What was the latest book you bought because of a review? Did it live up to your expectations? Why or Why not?
TerryFromTifton@webtv.net
I bought The Christmas Train by David Baldacci after reading several reviews. From the first page to the last, it was pure entertainment! As an avid reader, I seldom read book reviews. In a bookstore, I look for favorite authors and intriguing titles.
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lanistrom@hotmail.com
Yes, Tropic of Night by Michael Gruber had incredible reviews; in fact, it said it was hard to put down. True to its word, I was up to 4 am to finish it and got so interested in voodooism, that I bought 2 more books on the subject!
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ROMERO731@aol.com
I bought The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I thought the book started off strong, but I was disappointed with the ending. And I also found many parts of the book too unbelievable --- I was disappointed and would not recommend it to anyone.
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djspoon@attbi.com
William Lashner's Hostile Witness. I read Bookreporter's review last night and ordered it immediately, so I haven't read it yet. But it is my favorite subject: legal thrillers.
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mama40@kinex.net
I bought The Cave by Jose Saramago. It was so hyped up and the review made me want to buy it. However, when I started reading it, it took about 2 or 3 chapters to even get remotely interesting. It did pick up a little bit and I finished the book, though I was very disappointed and thought whoever said in the review that this writer is brilliant cannot know what they are talking about. I gave it to my mom; she is an avid reader like myself, and she cannot seem to get into it either.
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cdonovan@peoplepc.com
The last book I bought because of a good review was Someone to Watch Over Me by Judith McNaught. Although I enjoyed the book immensely, I wish I had taken it out of the library first. I would not have bought it.
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terri.dana@verizon.net
The last book I read solely because of a review was The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. This is not my typical reading fare; I usually read nonfiction and historical books. But the reviews forThe Lovely Bones were so pervasive and persistent that I thought I'd give it a try.
Wow! I was amazed. I read this wonderful book in one afternoon, hungrily tearing into page after page. The characters in this book were so well developed, their situation so strangely believable, that I was hooked. Sebold's image of Heaven is rendered so beautifully and believable that, even knowing she could not possibly have been there, the reader is somehow comforted by it. The subsequent disintegration of the remaining family members' lives is something that you don't want to have happen, but you understand it nonetheless.
I would recommend this book to everyone, no matter your reading tastes. Miss Sebold is a wonderful storyteller.
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jacobson312@earthlink.net
I read Lost in America by Dr. Sherwin Nuland because of a review in a newspaper. Great writing, excellent take on the father-son relationship between immigrant father and first generation American, and the strength of overcoming a variety of obstacles. It was better than I thought it would be.
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DStegmanCrawford@aol.com
The Hours by Michael Cunningham. I thought it would be good, since the movie was widely hailed --- I thought it was boring, had no plot, and was a waste of time.
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Sydpep@aol.com
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I had almost given up hope that a new book could be good and well written. This book restored my faith in new writers. Now I need another one by Jane Hamilton.
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Judyal7@aol.com
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. This book exceeded my expectations --- it's wonderful. I don't put a lot of emphasis on reviews unless it's someone I'm familiar with. I have better success with reviews by "average" readers than professional reviewers. I read reviews more to find out story lines than someone else's opinion about style.
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CandyM49@aol.com
I read a review of The Language of Sisters by Amy Yurk and chose to read the book myself. It was worth the read and the review was on target.
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LMaria1973@netscape.net
The last book I wanted to read because of a review wasAtonement by Ian McEwan. I didn't even manage to get halfway through before I put it down, probably for good. I was terribly uninterested in whatever the story was about. I must have missed something since the book is still raved about.
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LEELEE114@aol.com
The last book I bought because of reviews was The Lovely Bones. Despite the critical acclaim it received, it did nothing for me. Am I the only one in the world who did not see what everyone was raving about?
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cbaldwinutah@msn.com
Some reviews and readers' comments on a site I visit led me to a wonderful book, The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons. It enjoyed an almost cult like following by readers there. And now I'm one of those followers. It was such an engrossing, absorbing read. The characters are unforgettable, some of the best I've ever encountered. I can't get them out of my head. The book takes place in Russia, WWII. It is a very, very romantic tale but then so much more. A strong character study and riveting historical saga about a woman and man that transcend their young ages by their maturity and courage in the face of great danger, turmoil, suffering and love. But not all is lost as these two return in the sequel Tatiana and Alexander. Two unbelievable characters that you won't soon forget.
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JRG0143@aol.com
My latest purchase was Blessings by Anna Quindlen. It met all of my expectations and thensome. A "feel good" read that I thoroughly enjoyed!
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WmsWtrkt@aol.com
After reading about The Lovely Bones on Bookreporter, I not only read it myself but recommended it to a friend who is an avid reader. We both thought it lived up to our expectations.
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dlhart@bellsouth.net
Soul Circus by George Pelecanos. Since this was my first Pelecanos book, I didn't really have any expectations. The book is top notch! A unique blend of fact and fiction, how it is and how it might be. Presented through truly unforgettable characters, the action never stops.
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JmkWild@aol.com
I bought Life of Pi by Yann Martel because of several interesting reviews and was not disappointed. The originality of the story and the author's style made for a very good reading experience. I'm still thinking about it two weeks later!
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mktab@hotmail.com
The most recent disappointing purchase was The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I think that it was published first because of the way the rape and killing of the teenager was presented. There was shock value in it. However, the rest of the story was rambling. It was as if she didn't know whose stories she wanted to tell. Some of the characters were well-developed and fleshed out, but the motivations and definitions of some (the Indian woman, the victim's mother) were only hinted at. There was a sense that the mother was important, but just as Sebold was giving insight into the mother, she wrapped up the story. Also, where was the editor? Early in the book Sebold says that certain things cannot happen, that the dead cannot do certain things on earth after they depart. However, later in the book, the dead girl engages in things that the author says she can't do.
A more surprising pleasure was The Nanny Diaries. This novel got the wrong kind of hype -- appealed to the prurient interest in readers to have a peek into the lives of the very rich. The bittersweet story between the nanny and the child, the growth of the nanny, and the sad obliviousness of the mother were totally overlooked. Instead, the shallowness of the lives of the wealthy was promoted. Toward the end, I felt like I was driving past a traffic accident, and I wanted to avert my eyes to avoid seeing the carnage.
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marilyn.angello@us.mullermartini.com
I bought two books recently because of outstanding reviews. The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber was a terrific novel and I also read Ian McEwan's Atonement based on wonderful write-ups. I was glad I did in both cases.
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lietteperron@videotron.ca
I bought Blind Descent by Nevada Barr after reading about the author on your website and hearing someone talk about her on a local radio phone-in show. I loved the book and am planning to work my way through all of her books as soon as I can.
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jeanmaurie@angelsloveyou.com
Because of all the reviews I bought The Lovely Bones! I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I couldn't wait until the library got it. Boy was I disappointed! I tried so hard to like it, but I would either fall asleep or I'd have to put it aside and try again. I never finished it. I don't understand why people liked it so much. Ugh Ugh Ugh.
The review made it sound like it would be interesting to read but I just couldn't stand the way it was written. First of all, I don't believe that dead people sit and watch what is going on in our lives like she did. I feel they are off learning things. I don't think she would have been sorry to die. I think it could have been written in such a way as she could provide the clues to her murder, but in the mean time, it could show her doing things in the other world: learning how to move objects via thoughts, explaining what it was like living there. It could have been written much more interestingly.
Sorry I don't remember the character's name. It's been awhile since I tried reading The Lovely Bones. I know I would have written it from a different and more interesting perspective.
Some friends got the audio of the book and said it was much more interesting listening than reading it. I fall asleep listening to audio books, so I didn't try. I am trying to figure out who to give The Lovely Bones to. Maybe I'll trade it in a used bookstore for something more to my liking.
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Tripwire61@aol.com
I could not wait to get a copy of The Bone Vault by Linda Fairstein. It was all that the reviews said it would be and more. Excellent!
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fkerner@pubproj.com
The Life of Pi by Yann Martel did not live up to my expectations.
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Susmu@aol.com
I read Forever by Pete Hamill and was disappointed. I was expecting more history of New York City than the book had. I would give it 2 stars. I haven't recommended it to anyone.
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JenniferKtspws@aol.com
The latest book I bought due to a review was Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg. This book received so much high praise in wherever I read about it that I couldn't resist.
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MAX125@aol.com
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold --- a good read, but not up to my expectations.
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jennysnell@netspeed.com.au
With all the hype surrounding the film release of The Hours by Michael Cunningham, I thought I would love to read this before viewing the film. This was a Pulitzer Prize winning novel and I had high expectations for this one. The reading experience I had was very disappointing. I felt there was little connection between the characters, and I wonder if reading Virginia Woolf's novel Mrs. Dalloway first may have been an advantage to understanding this one??
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DaveRudy@aol.com
On the basis of a review, I bought The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. This was before it made the Top 10 list, and I read it fairly quickly. I liked it but am amazed that it is still on the Top 10 list. To me, it was different and an OK read, but not up with books like Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom or even God's Debris by Scott Adams.
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VANLVR@aol.com
The last book I purchased because of a review was George and Laura: Portrait of an American Marriage by Christopher Anderson. It was totally enjoyable just as the review said.
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JMccorm817@aol.com
Reviews sent me out to buy The Lovely Bones. I did enjoy it and found it intriguing, but I'm not quite the ardent fan as are many others.
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Puzzler125@aol.com
The latest book I read because of the review I had also read wasThe Idiot Girls' Action Adventure Club by Laurie Notaro. Immediately after finishing it, I started it all over again and also have recommended it to my reading pals. It was the funniest book I've ever read (too bad I didn't see the laugh out loud poll).
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GusLucky@aol.com
Someone to Watch Over Me by Judith McNaught. I thoroughly enjoyed this page-turner --- it lived up to the review I read.
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Djeter1@aol.com
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold --- it was everything I anticipated it would be.
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Greenwolf@collegeclub.com
The latest book I bought because of the review is Blessings by Anna Quindlen. I didn't care for the way it was written and the ending was a real turnoff. I had hoped for something happy to happen in the end, and I was disappointed it didn't happen.
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djspoon@attbi.com
William Lashner's Hostile Witness. It is living up to the review and more! Love it!
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MARILYN190@aol.com
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber. Great reviews, I bought and read the book because of the wonderful reviews.
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JAMILLE.KRUPA@ROCHE.COM
The last book I ordered as a result of Word of Mouth was All Together in One Place by Jane Kirkpatrick. I never thought that I could get into Wagon Trains West but I am hooked and I love Kirkpatrick.
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osager@swbell.net
I bought Bee Season by Myla Goldberg when a friend of mine raved about it. I then went to your site and to Amazon's and read the reviews. I was not disappointed. A great book and one I would read again. It was easy to read and resonated with humor and honesty.
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LenaEllis2000@aol.com
Garden of Shadows by V.C. Andrews. It was great like I thought it would be.
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