Mary

This is one in a great series. Start at the beginning and enjoy the ride! (However, I think this might be a woman's book as my husband hates this entire series.)

From a broken childhood in foster care, the main character manages to get a job that pays a living wage, score an apartment in San Francisco, and start a business all without a hitch. During her years as a foster kid, she sets a fire in her favorite foster mom's vineyard - the foster mom is blamed for abusing her.......After getting pregnant, she gives birth in her apartment. Feeling overwhelmed she abandons the baby in the father's bedroom 60 miles away. When she is ready, she rejoins her family - the baby, the baby's father and her favorite foster mom......oh, and the baby's father and her favorite foster mom have several millions of dollars in land......not my favorite type of tale. Well performed.....

The story is very sad with a redeeming ending. However, the story, and language is so claustrophobic that I would have set it aside if I wasn't reading it for a book club.

I enjoyed the book - it is a very solid story. The writer brings interesting characters into a web of a plot. It made my evening walk lively.

My 13 year old son and I listen to this while driving 20 hours. It is a mesmerizing story. At first, I thought it was just the "more words" version of the movie, but King's use of language absolutely delighted me. My son loved it. I wouldn't recommend it for younger children - there is murder, violence to children, sex and revenge. But, it was an amazing experience listening to it.

I didn't expect to get pulled into this book - the first part is a bit stiff. But, suddenly, I was sucked into the plot and the characters. I love the medical detail and all of the subplots. The narrator's performance is wonderful. When my book club sat down to discuss it, I was the only one to have listened to it on audio. But, that meant that the names were clear to me, but a stumbling block for the others.....

I enjoyed listening to this book as I drove cross country. I am not certain I would have found the ending satisfying if I hadn't listen to the entire book on I 10.

Oh how I wanted to love this book. Unfortunately, I found it to be so similar to Pillars of the Earth, it became boring.

The first part of this book is wonderful, but the second part is truly awful. It is as if the author simply ran out of ideas and went for gross or silly resolution to the mystery. Very disappointing.

My 10 year old son loved this book. It is very funny and he enjoyed all of the problems the children had with getting their wishes granted. It is an old fashion book, but still great fun.