Across Many Mountains: A Tibetan Family's Epic Journey from Oppression to Freedom
by Yangzom Brauen
Tibetan Odyssey (8/6/2011)
Across Many Mountains is an exciting and unique story of the cruel subjugation of Tibet by China. Once I opened the book, I couldn't put it down. I would compare it to Elie Wiesel's "Night" - although Ms Brauen does not present any horrifying details, it illustrates the persecution of a people based on their religion, in this case Buddhism. You learn a lot about Buddhism and the way people in an isolated country can live on nothing. There is plenty of adventure and daring.This book should be read by everyone interested in human rights.
Beneath the Lion's Gaze: A Novel
by Maaza Mengiste
totally boring (12/29/2010)
I only read 1/2 of this book, as I couldn't stand reading it anymore. the characters were cardboard, the language and descriptions mediocre. I regret having bought it and gave it to the library.
Snowdrops: A Novel
by A.D. Miller
one big snow job (11/23/2010)
I enjoyed this book, reading it in 2 sittings. you get a good flavor of present day Russia and business dealings. characters are well developed and interesting.-one complaint: the narrator is telling this story to a third party, and I found references to this person annoying, as well as interrupting the narrative flow. On the whole, though, this is a good read, with lots of twists and turns.
By a Slow River
by Phillipe Claudel
silence of the dead (10/6/2010)
Hardly to be called a crime novel, this existential novel about murder and relationships in a French town is an excellent read that will leave you thinking about the characters long after you put the book down.--Claudel is a master.
Brodeck: A Novel
by Phillipe Claudel
the other (10/6/2010)
An extremely good and well-written book, Brodeck explores the theme of "the other". villagers in an isolated town show their suspicions about a newly arrived person fron"the outside" and how these initial suspicions lead to extreme violence. I highly recommend this book.
Heresy
by S.J. Parris
a must read (12/17/2009)
Heresy is an absolutely fascinating book! It is about the historical figure, Giordano Bruno, and his friend, Sir Philip Sidney, a poet. Bruno, a philosopher and sometime monk, goes to Oxford in 1583 for a philosophical discourse, and soon is caught up in murder and intrigue. Many interesting facts about the late middle ages, as they turn into the Renaissance and the Reformation, are explored. the characters are very well developed, the story is exciting, and the mystery is a winner! Read this book!
The Year of the Flood
by Margaret Atwood
disappointing futuristic story (7/30/2009)
the only thing I liked about Margaret Atwood's Year of the Flood, was the cover, which is beautiful. I am a great fan of her early works, Handmaid's Tale and Surfacing, which made my disappointment in this book even more surprising to me. I found the story trite and overloaded with religiosity. the main characters were one-dimensional and never fully developed. the pseudo-environmentalism was very heavy-handed. Sorry, Margaret,but you can do better.
Beijing Coma: A Novel
by Ma Jian
a masterpeice (7/22/2009)
Bejing Coma is masterful,beautiful,and tells a cruel story. Excellently and poetically written, at the same time revealing the horrors of Mao's total infliction of inhumanity upon the Chinese people.the development of the Tiananmen square uprising is told through the remembrances of the narrator, as he is totally isolated by his injuries from the present. This book is must reading for anyone interested in modern china. I highly recommend it, and have read it a second time, wishing it would never end.
God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything
by Christopher Hitchens
necessary read (6/20/2009)
Chris Hitchens is an astute observer - he gets a little too personal, but,overall his comments are intelligent, although sometimes he can be a bit strident. A must read after God Delusion by Richard Dawkins.
