? Where did she come from all of a sudden? Why should we care about her? Don't ask me. I haven't a clue. Yes, she does have a connection and forms a friendship with Fenno as they are both former lovers of Tony. In this last section of the book, Fern, Fenno, Dennis, Tony and Tony's current lover, Richard, are all staying together on a sort of holiday. Tony is a promiscuous, self-involved photographer who possesses few likable qualities. Why Fern and Fenno continue to hang around him and why Tony keeps them around is beyond me. Fern is recently widowed and now pregnant with her boyfriend's child, which he knows nothing about as he has been on an extended family visit to Greece. And this fits into the story about the McLeod family how? *shrug* Got me.

Fenno continues to be shockingly uninteresting as does the conclusion of the book. Maybe I'm overly critical and simply didn't "get" the point of the story. I think I was supposed to gain all kinds of wise and subtle insight into the poignant beauty, misperceptions and melancholy that surrounds a family and the interwoven relationships within. Sadly, the only thing I got from the book is a whole lot of nothing. On the other hand, I definitely recommend this book as it is a most effective sleep aid.

Instead of repeating what everyone else is saying about how tedious and unoriginal this is, let me just add one thing. There's a hideous creature, servant to a witch/sorceress, whatever, that attacks Richard in an attempt to steal the (dah-Dummmmb!) Sword of Truth. Turns out the creature used to be a man who owned the Sword but the power of the Sword crippled him and now all he wants is to regain possession of it. (His precious?) When bested by Richard the creature/man becomes a sniveling coward but will just as likely slit Richard's throat at the earliest opportunity to get the Sword. Give me a big, fat, bloody break!! It's been done, Terry, by a brilliant author. You may have heard of him? Tolkien. Were we, as unsuspecting readers and adoring fans, not supposed to notice this blatant rip-off?? Puh-leeze.

I began reading this book and was thrilled. The opening scenes and character introductions promised a wild romp through a marvelously dark fantasyland existing under the modern streets of London. However, as I continued reading I became less and less impressed. Gaiman fails to fully develop any of his characters. Each is marched in, fulfilling a specific purpose, i.e. unlikely hero made heroic by his involvement with a magical heroine, irreverent but lovable sidekick, brave protector, brutal villians, etc. There is also a slew of brief appearances by various people & animals who come and go so quickly I wonder why they are even mentioned. With the exception of the Marquis, I found I didn't care about any of them. I was also surprised by the brevity of climactic events such as the slaying of the dreaded Beast. It's all over so quickly. "That's it?" I find myself thinking.
I did enjoy the premise and I am glad I finished it. It does pick up towards the end. But if you're looking for a really absorbing fantasy book with characters you won't soon forget and events that are clearly emblazoned in your memory, I'd strongly suggest reading the George R. R. Martin "Game of Thrones" books.