S. Thurman

I was not familiar with AJ Jacobs, but now I feel as though I know his entire family! He is not only a great writer, but he is a wonderful narrator. This is a truly entertaining book, and I literally laughed out loud at some of his health experiments....I'm pretty sure my ears are healthier by listening to the book instead of reading it. It's an aural thing.

Anything these guys write is good. It just is. They research their topics well and give practical advice. It's not the classic that "Boundaries" is, but it's a worthwhile comment to "The Secret"...much clearer spiritually. It is Christian perspective, so if you're hoping for a New Age experience, that it is not.

This is uplifting and informative, as others have mentioned, but I hoped for something a little more useful for my own life. Even tho I am a female, I preferred the thoroughness of the info (and delivery) in Drop Dead Healthy by AJ Jacobs. Laughter is GREAT for your health, and he really made me laugh! That's more my style since I am more recalcitrant in my health practices.

If you're looking for a good, southern author, Martin's your man. Martin's descriptions can be over-the-top; however, he skillfully created a character (Uncle Willy) whose bungled southern metaphors were endearing. We always enjoy Martin's ability to weave stories about everyday life.... he usually shows a human side to villains....which is important to his overall themes of mercy and justice. Our least favorite of Martin's books was, The Mountain Between Us.... so we were surprised to see it rated higher in popularity. Maybe we didn't enjoy it because it was set in the Rockies and we live in Southern Appalachia. :)... southerners love to read about their own beloved homes and schools. Go Dogs!

yes

no

toward the end....when the house with the marble floors (where his wife and twins lived) turned out to be a mausoleum...their graves.

Probably

It was disppointing, because so many other people seemed to like this book; but, it was simply too tedious for me.

Very little about Folly Beach.... just another romance. No SC feel...very light on descriptions and history. Why didn't the female character franchise her sister's bakery to SC so that the southern ambience could come to life through daily life/customers? Could have been a healing journey...but the plots were scantily developed. The female victim's husband committed suicide. Oh well.... The male victim's wife tried to kill him. Oh well. Side plots were too dramatic for such bare mentions....victim-romances belong in a novel called "Betty Ford Center", not "Folly Beach". Guess we'll have to stick to Conroy for the SC feel....even if his characters are bigger than life. The reader was clear and had some good dialect-sounds.

And well read. It is a safe book to play with children in the car if you are prepared to answer questions about the Japanese internment camps. But perhaps the earlier children learn that the playground is not always safe, the better. It is disheartening to hear how quickly friend can turn to foe, but this is history... and one more lesson in the classroom of life.

Was looking for books narrated by Barbara Rosenblat... she is always great...and the tale was interesting...good listen... well worth the cost.

Relaxed...easy....comforting. Helps one understand the spiritual psychology of pleasure... and perhaps the need for a "jealous" guarding of marriage as a small, dim mirroring of "the Bride of Christ"

Vintage Conroy...read Conroy to taste grits and shrimp, smell salt water, hear the drawl of Charleston. I love the southern flavor, but always lament Conroy's minimum requirements for enlistment as a Southern Belle... mysterious females born with Barbie doll figures, Mensa level IQ's, flawless skin, adorned by family diamonds (gifts from Sherman to grandmothers who saved homes...no towns... from being burned), mistress of all domestic arts, fluent in 6 languages (learned Italian and German while singing with the Met) ....and have at least one secret, illegitimate child by a brutal politician. I fall so short...but inspired to keep trying.