Michal L. Jones

A picture painted

Revisado: 10-26-18

I can't recommend this book highly enough. Ms. Owens paints a picture with her words and brings you into the world North Carolina Marshes. The character development of a child growing into a woman and a mystery thrown in for good measure make this a book I couldn't "put down",

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

An Ordinary Man and a Forgotten War

Revisado: 05-02-17

This is a story of the grandfather of the author as told from the memoirs the grandson finds. We get to know the grandfather but also the great-grandfather and the culture and day to day life of the late 19th century into the 20th. He was an ordinary man who grew up and loved and did what men do to take care of their families. He was a painter as was his father, but never achieved fame. Perhaps the most poignant part of the book is the grandfathers years spent in WWI. As the author points out WWI happened a 100 years ago. The books and movies about the horror of that war have skipped 2 generations and it's important for us to remember what those men were subjected to during their service. (As an aside I remember one of my Grandmothers friends (in her 80's) telling me about her husband who came home with "night terrors". Today we would call it PTSD, but then men were expected to "forget" those times). All wars are horrible, but the endless years in the trenches were perhaps the one of the worst . The development of the characters are excellent and the narrator brings the page to life. It's been a long time since I cryed at the end of a novel, but did at this one. I will definitely "re-read it".

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

John Irving at his best

Revisado: 12-03-16

I love John Irving novels...this one "slipped" by me . The depth of the characters and the humor he finds in everyday interactions make him a genius. The whole story revolves around Owen Meany and his relationships with his family, the small town in New England, and most importantly his best friend. There is the "mystery" of Owen's ability to see into the future and the aftermath of what he sees. Can't recommend it highly enough.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Understanding Russia

Revisado: 07-13-14

This story follows the Russian/Ukraine people from approximately 100 AD to the present. It's an ambitious task and was well done. Despite the hundreds of characters the story flowed well although in they all intertwined in the end sometimes I felt a story line had been left "hanging". The book does an excellent job of going thru the various politics that have an impact on today's global struggles. I found myself "googling" places and looking at Maps to get an idea of "where" things were happening. Over all an excellent read.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 13 personas

Good "federlist" era historical fiction

Revisado: 07-13-14

This book spans the era after the revolutionary war and the speculation that brought on the panic of 1791 just as the country was still getting it's bearings. I 'checked' on some of the background facts and found them to be very accurate. The narrator did a wonderful job with the characters (who I had a little bit of a hard time keeping straight sometimes). Good story and learned a lot about that time in our history

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 14 personas

Short on Historical Perspective

Revisado: 06-27-14

Although there was some "background" on the story and some attempt at depicting life in the 11th century the story was predictable and bland. The story was weak and wasn't a "page turner" by any means. The book ended without any real closure on WHY she was written about. I suppose the emphasis on her "good deeds" was supposed to clue me in, but there wasn't anything to say what happened to the minor characters either. Rather bland overall. The narrator was OK in the descriptive portions of the book, but when it came to the characters I was jolted by the change in tone and the stilted reading, especially when the "Queen" was speaking it sounded like a message from a very bad robo call. I have to say had this not been a "bogo" I'd have returned it.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Glad I listened but...

Revisado: 05-11-14

Roth is known for his capturing the Jewish Culture of the 50's and 60's and does so in an excellent way... The story is hard to get into and then seems to end abruptly without resolution to the main characters (inferred but I like a "concrete" end to my books). Definitely NOT a page turner but worth the read of on of America's greatest authors.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

A Journey into Adulthood

Revisado: 01-12-14

I don't like to re-cap the plot in reviews. This book is remarkable in so many ways . Beginning when he is 13 we meet Theo and follow him into manhood at the end of the book 15+ years later. The richness of the writing takes you immediately into his world. The nuances of so many cultures and intricacies of the art world are woven seamlessly into the story. From New York to Las Vegas to the cities of Europe. His "best friend" Boris (the Russian) is the catalyst for many of the adventures. They meet as teenagers and are reunited as adults. Some of their adventures might seem outrageous to some, but I can totally see teenagers doing what they do. While the book is "long" you don't notice the time and best of all it has a 'good" ending. The narrator is amazing. He captures each character to a tee.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

One Man's Influence

Revisado: 11-06-13

This book spans 50 years in the lives of three people. The journey these people take through life are the result of one man's actions. Part of the book is set in India and then the US. The events in India in the late 50's early 60's are not taught in the US. It sparked me to do some research into the violent birth of the Indian nation at the end of British rule. The Indian culture was something else I know little about and it made me appreciate some of the customs I see here. The characters and places are brought to life with a gentle soothing narrative and the reader with is subtle Indian accent brings the even more authenticity to the story.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

In the Dark in the Night

Revisado: 10-31-13

This started out as your standard "mystery" story about a girl who committs sucide. But soon the twists and turns and dark magic come into play. Just about the time you think you have it "figured out" (and maybe you do in a sense) the whole thing collapases. What is real is real what isn't is (sorta') ... I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it ....

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña