City Travel Guides > Books > Literature and Fiction

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.Smoke Screen: A Novel
City Travel Guides > Books > Literature and Fiction
by: Sandra Brown

August 12, 2008
I am a huge fan of Brown's mysteries. So I was excited as usual when this latest installment came out. Unfortunately, the book didn't meet her usual standards of quality. The plot is fairly thin, with lots of presumptions for the reader to just accept. While the main characters are trying to prove they were framed for crimes they didn't commit, the story unfolds. To get to the bottom of it all, many plots and subplots are introduced. Characters are portrayed in a two-dimensional manner. When all is revealed in the end, the reasons for the initial situation and subsequent actions are not believable. There is some romance but it is subdued and clearly not a main point of the plot (which is fine). I think it is fairly easy to guess the who-dun ... Read More:
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.Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip--Confessions of a Cynical Waiter
City Travel Guides > Books > Literature and Fiction
by: The Waiter

July 29, 2008
This an interesting book chock full of the gritty behind the scene details of working in a few New York restaurants. Chances are if you liked Tony Bourdain's 'A Cooks Tour' you will enjoy this, same idea different perspective. Some of the stories are really funny while others are just plain scary. You'll never look at your waitstaff the same way again!
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.The Little Book
City Travel Guides > Books > Literature and Fiction
by: Selden Edwards

August 14, 2008
Truthfully, I am only 1/2 way through this excellent novel. I decided to write a review now, because I don't know if I'll finish the book... I just do not want it to end.

Selden Edwards shows his commitment and talent, taking decades to write his first novel. The characters, the nonlinear time line, the familiar style of his prose; all are worthy of great praise. For the avid reader, this book will feel familiar as it winds its way across continents and centuries. For others who happen upon this book it is an even better introduction to what a Great America novel should be: captivating, stimulating, entertaining and witty.

Cheers to Mr. Edwards! Please don't wait another 30 years to write another.
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.Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Bourne Sanction
City Travel Guides > Books > Literature and Fiction
by: Eric Van Lustbader

July 29, 2008
This was a very difficult read - typos, grammatical errors, etc.

I found the story line to be okay (at best) and was at least mildly entertained...but towards the end I was in disbelief at the number of resolutions to plots that came about by coincidental meetings, events, and even a child in Munich (with a British Accent) saying, "...right as rain" - Literally this saved the day! Lame...After the first couple coincidences that resolved tension or a dangerous situation I began to be skeptical that the book would end in any kind of dynamic way...I was right!

Lustbader seemingly tried to put too many plot twists and "interesting" side stories into a book that he was not prepared to write out to any good conclusion...it felt like he was writing ... Read More:
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.The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
City Travel Guides > Books > Literature and Fiction
by: Mark Haddon

May 18, 2004
Author Mark Haddon has created a realistic fictional autistic teen with an amazing way of describing the life and people that surround him. But what I love most about the book is how much the main character, 15-year-old Christopher, reminds me of my son Nigel (aside from the fact that Christopher is incredibly good at math, and Nigel is at the opposite end of that spectrum). I love experiencing Christopher's usually detached observation, his mannerisms that are so close to home for me. I could identify with the intense love coupled with the equally intense frustration that his father feels raising him alone. When I read Christopher's thought processes (portrayed so well by Haddon), I recognize what my son has been able to convey to me about his own.

I love reading ... Read More:
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.Ghost Train to the Eastern Star: On the Tracks of the Great Railway Bazaar
City Travel Guides > Books > Literature and Fiction
by: Paul Theroux

August 18, 2008
I will spare few minutes of my precious time to write those lines.
I was born and raised in France, then moved to Singapore in 1992 where my daughters and I became proud Singaporean in 2006.
Yesterday I was a Borders and my eyes got caught by Mr Theroux's book "Ghost Train to the Eastern Star: On the track of the Great Railway Bazar" latest edition. I was in the intention of purchasing this book until I read what he said regarding his stopover in Singapore.
I was shocked by such critics, clichés and totally wrong analyses. Mr Theroux understood absolutely nothing of our country, our people, our values etc.... and think he is in position of despising us and our beautiful island.
After reading those pages with sadness and even disgust, I decided that I will not buy ... Read More:
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.Nineteen Minutes
City Travel Guides > Books > Literature and Fiction
by: Jodi Picoult

February 05, 2008
This was the first of Picoult's novels that I've read, and I've become addicted. Well-written, timely topic. Engrossing.
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.Love the One You're With
City Travel Guides > Books > Literature and Fiction
by: Emily Giffin

May 13, 2008
In Emily Giffin's fourth novel, LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH, Ellen has a wonderful life with her husband Andy. She has a successful career as a photographer and she truly believes her life to be perfect. But after a chance encounter with her ex, Leo, Ellen's life goes into a tail spin. For Ellen, Leo was "the one who got away," and his reappearance in her life makes Ellen question everything about the life she's chosen.

What makes LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH stand out for me is the writing. Emily's writing never disappoints-- she has a way of infusing so much feeling into every scene. She's not afraid to make her characters unlikeable and is able to make her readers fall in love with them, despite their flaws or bad decisions. Most of all, this book will make you think about your life and ... Read More:
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.What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
City Travel Guides > Books > Literature and Fiction
by: Haruki Murakami

July 29, 2008
I am enthralled with Haruki. This is the first work of his that I have read. What a delight! I will be reading more of his work.
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.Their Eyes Were Watching God
City Travel Guides > Books > Literature and Fiction
by: Zora Neale Hurston

May 30, 2006
This book sucked. Richard Wright was correct when he stated that Zora Neale Hurston pandered to white prejudiced readers. The way Hurston's black characters speak in this book portrays African Americans as stupid, easily fooled, and naive. The story was boring, pointless, and poorly written. The book, in short, was unbelievably bad, and if it weren't for I school assignment, I wouldn't have wasted time and money reading this bilge.
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