Karen Hickey

Cliched to the Max, Jan 16 2011

The author is a gifted story-teller and was able to develop full-sized characters. However, I found could not really identify with the story line. The central characters suffered every cliche possible: homosexuality; broken marriages; teenage pregnancy; teenage angst; rape; pedophilia; first loves; unrequited love; unfullfilled sexuality; ostracism; lost children; business failure--not to mention the cliches of the 60's--draft dodgers; afros; flower children; light and peace. With the exception of a murder (only a near-murder), the grist from all novels was included--no possible story line was excluded.

I couldn't really sympathize with the characters or the story line because it… Read more

Informative and Illuminating, Feb 15 2010

While we all know that Bell was responsible for the telephone and, indirectly, all the high tech gadgetry we use or bemoan today, I had no idea of the extent of his interests nor the foresight he had--for things that were commercialized well after he'd identified their possibilities. He clearly wanted to be and was far more than a "one-shot wonder".

I enjoyed the insight into his foibles and his marriage which clearly proved the maxim "beyond a great man is a great woman." As a former Bell employee I was familiar with the name "Mabel Hubbard" but had no idea of just how wonderful she was.

It was also interesting to read about his peers and to learn about their… Read more

Missed the Mark--Big Time, Jan 20 2010

I didn't read Ms Kallos' first book so I didn't know what to expect when I began this book club entry. I was not impressed--neither were the other members of the club.

We all agreed that there were bits and pieces of the book that were interesting but, overall, it missed the mark. We thought it had the potential for a really good novel based on the premise of a mother dying in a natural disaster and the impact of that on her children. However, the author wasn't focused enough. Instead of an in-depth analysis of the characters, the reader's (and the author's) attention was distracted by: a fantasy representation of the dead which didn't really add to the plot (whatever that was);… Read more