Romance Books

This series started going downhill a couple of books ago. This book is better than others in the series. This series is a fluff, romance teaser, with supernatural creatures. In this book the reader will meet alot of new creatures and even a vampire Queen. I hope the TV show does not turn out as bad as the books.

I am surprised that this series just gets better and better as you read it. This book makes a shift to focus more on werewolfes and shapeshifters and of course, most of them accept her. We also see a little more from the fairies.

The book picks up on the storyline that was laid in book 4. Eric has his memory back, but doesn't remember. Jason has been bitten by a werepanther and is waiting for the first full moon.

Someone is trying to kill werewolfs and shifters, the search for Debbie Pelt continues and there are attempts made on Sookie's life. While I would have liked to have seen more with the vampires in this book, we got to see enough of them and the storyline with Eric and Sookie is further developed. (love that) Lots of great and well developed plot in this book.

Definetly a page turner and a worthwhile read in this series. Looking forward to book 9.

descent. I was way disapointed in the first four books in the series. I am hooked on "True Blood" (the HBO series thats based on the books), and I've been giving two stars, but this one deserves a slightly higher rating. Sookie is growing up and not whining as much and I have to say that I love, love, love Eric, he's what keeps me reading!

Charlaine Harris has created some of the most interesting characters you'll ever hope to meet in her Southern Vampire series starring Sookie Stackhouse and a supporting cast as varied as any you could imagine. I was hooked after the first one and eagerly await each installment. You'll laugh out loud on one page and cringe on the next. I recommend this series without hesitation. Entertaining & fun.

I love this series, and I can not wait until the next book is release.

This book is not a heavy read, but a sit around the pool read of a woman on a journey of self discovery. All along her journey were tidbits of learning, new people, and good food. All the things that would make her savor the cultures of each place while finding her authentic self.
I took a journey like this and it was awesome, It is all about seeing new places and finding out something new about self in each place.
This is a spiritual treat.

This is a wonderful, insightful book that will really help open your eyes to Yourself!

While this book does sometimes bog down in her descriptions it offers a way of dealing with things that affect many women and their choices/decisions today...I only suggest you don't worry about understanding everything or believing everything she says...the important parts will jump out at you and stay with you....."See, now that's your problem. You're wishin' too much, baby. You gotta stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone oughtta be."
Gotta love Richard from Texas' logic....

I listened to this in traffic for about a week. I actually looked forward to sitting in traffic. Her voice is soothing, the content is inspiring, and I can't imagine why anyone would give it one star. I loved it and was sad when I got to the last cd. Wonderfully written and very well read.

... cause it was just plain naive! I don't want to give it 1 star because parts of it at least made me interested. But overall (until I stoped reading it)this book really didn't do it for me. I think first of all it was too spiritual to suit me and secondly I got really annoyed with the selfishness of Gilbert. I blame myself for the second part though - I should have realized that reading some other reviews and given the fact that the book is about one woman's life crisis. However I just found it bland and annoying. The part in Italy was ok (I think that this is because I have lived in Rome myself before) but it is the India part that made me give this book away. So many people recommended this book to me and I would too... if the person in question is really spiritual, to me it just got wierd.

While I've loved all of the Sookie Stackhouse novels up to this one, DEFINITELY, DEAD might be the best of the bunch. It isn't just that the novel tells a great story; it contains several game changing elements. Of those in a second. Before I move forward let me issue a

SPOILER WARNING!! Many major spoilers will arise in the following review.

Before getting to the spoilers, I'd like to point out something about the nature of the ongoing narrative of the Sookie Stackhouse books. I have a strong suspicion that the Southern Vampire Mysteries or the Sookie Stackhouse Books as they are alternately known are the first novel series influenced more by television series than by other books. I can't prove this, but with one major exception I cannot think of any other books that have the overall narrative structure that these books do. On the other hand, I can think of several TV series that do. The one series of novels is one that is unlikely to have much influence here, Patrick O'Brian's magnificent Jack Aubrey/Maturin novels, detailing the adventures of a Royal Navy officer and his friend Maturin, who is a physician and spy. (I give these books, by the way, the highest possible recommendation.) Each novel begins shortly after the end of the previous novel. Some begin immediately after the events of the previous one, essentially forming a chapter in a staggeringly huge master narrative. The Sookie Stackhouse novels are very much in this vein. Some of the books recommence only a couple of weeks after the close of the previous one. In this way the books resemble TV series like BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (unquestionably a major influence on the books). Each season of BUFFY picked up only a few months after the end of the previous season (the passage of time being that of summer). ANGEL, a spin off of BUFFY, is another likely influence. Other series in the early part of the decade that pursued an ongoing, unbroken narrative would include THE GILMORE GIRLS, DARK ANGEL, ALIAS, FELICITY, and SMALLVILLE. I don't know how many of these series Charlaine Harris might have watched (BUFFY and ANGEL are definites -- there are overt reference to the books and Sookie not only owns tapes of both shows, she shows them to Eric during his period of amnesia). Whether or not these shows had the kind of narrative influence that I imagine, there is no doubt that Harris undertakes a narrative strategy not common in long series. Each novel picks up only a few weeks after its predecessor. There will be exceptions -- although DEFINITELY, DEAD was set in New Orleans and appeared in print just after the catastrophe of Katrina, the subsequent novel, ALL TOGETHER DEAD, would move the plot several months ahead to a few weeks after Katrina in order to make it clear that the earlier novel was pre-Katrina. DEFINITELY, DEAD, however, takes place only a few weeks after the end of DEAD AS A DOORNAIL.

DEFINITELY, DEAD sees Sookie going to New Orleans to settle the estate of her deceased cousin Hadley, who had been a vampire for a short period of time, and the beloved of the Queen of Louisiana. This part of the novel is laced with political intrigue and is crisscrossed with two B-plots, the ongoing investigation of the death of their daughter Debbie Pelt (Sookie had shot her with a shotgun in self-defense in an earlier novel) and the blossoming romance with the renowned weretiger Quinn. (Side note: I absolutely detest Quinn. Though he seems a nice enough soul, he has a habit of calling Sookie "babe," a crime for which he should be imprisoned. OK, just a personal whim, but whenever Quinn talks I get nauseous.)

During the course of the novel's events Sookie learns two things that are what are certainly game changers. I mean, everything you thought you knew about earlier books is turned on its head. First, Sookie learns that Bill originally came to Bon Temps on the orders of the Queen. She had learned through Hadley of Sookie's telepath abilities and Bill was sent to seduce her so that she could be recruited to do service for the Queen. Learning this almost destroys Sookie's world. A great deal of her self-esteem had been constructed on having been loved by Bill Compton, even if he did betray her later. Obviously this betrayal will feature prominently in the story to come. Although Bill tried his best to explain to Sookie that he had fallen utterly, truly in love with her, Sookie is determined to "abjure" him just as Alcide had Debbie Pelt in an earlier book. The second huge game changer was Sookie learning that she is not purely human. We had earlier in the novel learned that it wasn't an accident that Sookie's fairy godmother Claudine (who we learn is aspiring to become an angel) had been directed to be Sookie's guardian. She indicates that there is a reason, but she is unable or unwilling to explain what that is. So it is no surprise later in the book when the Queen's companion and friend Andre informs Sookie that she has some fairy blood in her. Sookie speculates that one of her grandparents, perhaps, had been either a fairy or part fairy. More, obviously, to follow.

One other important addition to the cast of characters in DEFINITELY, DEAD, besides the Queen and Andre, is the New Orleans witch Amelia, who for reasons I won't go into returns at the end of the novel to Bon Temps to live for a while away from New Orleans. In the next novel she the term of her residence in Bon Temps is unclear because of Katrina, but for a while at least seems certain to be renting the upstairs part of Sookie's house.

What has increasingly delighted me in reading these books has been the way that Harris has kept the series fresh by injecting new characters and new twists of the plot, while keeping everything in control with a deft touch. To contrast it with the Anita Blake stories, the latter started off more promising than good, but then got sillier and sillier as new elements were added. Eventually the novels because nothing more than sex books. The work with the police that Anita did for the police that was so important early on in the series becomes increasingly peripheral. I started thinking about ceasing to read the books only a few books into the series, continuing because I kept hoping that it would return to its initial promise and become something interesting again. The Sookie Stackhouse books, on the other hand, have stayed fresh and original and fun.

I was disappointed in this installment of the Southern Vampire series, a very unusal occurance for me as I have really loved them all. I didn't seem to have the flair, humor and excitement that the others did.

Lots of vampire politics in this book, which is very intersting, but not as many intesting plot twists as in the previous books. Also, I really missed Bill and Eric, two strong characters that have helped make this series what it is. They really took a back seat in this one and I found I missed them. They made a somewhat brief appearances, though each appearance does bring some degree of drama. Their appearances brought the most interest to the book as we have really come to know them well.

There's a lot going on in this story line. Sookie has a new love interest, a weretiger named Quinn. Sookie learns of her just passed cousin and makes some royal connections along the way. There's a major twist on Bill, and also we find out more on Sookie's background. I still liked the story, but I don't see myself reading this one multiple times like I have the others in this series.

If you love this series, it's definetly worth your time, but it's not as enjoyable as the other 7 (so far). I got this book from the library and have most of them in audio and print, but the only reason why I may consider buying it is to complete my collection. I doubt I will go back and read it again.

better?...For the life of me I can't figure out why these books are so popular. I started watching the show "True Blood" on HBO and thought holy cow I have to read the books because I can't possibly wait to see what happens. After borrowing the entire series from a friend I started reading and was dumbfounded! The writing and story flow is/was awkward. I have to admit after book four they have gotten better, but I still can't bring myself to rate this series above a three star. I will finish the series only because I am crazy about Eric. I am a avid reader (not a book a week like some "avid" readers claim, but a true a book a day or every other day reader). There was a part in this book that just absolutely blew my mind, which doesn't happen often because I've seen it all. Sookie finally gets face to face with Debbie Pelts parents and explained to them why and how she killed their daughter, and all they say is "That sounds like her". What the ****? I have never seen a story line that has been the highlight of two novels dropped and was over with so fast. Am I the only person on the planet who just doesn't get it?

Definitely Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 6)
Charlaine Harris really knows how to write a book, if you like your vampire series with a bit of humor you will like these books, if you like your mysteries with a bit of what we call "Woo Woo" (in other words weird stuff)
then you'll like Ms.Harris's Southern Vampire series and if you find you like it find the rest Sookie Stackhouse is a kick and coming in September 2008 on HBO, the series based on this books called "True Blood".

I started watching the show and wanted to read the books. As much as I love to read, I wish I would not have started this series. It is going downhill fast. The books are feeling rushed and Sookie's love life is now the main focus of the series. It is now a mass market series with little or no plot and Sookie is more annoying and weak minded as ever.

This is a good though curious book. On the micro level it is quite excellent; on the macro level it raises several interesting questions. First and foremost, I wonder how large the audience is for a work such as this. The ideal reader would be both someone with a solid background in cultural studies and someone intimately acquainted with the music of Dusty Springfield, and most likely anyone intimately acquainted with her music would be a self-identified fan. I would qualify as someone fairly familiar with cultural studies, but while I enjoy many of the songs of Dusty Springfield, I would hardly be identified either by myself or by anyone else as a fan. I acknowledge that she is one of the great pop singers that Great Britain has produced, but her music does not speak to me in an especially powerful way and I identify with her very little or not at all. I recognize her importance and even brilliance, but her music does not have a deep emotional resonance for me as it does for many of her fans. On the other hand, of her passionate fans, how many are equipped to work their way through a book that is sometimes quite accessible to nonacademics, while at other times would be, I suspect, quite challenging for someone not in the academy. I suspect that many turning to it for a popular account of the music of Dusty Springfield will be disappointed.

If you are going to get everything out of this book that you can, you need a better collection of Dusty Springfield's music than I possess. I have three Dusty Springfield anthologies and one regular album -- The Hits Collection, The Best of Dusty Springfield, Goin' Back: The Very Best of Dustry Springfield, and Dusty in Memphis -- and I had only a healthy fraction of the songs that were discussed in the book. So, I was at a huge disadvantage in that I couldn't hear many of the songs discussed. I am not a big enough fan to lay out the money for the box set, Simply . . . Dusty, but I'm not certain that even that would give someone all the songs that they would need. I suspect that truly to appreciate this book, you would need very close to the entire discography. And if you are not familiar with Dusty Springfield as a visual performer, as I was not, Youtube is invaluable. There are luckily a huge number of her performances uploaded there. Many of them are unfortunately from TV shows where she lipsynched, but on many of them she actually sings.

Still, I learned a great deal about Dusty Springfield by reading this. It is not a biography, but it contains a comprehensive discussion of the nature of Dusty's music and vocal art. If you were only a casual fan before, as I was, you will come away from the book having a very solid understanding of precisely what it is that her staunchest fans value about her. I also benefitted by listening to her music more intently than I ever had before. Previously I had listened to each of my Dusty Springfield alubms several times each, but this was the first time that I had listened this intently to her. For nearly a week about the only thing I listened to on my iPod was Dusty Springfield songs. My lone complaint with the book's discussion of Dusty's vocal art is that it doesn't acknowledge some of her weaknesses. Though the author is very frank that the years were not kind to her voice due to the heavy use of drugs and alcohol, I don't think there is sufficient bluntness about the fact that by the late seventies her voice was not the amazing instrument that it was in the sixties. When you listen to her recordings from the sixties, you are astonished at what a versatile and astonishing voice that she had, a voice that was seemingly capable of anything. But the recordings from the late seventies on, however, seem strategies in compensating for things that she could no longer do vocally. Also, the recordings from the seventies, eighties, and nineties are really pretty awful. Granted, I only have songs from those decades that were included on my anthologies, but these songs are very bad. It leaves you to ponder how bad the other songs on those albums were. Additionally, while the author mentions that Dusty sang in a vast range of musical genres, there is no hint that she sang some of them rather poorly. I've never heard a country song that Dustry Springfield sang without a cringe. I grew up on country and folk and blue grass, and my idea of an authentic country voice is grounded in Earl and Scruggs, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, the Stanley Brothers, Loretta Lynn, and artists of that ilk. When I hear Dusty Springfield sing country, it puts me in mind of the absolutely horrible version of the Louvain Brothers' "The Christian Life" that the Byrds did on SWEETHEART OF THE RODEO with Roger McGuinn on lead vocal. It sounds like a parody of a country song. If you listen to the version with Gram Parsons's singing lead on the bonus cuts of that CD you'll hear country the way it ought to be sung. I know the Springfields were beloved and all, but the difference between Dusty Springfield singing "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" and Linda Ronstadt's singing it is similar to the difference between McGuinn and Parsons on "The Christian Life."

I loved most of the detailed discussions contained in the book. I really enjoyed the discussion of the pop aria (many of Randall's comments about the songs that Dusty sang in that vein could be applied equally to those of Roy Orbison, a singer who has many parallels to Dusty Springfield) and about the role of camp in her music. I also enjoyed the close attention to Dusty's recording techniques, especially as these were at the root of many of the tensions in her Stax recording sessions. (Randall is not a big fan of DUSTY IN MEMPHIS, and I will confess that I find that album somewhat overrated, though I will add that "Son of a Preacher Man" is one of the most transcendentally glorious singles in the history of rock, and she certainly excepts that song from the other criticisms she has of the album.) The one real problem I have with the book is that while the individual topics are discussed with great insight, I was never quite clear on what the point of the book as a whole was. It does, in fact, feel more like four separate essays that have been loosely connected than a real book. Because they are all about Dusty Springfield, the essays are unified by subject matter, but even so they are distinct from one another.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed both reading this book and listening to the music that it drove me to. Dusty Springfield is still not a major figure in my own life as a listener of music, but I have a much deeper appreciation of and knowledge of her music than I did before. I still am uncertain as to who will be best equipped to read the book, academics with the requisite intellectual background or fans with the requisite knowledge of and passion for the music of Dusty Springfrield. But maybe are more of each than I imagine.

This is the best book of the series. Sookie is stronger and the rest of the characters are more developed. The plot and writing are weak, but not as bad as in previous books.

This book was jammed packed full of action and we learn some new things about the vampires (like about Pam's past, Eric's present feelings etc.

A good portion of the book takes place at the Vampire Summit and we are introduced to a whole new group of vampires, including the "royals" and get to see some old friends. We also learn more about the vampire politics and get to hear how the aftermath of Katrina affected that community.

Sookie's love interst is Quinn, the well-respected, tough weretiger who is there to coordinate the event and that heats up a bit. Meanwhile, her tie to Eric is strengthened. The only other telpath that Sookie knows, Barry, is also there and it's fun to see them interact in their heads. We also see a "were" turned vamp named Jake. That's an intersting storyline.

Lots of action in this one. Vampires against other vamps and we also hear from the Fellowship of the Sun again. The cover of the book is so appropriate and it's a fun journey to see you take there. Other than book 4 in this series (which is hands down my favorite), it's hard to pick which ones I like best, but I certainly enjoyed this one ALOT.

Now that I've read the whole series, this one is my favorite in the series. You get to see Sookie's personality develop, as well as alot of other characters including Quinn. The tempo of the book is different then the other books because most of it isn't set in Bon Temps. Most of it takes place at a vampire confrance, with lost of vampire politics, and "supes" interaction. It never stops! You're either learning about the supernatural community, or Sookie's life is in danger, either way, I was engrossed.
If you like this series, this book won't disappoint. If you haven't read the first 6 books Ms Harris does a really good job or "recapping" what you need to know about the first books without making it boring for those that have.

This book is action packed, and I highly recommend. It has to be paired with the next book in this series, the eighth book. I would consider books 7 & 8 together, to get the complete story. The 7th book is just a launching pad to the 8th book. So, as you finish book 7, have the next book on hand, ready to go!

Now, in book 7, we are introduced to Vin Diesel, oh, sorry, I mean the wer-tiger Quinn. He's great, but in comparison to the Vamps, his character just doesn't hold up. By book 8, he is gone.

Other sideline love interests get wrapped up as well, pretty much leaving things up to Bill and Eric.

Eric's character develops quite a bit in these two books, and he becomes much more likable and relatable. Sookie becomes more attached to him, for both physical and emotional reasons. He is a contender for Sookie's heart.

Bill, Bill, Bill. What can I say? He is a lout, and more of his mistakes become known. He mopes around quite a bit. Still, I think we all know that Sookie and Bill ultimately belong together. Hopefully, in the future, Bill will actively try to win Sookie's forgiveness, rather than passively watching from the shadows.

After all the action in books 7 and 8, Sookie's character grows up a bit, and she realizes that she is capable of doing things she never thought she would. In view of her own compromised morals, her anger towards Bill softens by the end of book 8. And, Bill finally seems to be ready to fight for Sookie's love. I have to say, Bill's moping around was getting a little old!

Hopefully, Ms. Harris will write the next book SOON. 2009? Please? The 8th book kinda wraps things up, leaving the reader at a comfortable place.

A new Vampire regime is in place, along with a reorganized wer-pack, and the horizon is wide open for all sorts of new Sookie adventures.

In my opinion, THIS should have been the book to make Stephenie Meyer the "phenomenon" she is today. For one thing, the writing is miles from Twilight. The plot and characters were also a lot more complex and I felt that you really got a feel for each of them. This story was so touching and sweet. It was hard to put down (that's high praise coming from someone who's not a huge reader), and even when I did I thought about it randomly through the day. This is a type of book that will never leave you. 5 Stars.

The Host is a fun twist on an old premise: invasion of the body snatchers. The world has been invaded by migratory aliens, known as souls, who use the bodies of humans to become corporeal. The consequence is that the human soul who formerly occupied the body is shoved aside and silenced forever, with the exception of one human soul named Melanie who is putting up a fight. Wanderer, the alien soul who is inhabiting Melanie's body, rather than finding a way to silence Melanie forever chooses to do something that has never been done among its society: Wanderer listens to Melanie's voice and defects from the alien society. What ensues is a long journey that has the potential to change the face of humanity -- again -- forever.

The Host is a engrossing story that is ostensibly about aliens and humans but is really about relationships between souls. Occasionally trite, it manages to not be too overwrought.

I enjoyed the take on aliens and the people resisting them. I did find Wanda to passive and nice and she annoyed me. But overall I found it a good story and found myself looking for extra time to read.

This book was so incredible. I wasn't sure about it at first because I'm not too big on sci-fi but since Meyer is such an incredible writer, I had to read it and I'm so glad I did. She is such an incredible writer and I don't think anyone could have pulled off a plot like this besides her. I recommend this book to anyone!

It took some time for me to get into this book. It may be because I am not use to wrapping my head around alien stories, but I felt I had to give this one a try since I loved the Twilight series so much. I wasn't disappointed in the end. It was worth my time and I found out that I can enjoy stories about all different types of characters.

After reading many of the other reviews, I was all set to be disappointed in 'From Dead To Worse'. I wasn't. I found this book to be as rich and as fascinating as the seven previous installations. If you are reading these books for their contribution to the world of literature, you will find yourself disappointed every time. If, however, you can let yourself relax and enjoy a good story, then you won't be let down.

Between the Were war and the vampire coup, this book has a lot of action. The double Bellefleur wedding is a little tedious, but an unexpected exchange with Bill and the introduction of a few new supes makes it bearable.

As a Quinn-hater, I was pleased to see him neatly disposed of as a love interest in this book. I don't think we've seen the last of him (or the rest of his crazy family) but I suspect that when he reappears in a later book, it will be unpleasant for Sookie.

Bill (yuck) makes several very short appearances, as he attempts to win back Sookie's regard. (She should have let him burn up in the sun!) Eric has a revelation, but I was disappointed that it didn't clarify their relationship. The vampire world in general takes some major blows over the course of this narrative, the result of which is yet to be seen.
Sookie gets some new info about her family, particularly her grandmother and Hadley. She also suffers a major betrayal/disappointment at the hands of Jason, which leaves them somewhat estranged. (Wow, it sure is a good thing she found out that she has other relatives, huh?)

I'm not trying to give the whole story away, but I hope these tidbits have enticed you to give this book a chance. If you've stuck it out with Sookie et al so far, you should enjoy this leg of the journey too. I can't wait to find out what happens next!

This series has lost everything that pulled me into it. This book was all over the place and felt as if it was rushed to be published. The author went from a great supernatural series with a touch of romance to a romance series with a touch of supernatural. All CH seems to be doing with her last few books is to drag out Sookie's love life over many books so she can make more money from from people waiting to see Sookie in love again. She could easily write a good supernatural book and have Sookie in love (still with issues) and have great adventures exploring the supernatural world around her. This book is the worst. I am not buying the next one. The author has lost her touch and some of her fans.

I can't get enough of this series. It's one of the best I have read so far. I don't want to give away too much, but I will summarize. Bottom line, you won't be disappointed.

The vampires are dealing with the aftermatch of the Vampire Summit and reorganizing themselves. With the queen badly injured in the hotel fire, her partner dead and then recovering from the afternatch of hurricane Katrina, it leaves them very vunerable for a takeover. In vampire politics, there are always things that come up unexpectedly.

In this book, we do get more of a showing from Bill and it's nice to see him back. The story between Eric and Sookie moves along and you really start to see a softer, even more likeable Eric. (if that's possible as I also loved his "bad boy" personna in the previous books equally as much). Eric also gets enlightened on something that's been bugging him for the last several books, though I think we'll hear even more on that topic in future books. (at least I hope we do.)

Sookie has more attempts made on her life and finds herself in the middle of some stuff going on with the weres and shifters as well as the stuff going on with the vampires.

She also meets 2 relatives that she did not know she had, and has a couple of friends (who are witches) staying at her house.

The past 3 installments have focused more and more on shifters, were's, fairies and witches and I would like to see a little less of them and more of the vamps. Even with that statement, it's still a 5 star read....my 5 star reads are books that I would read more than once. (most of the books in this series fit that criteria, though book 4 is still my favorite.)

I loved the first three Sookie Stackhouse books but felt the series bogged down and started wandering aimlessly for awhile. Book 7 got things going again but Book 8, From Dead to Worse, truly felt like Charlaine Harris is back on top of her game. The plot was interesting, the characters continue to develop in surprising and satisfying ways, and Sookie's life gets ever more interesting. Glad to be looking forward to the new installment again!

I truly enjoyed the first four books in this series, then slowly things began to change and each of the next three just didn't hold my interest quite as much. Sookie is almost killed, Sookie is in a deadly battle, Sookie gets beat up and so on and so on and then always comes back for more. I keep wondering where the humor went and of course, the sex! In Book 8, where did the plot go? Book 8 should have been called "How many characters can you jam into one book without telling a story?"
I'm sure I will buy Book 9 because Ms. Harris is a talented writer but I will be praying that Sookie gets to enjoy life just a little so we can enjoy it with her.

The book has some good charactors, interesting story line, but some of the charactors seemed a little flat to me. For example, the roommate in the stock car, I some how felt more connected to him than Jacob. Overall a fun and light read, but just lacking a little depth to the main charactors. I will absolutly read other Sara Gruen, I think she has some good talent as a writer. Just my opinion.

This is an excellent, well researched book. The author obviously has a lot of empathy with the animals. Descriptions of life on the circus train seemed genuine. The ending that involved the elephant was a real surprise. One criticisim I have is that all of Sara Gruen's books have happy endings. I guess I'm just a Jude The Obscure kind of guy.

A well written story that held my interest to the end. If you're a sensitive animal lover as I am, some of this book may be hard, but it's worth the read. The ending seemed a bit rushed, but overall, I enjoyed the story.

I love animal stories, but I always read them bracing for the sad ending. This book was a mixed bag.

In the first part of the book, terrible things happened to both people and animals.

In the latter part of the book, the angels practically came down to sing. Everything good that could happen, did! I'm not opposed to that. It just seemed a bit much. Too simplisic. Even the ultimate solution for old Jacob was just strangely perfect and therefore hard to believe.

A logical question that bugged me about the plot was why did Uncle Al not get rid of the schizophrenic August? And how in the world did August get to be in charge of the animals in the first place? He wasn't good with them. Jacob or the other Polish worker would have been much more effective training Rosie. If Uncle Al had ditched August, the inflammatory situation between him, Marlena, and Jacob would have been defused.

When Jacob was scooping up Rosie and the liberty horses, I was silently pleading 'Don't forget BoBo.' And he didn't. Like I said, just too good to be true.

This is one of my favorite books of all time! It's about 90 (or 93)-year-old Jacob Jankowski remembering his life when he was young. The story starts with his parents dying in a car crash, and him having no money. He stumbles upon a circus in town, and gets hired as the veterinarian. There are many other aspects to the story, including a romance between Jacob and his boss's wife, and an elephant who captures the hearts of many.

No matter how many times I have tried to read this book, Suzanne Collins fails to engage me as a writer. More compelling is her ability to come up with an abhorrently unbelievable concept of children participating in gladiator-like games for survival. Sure, there's the 1984/451 F-ish attempts at suggesting a future world gone wrong, but involving children takes it too far even for me, as a parent, to believe in unequivocally.

Skip it - I don't understand the praise heaped on this book.

I loved this book it was intense to the very end, exciting, a twisting romance that always adds to the book. I really enjoyed it!

One of the biggest reasons I loved this book isn't because every chapter literally ended with a sentence that made you want to keep reading or because of the romance (which is usually what wins me over, I must say). Rather, it's how deep of a level it reaches. I just finished it, so naturally there hasn't been enough time for reflection, but in these few moments, my stream of thought is going spastic. The book jacket wasn't lying--there's mystery, adventure, romance, suspense, all of that in here. And yet the substance of the novel surpasses just these box-office-hit qualities (which is all I can compare those four adjectives to).

The world building was fantastic. While it's quite a different land than current North America, Panem had some disturbing parallels relating to the society, especially of its higher class (the lower-number districts and the Capitol). The fixation with the sappy romance, the fact the games were more like a deadlier reality show of nowadays than anything else, the frivolousness... It was quite unnerving. So clever. Only adds another layer to this story.

Not many books have kept me on the edge of my seat. This plot is brilliant. Truth be told, I'm not the biggest fan of thrillers and am fine with books that employ the "girl-next-door" dynamics to its plot--quiet, but charming and accessible. Well, needless to say, this book is anything but quiet. But it is bewitching.

You know what? I'll stop. There's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said. Plus I could stay here all night. I wasn't kidding when I said my mind is going spastic with all the directions this book gives it to think things out.

Not recommending it to everyone though. Some really hate violence. Some really hate dystopia. I'd still give it a shot if you're one of those people, but I wouldn't specifically recommend it to you. Everyone else? Knock yourselves out. This is one of the ultimate must-reads right in front of you.

But in short: this book is AWESOME.

HOLY CRAP!!!! I have not had such a physical responce to a book in a long time. I couldn't breath at parts, my chest was getting tight, I could not stop thinking about this book, I still can't, but I do not really care.

I love this book and would recomend it to anyone who wants a fantabulous read. Being about the same age as Katniss, I loved her point of view, the confusion, her emotions and trying not to be so vulnerable.

This book is just amazing, plain and simple. Read it.

In my opinion, this book was amazing. There was so much adventure, and it had the right hint of love. I cannot wait until the next book comes out. It may be a while but I'm still very excited.

Someone lent me this book. I loved it so much, I bought a copy for myself. I think everyone should read it who has or wants to have a relationship of any kind with anyone. I liked it so much, I bought the Five Love Languages for Teenagers and The Five Love Languages for Singles.

Mr. Chapman claims that there are five primary love languages: words of affirmation, physical touch, acts of service, receiving gifts and quality time. Although we all need to be loved in all the ways, there is one love language that is our primary love language. If we are not loved in this primary love language, then our love tank becomes empty and we feel unloved, even if all four other love languages are being spoken to us.

So my conjecture is this may be then, why someone with the love language of words of affirmation would 'fish' for compliments, because they have a deep need to hear affirming words.
Happy reading!

This book is Fantastic! My husband and I have always had a great marriage, but this took it to a whole new level. It should be given to every couple when they apply for a marriage license!

This is such an insightful book that will open your eyes to how you feel love as well as others including your spouse. It also helps you discover how you interpret love and can show love to others in a way they understand. Interesting read, i would recommend to anyone.

This is a great book for anyone wanting to strengthen their relationship with a spouse or family member.

I bought the audio version so I could listen in my car. I didn't see anywhere that is mentioned this CD is a CD with MP3s on it. I cannot return it since I opened it to see what the deal was. I am really angry at Amazon for this. If I wanted the MP3's I could have just bought the MP3 Downloads, saved the postage and packaging.

The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate [AUDIOBOOK] [CD] [UNABRIDGED] (Audio CD)

Does that look like I would be getting mp3's on a CD? No.