"Rediscovering Hiaasen"
I discovered Hiaason's children books first and loved their emphasis on kids solving environmental problems. I have been delighted to discover his adult books! The characters and settings are quirky but that same sense of seeking justice for all creatures flows throughout.
"Entertaining mystery/romance"
Quirky, likable characters and a magnificent Alaskan scene.
This is a romance and a mystery and both work. I think the sex scenes were a little over the top--got the feeling Roberts had more fun writing them than I did hearing them. Still, I liked the characters---even the curmedgeons. I don't think I learned anything about life but it did keep me on my feet and working on a long day.
"History, science, and sci-fi"
A town disappeared eight centuries ago and was never rebuilt. And it was a hub town--those around it are still there but the hub is vacant. Why? The author's descriptions of the 13th century are so detailed and moving that those of the current times seem stark in comparison. I've read far enough to know that aliens are involved--yup, star travelers that are at once more intelligent and less moral. They can't understand why a landholder would negotiate with his workers.
"Some nice twists"
Okay, I'm a political junky and this is about politcs---kind of. The former prime minister of England has a huge prepayment to get a book out and his ghost writer--a long-time staff member--dies mysteriously. His replacement finds the book is nearly hopeless but everyone is very nice---and very watchful.
"An exploration"
This book is an exploration of the test and its possible applications for good and bad. The author doesn't push one point of view as much as describe the views of others. Interesting. I would have liked to be able to see the entire test...
"Boys at sea"
Ondaatje writes of a trip across the Indian Ocean and on to London when he was about 12. Now and then he follows a character to the current day. The boys did a lot of mischief, even helping a professional thief on ship, and met some interesting people. It is a memoir--far more interesting than anything in my life--but I did miss a plot.
"Way too long"
Yes, I was drawn into the characters enough to endure all 46 hours, but this is one book that needs an abridged edition. We get a complete description of some events from three persons' points of view...we have to know everything they noticed or thought so many details are covered three times. And the main character has the habit of rephrasing things people say.
"Another du Maurier classic."
Is it hallucination or time travel? Du Maurier does not make it easy to discern. What is clear is that it is addicting. Terribly so. I can't believe I hadn't heard of this writer earlier and I am enjoying catching up.
"Food for thought"
This is a thriller with a "Dan Brown twist" or two that I did not predict. The religious views of a Mason, a Catholic, a skeptic--as well as an insane devotee of the old gods--play off one another throughout the book. The last hour of narration is Dan Brown's attempt at creating an amalgam of the beliefs. I liked it when a man who believed in a greater God explained the benefits of prayer even if there were not god. Apparently the other reviewers did not...