I was going to title my review "a great summer read" but actually this book, which I thoroughly enjoyed (and didn't want it to end ..which I guess is a real compliment to the author) is a novel for all seasons --it's funny, poignant, --all those words that one uses to describe a "good read." I really couldn't put it down ... I took a peek at some of the other reviews and they have said what I want to say far better than I can ..but what I enjoyed most about this book is the author''s "voice" --- by this I mean that this book seems so personal that I felt that I amost knew the author, and his life experiences, by the time I finished it . I highly recommend this book to all....

I was intrigued to read a book by Mankell other than the Kurt Wallender series of which I have read all but the yet to be released "The Fifth Woman" and I will say I found this book very involving and well written. However, while I find myself totally captivated by the Ystad/Wallender series (and perhaps this is due to my familiarity with the main character and his colleagues --similar to the many policeprocedurals of the Ruth Rendall/P.D. James genre) I found this book sort of going off into somewhat cliched terrritories -- almost of the Robert Ludlam/Fredric Forsyth types --with inklings of (...) plots and several plot twists that were less than plausible. Interestingly, though he was described as quite different than Wallender (younger, etc) I kept on visualizing Wallender on this case. In short, I enjoyed the read but found much of it to be filler and fortunately I hung into the end which was very exciting.

I knew that this book would be a great read for no other reason than David Halberstram's storytelling skills and his passion for making baseball so much more than a bunch of statistics. My only criticism of this book is that it ended too soon The wonderful story of these players and how they rose from humble means to become the stars that they eventually became was just so enjoyable. In particular, the heroics and tragedy of Ted Williams --the years he lost to baseball serving as a combat pilot , his inabilities as both hsuband and father...serve as the core of this book. I wondered whether it was the times, the particular situation of being Red Sox stars or the fact that they played with Ted Williams that made this story so enticing or could you take ANY four major league players and create the same story as is presented in this book? I somehow doubt it. In any event , it is a great read and reinforces my theory that baseball is the sport that translates best to the written page.

I found this book nearly unreadable....I had read a review of this book and had expectations that it would be an interesting historical novel in the tradition of The Piano Tuner and Fragrant harbor, two books that I had read recently but instead this book is composed of fragment of diaries and German military archival material. There is very little "story" and what little there is I found disjointed and diffcult to follow. This may be due to the translation but I think not -- I would not recommend this book at all.

I was elated that David Liss' new book was finally available. I very much admired his earlier book "A Conspiracy of Paper" and have been doing a major "word of mouth" on that first book among my circle of acquaintances (who have also enjoyed it). I am so impressed with the research that Liss evidently must do to create the elaborate plots and detail he conveys --you truly can feel (and smell) 17th century Amsterdam. However, I did feel that the plot, or rather the complexity of the stock transactions were at times a bit too convuluted but overall it is a wonderful and fascinating read. Highly recommend this book if you have an interest in history and financial matters.

really enjoyed this slim volume of short stories and can't wait to read his first novel. A gifted writer in the tradition of Rohinton Mistry and all the other wonderful and talented Indian writers --and now I have been somewhat exposed to Nepal's culture as well...I highly recommend this book

What better gift can someone give you but a wonderful and thought provoking book and that is what this is -- unlike so many books I have read, every page, every thought in this very special book was arresting, involving and took me on a very special journey. What a thrill to be exposed to a writer you have never read before and know that there are other books of that author awaiting you.

How and why we read certain books is a study in itself...I had heard of this book through some rather vague, disparate word of mouth....which always piques my interest...rather than the usual publisher hype...so I ordered it and had the chance to read it on a recent cross-country flight...and was I pleasantly surprised....many of us search for that elusive thing called happiness...and here in this very personal book Pamela Holm, who clearly has lead a very intersting life....including having an addictive mother (for which I envied her -- most of my friends who come from some sort of dysfunctional family are always far more interesting...a relatively unhappy first marriage that produced a child (that I woudl have liked to learn more about --though it appers that mother and daughter really are on the same wavelength)and a series of what appears to be very interesting, but less than totally satisfying, "jobs" --more like work experiences ..but at the end of the day something was missing and then --and this is the part that I can truly relate to --you meet someone who you are just smitten with --blown away by, and then realize that maybe, just maybe, you may not be able to live with that person because they are your total opposite --you are casual and carefree and they worry about how the forks are put in the dishwasher or other such "pivotal" issues but you come together and appear to live happily ever after... since there are those wonderful compromises that make these things worthwhile and work..anyway, I felt after reading this book that I knew Denzil and Pamela.....and finished this lovely little book with a great big smile on my face ....and so will you. Get it...it's very inspiring and delightful

I liked this book...but I must say I was somewhat disapointed,,,,,it does not compare to Andorra or Weekend, two of Cameron's earlier books that I had read,,,,and, I don't know if this ever happens to you but I had just finished Minton's A Fine Balance.. a book I found incredibly compelling and was so emotionally caught up in it that this latest book of Cameron's just paled by comparison....there was something essentially missign from this book -- I did like the characterizations, but I found some of the dialogue beyond eccentric and just a bit unrealistic...I liked it ..but I didn't love it..and it left me feeling somewhat unfulfilled until the very end....the ending sort of reminded me a bit of Bel Canto, in it's attempt to tie up loose ends in a very conventional and convenient manner.

This book had received substanial hype...anyone who is into keeping up with contemporary fiction (I hesitate to say 'better' literature) in other words, someone who avoids the best seller lists, the more "popular" books,...etc. had learned of Kunzru's huge advance and read of his background as a DJ, writer, etc ....so I was more than mildly curious to read it and I was absolutely caught up in this wonderfully imaginative story of Pran....and his magnificent and fascinating journey...I won't go into the story .......
I think what makes this book so good are the supporting characters --the people that Pran meets along the way and their impact on his life and development. A thoroughly enjoyabe read -- I highly recommend this book to anyone with an imagination and a good sense of humor.The book is delightfully droll ( the touch of British and perhaps Asian Indian irony are very evident) and the pages turn aas quicly as if you were viewing a film.....