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Well written, investigative

Revisado: 11-24-24

Wong, a journalist, traces the lives of his father and uncle in Mao's China. His father now lives in the US, Wong does a masterful job of retracing his father's footsteps and discovering the forces that influenced his father during his father's formative years. Wong is tireless in tracking down the details and locations of his father's journey and constructs a narrative of historical and modern China in the process.

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I got caught up in it

Revisado: 11-24-24

This is a story with a somewhat far-fetched premise, but I enjoyed the characterizations and the narration. The three roommates are well-drawn. However, I love a plot-driven book and what annoyed me about the book was all the background info on each of the three roommates that bogged down the pace of the action, not that there was a lot of action. It's a largely internal journey into the minds of each of the thee roommates. Still, I was left with an overall enjoyment and appreciation of the book.

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Love everything Al Aswany writes, no exceptions

Revisado: 11-24-24

Huge Al Aswany fan. This book was another of his masterpieces. How he manages to capture the inner world of so many different people in so many different walks of life is a mystery to me. I read that he was a dentist, and learned a lot from listening to his patients over the years. He's such an incredible observer of human behavior.and though I've never traveled to Cairo, I felt that I was inhabiting the place through his words.

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Delicious in every way

Revisado: 11-24-24

Wonderful romp, with depth and precision. Characters beautifully drawn, dialogue was fantastic. Thank you, Tammy.

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Gripping, eye-opening...love O'Hagan

Revisado: 11-24-24

I hung on every word and got swept away by this story. Loved every minute of it. Thank you, Mr. O'Hagan. Am now reading you "Illuminations," also a great book.

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Excellent narration of an immersive memoir

Revisado: 11-24-24

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end, brought to life so memorably by the narrator. His rendering of the protagonist and all the different characters in the bar was spot on. There were a few times in the book when i felt the author could have cut back on some of his lengthy observations, but in general, it was a great listen, and the author's insights into growing up fatherlessness were very valuable.

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Superb narration

Revisado: 11-24-24

This story was told by such a gifted narrator, it was an incredible pleasure to listen to. Even though the story wobbled a bit at times, the excellence of the narration carried the listener beautifully from one scene to another. The book brings Cumbria and sheep farming alive. Made me hunger for more about that region and its people.

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Wanted to love it as much as his first book but...

Revisado: 09-01-24

I struggled to like this book. I was hoping for the more propulsive narrative of his first book, which I adored, but this book seemed like it was wandering in the weeds a little bit. I gave up near the end.

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Gripping, essential

Revisado: 05-28-24

Although she goes on a little too long in certain passages, overall I was extremely impressed with Patric Gagne's lucid exploration and exposition of growing up with antisocial behavior disorder, or sociopathy. It's not an easy row to hoe, and she is indefatigable in searching out information and research on the topic, eventually becoming a leader in the field of psychotherapy for those with similar afflictions. I applaud the depth of her research and her intelligence in pursuing answers so that others may benefit from her knowledge. I learned a lot about friends and family members who exhibit sociopathic tendencies at times. It was helpful to gain insights into and banish fear of sociopathy.

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What a writer!

Revisado: 04-09-24

This is my first Richard Ford book, and I wasn't disappointed. I was stunned by Ford's incredible ability to observe the world and incorporate minute details of everyday life into the narrative. In this book, Frank Bascombe, 74, is caring for his 47-year-old son who has ALS. In my own familly, we witnessed a family member become slowly disabled by ALS, so for me the play by play descriptions of the daily life of the ALS sufferer as well as his caretaker dad were phenomenally, heartbreakingly, and at times comically accurate. For me, the son emerges as the most lovable character--quirky, individualistic, and completely authentic. But the dad was also beautifully drawn...honest, occasionally cranky, and ever aware of how short his remaining chapters in life are. This was a moving book. I was addicted to listening to it. I couldn't get enough.

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