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There are currently 15 member reviews
for A Pearl in the Storm
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Theresa (Seattle WA)
Somewhat inspirational Pearl
This book is full of amazing tales of personal determination and perseverance. I marveled at the author's ability to take on challenges for her own fulfillment/redemption. I believe my only reservations come from my general skepticism of memoirs lately (after the Frey episode and others). I would have liked to do some of my own fact checking, but will have to wait until I have more time. For now, I'll say, it is a good and sometimes inspirational read. An interesting life, indeed.
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Molly (Longmont CO)
Extremism
This is a great book for people who like to read about extremes. I do – I’d never do what Ms McClure did, or climb Mt. Everest, but I enjoy the vicarious pleasure. This is an adventure story, not a great literary piece. If you can keep yourself from asking questions like, could anyone possibly be this self-deprecating and, could anyone possibly be this obtuse, you’ll like this story as much as I did. I tolerated the moral spoon feeding because I figured she had earned the right. While I’m shaking my head in disbelief, I admire her for what she did, and I got a kick out of reading about it.
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Maggie (Redmond WA)
Definitely a pearl
Being a person that doesn't really like being in or on the water, I wasn't sure I'd enjoy this story. I was pleasantly surprised. The author is very gifted in story telling. It took me on an adventure I wouldn't have been able to take other wise. My only complaint would be that I was irritated with the authors need to keep reminding me that she is intelligent. I'm sure there are better ways to express that in writing without having to come out and say it.
It's well worth reading. I would have given it a rating of 5 if not for my one complaint.
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Theresa (Sierra Madre CA)
Great Story
I truly enjoyed the writing style of this author - it was the type of book you put down and looked forward to getting back to. The story was extremely fascinating and kept me wanting to know more. This is definitely a book I would consider for our book club - I think there would be some great discussions about it.
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Sheryl (DeQuincy LA)
VERY well-written, but. . . .
This book, about the author's attempt to row across the Atlantic in a 23 ft. rowboat, is full of compelling and technically brilliant writing. Her descriptive paragraphs of the actual voyage itself are interwoven with snippets of her history and the events that led her to undertake the adventure. She attempts to plumb her experiences on the sea for insight into herself, and describes an epiphany during a hurricane, but seems to fall short of making us believe she really makes peace with herself and her life.
She is dismissing and scornful of the central and deeply personal question for all adventurers like herself: WHY? At times, the reluctance to confront and attempt to answer that question seemed self-defeating and grandiose. Still, none of this stopped me from becoming totally engrossed in her story. The writing is so well done that I actually felt I was in the boat with her at times. Well worth the time and thought!
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Mary Ellen (Boynton Beach FL)
A Pearl in the Storm - Lessons in Life
The author's memoir of her trip in a rowboat across the Atlantic is a vivid stream-of-conscious that gives insight into her mental and physical state. At the same time, she reveals what in her life brought her to this point. People who enjoy adventure stories will get a vicarious thrill from this book. I enjoyed her honesty about herself and the way she was able to gain insight into what is really important in life as a result of the challenges she set for herself.
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Vicky (Broussard LA)
Eve: A Novel of the First Woman
I really enjoyed the book. I was skeptical at first. Just given the subject of the book would make you think you pretty much knew everything about Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden. Well, reading this book made me rethink that assumption. Even though it is fiction, it really made Eve more of a normal woman rather than the woman who made Adam sin. She had real doubts and wants and needs and insecurities. Just like the rest of us. Adam also came alive for me. He was just a normal guy going about life the best he knew how. Elissa made the characters come alive in a way that you have to remind yourself that parts of the story are indeed fiction. It was a very enjoyable book. I would recommend it to anyone who likes really good novels.
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