I was so pleasantly surprised when I picked up this book last year and starting reading it. I thought it was just a silly beach read, and figured I would read a few pages just to say that I had given it a try, and then give it back to my sister to return to her friend. I loved it! The character is just so outrageous in parts of it! Sure it might not be the most realistic book in the world, but look at the title - does it say War and Peace??

I felt that, considering the subject matter, it was VERY well done. I was so excited to find out that a sequel to it just came out - that one went right on my wishlist. If you shop, and as some other reviewers put it, sometimes feel guilty about overdoing it, this is absolutely the book for you! It's a little fluffy, but if I owned a copy, it would never be on the shelf - I would constantly be passing it around to people. Not your typical 'British bachelorette drinks and shops' book - I liked this one SO much more than Bridget Jones.

I reviewed an ARC of this book a couple of months ago, and was quite intrigued by the story that was retold by Prechtel, an experienced shaman, or medicine man of sorts. According to the publisher, Prechtel previously published two non-fiction books, but this is his first work of fiction. Although the story starts off as a simple tale, it is soon apparent that there is much more behind the scenes than was evident at first glance. For a wonderful and concise summary of the content, please read the review below this one - I could not have said it better myself, so I won't even try.

The tale is the probably the easiest part - deciphering the several layers of deeper meaning is where the experience becomes much more complex. There are a few passages that come to mind that I have already outlined, and I definitely plan to read this book again in the future. I would recommend that anyone, like me, is not well-versed in complex philosophical thought, read the explanations behind each layer in a couple of sessions rather than all at once. The material is a bit much for the average reader, particularly people that, like me, are mostly used to reading works of fiction, but that should not detract from its appeal. Of course, much of the discussion covers some universal truths, and everyone could stand to pick up some valuable lessons from the book. This is a book that I don't plan to get rid of anytime soon. Check it out, if you dare..

This book falls on my top ten (or so) favorite books of all time. Sure, it's a chick book, but it's an Oprah pick, so that goes without saying. Wonderful story, masterfully told - kinda sad, but incredibly readable! I haven't heard a single bad comment about it yet, and it's been out for a little while now. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would...Don't miss this one - it's a real gem. I would pick up another book by this author in a millisecond, no matter what the subject, title or length, she's that talented.

I checked out the audiobook version of this story, and also picked up the hard copy in case I decided to read the book instead. I picked up the book a few times, but am so glad I also chose to listen to the story being narrated. Atwood is amazingly creative with her storytelling, but there were a few parts that she could easily have left out to make the book a little more compelling. The narrator also did a wonderful job with all of the voices and various accents, and really made this book a winner in my eyes.

I was one of a few people that did not like The Handmaid's Tale at all, but I'm so glad that I decided to follow someone else's recommendation regarding this book, and give her another try. If you're a fan of her work, by all means, pick up the actual book, but if you have never read anything by her and aren't sure if you will enjoy her writing style, the audiobook version is your best choice. It's a virtually painless way of getting the full effect of the book, and makes the not so interesting parts much easier to take. I have copies of Cat's Eye and The Robber Bride at home, but I think I will definitely see if I can get ahold of the audio versions to start me off. In my opinion, there's a little something in there for everyone - what a great book! I can see why it won the Booker Prize. If you're thinking about reading it, by all means, pick it up!

I absolutely loved this book, and I'm thinking that I'm going to love the other Rand books I have yet to read. This book is quite philosophical, so you are looking for a beach read, mystery, or simple romance, look elsewhere. It is not for everyone, but if you read the first few pages, you will probably either find yourself hooked, or put it away fairly quickly.

I was supposed to read this book as part of a special program in the third grade, but I'm very glad that I didn't, I probably would not have understood even a tenth of it. The theme of the book is fairly serious, and as I mentioned before, very philosophical, so I doubt I would have gotten the full meaning back then. It's a huge book, but I spent every spare minute I had reading it, and it just took me a couple of days. It is a wonderful book and provides a very insightful look into the human spirit in its various forms, and how it can either shape or be shaped by society. I already have my copy of Atlas Shrugged, and will undoubtedly be reading it soon. If you are a fan of Ayn Rand's books, don't miss this one! If you're not, you probably won't like this one either.

The Legacy is a heartwarming tale about a twenty-something orphan's adventures in the Big Apple. If you want the plot to be a total surprise, skip down to the last paragraph. Maggie Claydon's earliest memories are of the San Sebastian Children's Home in Florida where she grew up. She leaves the home at the age of 18 to strike out and make her own place in the world. Maggie works for a few years and lives simply until she receives a mysterious letter that convinces her to move to New York City and start a new life.

The introduction to the story is very cleverly done. When we are first introduced to Maggie, she is an old woman tending her garden when she becomes the victim of a sudden heart attack. The story then starts out from the beginning with an event that changes the course of her life forever before she is old enough to even realize what has happened. Later on, through her interactions with the kindly Mrs. Everhart, and Sean, the kind policeman she encounters in New York City, she is able to put her tragic past behind her, and move toward a future she can look forward to.

This book is a story about Maggie's search for family and how she finds one that becomes larger than she could have ever dreamed of. I loved the way the book was old-fashioned in parts, and very contemporary in others. Mrs. Cadelo has done a wonderful job of knitting together two very different writing styles into an entertaining and inspirational story that shows the reader that sometimes through helping others we are able to find the very things that elude us.

...

This book has so many pearls of wisdom. It's very simply written, so do not expect this to be a typical NYT bestseller like the one you read last week. I believe this book was written in the '40s, and although much of the vernacular in the book is obviously of a different period in time, it has a timeless and universal appeal. I haven't even finished it yet, but have already decided, enough with the library version, I want my own copy so that I can use the advice it offers later on in life. Don't miss this one, and make sure you tell your friends about it, so that they can come and thank you later, and you can say "I told you so".

This is a cute story, and well written, as are all of Grisham's works. If you're looking for something short and sweet, particularly around the holiday season, it does the trick. I found the plot a little farfetched at times, though, and do wish that I'd gotten it from the library rather than as a free literary group selection. I was anxious to read, but now feel like I wasted my choice, and should have gotten a more substantial and thought-provoking book.

What a wonderful book! I had been wanting to read this book for some time, since it had been recommended by so many people in one of my book groups. I read "Watermelon" by Keyes 3 years ago, and found it a little too light for my taste, but was simply blown away by this book. I could easily see it being made into a movie. If you want the story to be a total surprise, and would rather not hear anything about it ahead of time, then stop reading right here, or just skip the next paragraph - I don't want to ruin the plot for anyone.

The book relays the experiences of Rachel, the younger sister of Claire's that was barely mentioned in "Watermelon". I found the book to be stunningly insightful, not just about addiction, but rather so many basic topics surrounding self-esteem. I really feel that this book has a little something for everyone - that might just be my awed opinion, but if you didn't care so much for Watermelon, don't let it discourage you from reading this book.

I was thinking that everything I had heard about "Rachel's Holiday" must be hype, and that I would be disappointed, but I definitely was not. I was actually very impressed with the author's research into this subject matter, and the great readability of the book. Don't miss this one!

If you enjoy British 19th century literature, you are sure to like this book. I read it for a book group selection, and am so glad I was able to get a copy of it. The dialogue is so wonderfully witty, and full of meanings that are not immediately discernable to American readers that are less familiar with this more formal manner of speaking, as I was. I still enjoyed it, as the story is a romantic comedy that I feel has a little something for anyone that enjoys a good romance. It is definitely more subtle than the kinds of things one reads these days, but that seems to be a good thing. The BBC televised version with Colin Firth is also very good.