Patricia

A coming of age story for a young indian boy who has to come to grips with his culture and the larger world around him. A little bit mystery, a lot of culture, and intriguing look into a part of US history, family and the future.

This is not your "everyday" mystery and if your looking for John Grisham or some other plot heavy, thinly written book you may not be happy. However, if you like to step outside the usual mystery box this might be the ticket.

Be forwared: listen to the narrator online first as he is clearly Indian with the cadences and nuances that go with this style of communication. But if you like Mark Hammer, your are in like Flynn.

The book description lead me to think I would be part of the 6 year journey but really, it begins at the "end" of that 6 years. From there it settles into a fairly long winded relationship type of book which does go into parts of the journey but really... it is more of a apocalypse type book as if written by Nicohlas Sparks. Lots of talk....LOTS.. and some of it overwrought.

With that in mind, it is well written and well narrated. If you do chose this book, make sure you ignore the first part of the books description and only read that second paragraph.

I always felt removed and distant from the story and characters. Regarding the characters, there were so many coming and going with intwined relations that if my concentration missed a little bit of the story, I was lost.

This was a plot heavy book, with such distasteful characters that I never connected.

Four hours into the book I was still wondering when it was going to get started. Sadly, I was unable to finish. This is not like a Jennifer Egan novel, who often has characters that can be tough to connect with, but is still beautifully written. It is just tough to connect with...

Between the writing, theme, narration and provocation this is a top 10 of my over 500 audiobooks.

A subtle and sublime examination of an area of life not examined, but simply accepted by most. Like the Tortilla Curtain, it forces you to reconsider and examine preconceptions and assumptions. Jennifer Egan comes to mind.

If you think that Scott Brick is the best out there, move on. This is a far more subtle and engaging performance than Bricks over emoting.

This is a paced period piece. I enjoy the narrators slow pace as he affects the setting of a deep south Georgia. You can really just put the audiobook on autopilot as you drive, or walk or do chores and by the end...you are looking for more stuff to do....

I almost gave up on this about 90 minutes into the listen. So many characters and thoughts and apparent lines of plot. But once you get a handle on the basic characters, and have patience with the plotline, you will be rewarded.

I suspect the next book will be simpler for me with a basic knowledge and understanding of the characters.

Nice plot twists, great character development and investment in relationships. But this is the kicker for this book for me (a guy reviewing under his wifes username). There are plenty of great female authors that guys can enjoy. Tana French, Proulx, Ozeki, Gillian Flynn all come to mind. But few authors can capture a guys perspective and thought pattern as Louise Penny can.
Anyway, if you want to meet a thinking mans Harry Bosch in the arctic tundra, with well developed cohorts, this book is for you.

If Gillian Flynn and James Lee Burke had a kid that grew up a writer, this might be the book produced. Beautifully written with a storyline that kept me guessing until the final pages. Ended all to quickly. Dave Robicheaux in a period piece and a plotline that extends the length of his lifetime.

Narrator gets a 10/10 and is a top 5 narration as well, ranking with Stephen Hoye in Skinny Dip and McKintys books read by Gerald Doyle


If you like Burke, Connolly, Gillian Flynn, or Stieg Larsson you will be pleased to have downloaded this book!

So if Dr. Phil and Oprah had a kid that read nothing but Grisham and wrote a Disney movie of the week...

Broadly written characters are more caricatures than real, with an endless stream of bumper sticker catch phrases in the overwrought relationships of the sisters.

None the less, it is an easy listen that makes the miles in a car roll by easily. The narrator is one of the best female narrators ever.

Dont get me wrong, its not a bad book. Its just a simple read. If Gillian Flynn is a homemade cheesecake, this is jello. Good, but simple and basic.

This a book that slowly drew me in bit by bit. The development of the characters and the relationships they have were experienced more than actually described. The narrator is amazing.

If you are looking for a fast paced novel go elsewhere. If you are looking for a leisurely read that is easy to digest, but fun and intriguing then go no further. Its a bit of "The Curious incident of the dog at midnight" meets "Oscar Woo."

A tough combination of Dick Hills typically too emotive breathy narration in which even the basic details are filled with drama and a back and forth switching of characters seemingly written in a female tone made this a dead end for me. Far too much of the writing smacks of the tendious (to me...) discussions my wife and teen daughters have: the type of conversations that I tune out.

If you like a book that is driven by the relationships of the characters than the plot or the character then this is for you. For me, I thought I was being made to watch "Gossip Girls" with my teen daughters...