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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
I both liked and disliked this book at the same time. I would equate this book to a french film; you are introduced to different characters, bad things happen and then it ends.
At the heart of the story you have two people fighting over a house. At first I was rooting for Massoud Amir Behrani who had to flee Iran after the Iranian revolution with his family and since coming to America has been struggling to find a respectable job. He purchases a repossessed home from the county with the intent to become a real estate agent. Whereas Kathy Niccolo was given the home by her father and has received multiple letters from the county but throws them away without opening them. From the beginning I had trouble with her character because she let life happen to her instead of making life happen. She continues to make one bad decision by another.
Because this book was on Oprah's book list I forced myself through the book thinking it will get better which it doesn't. Both main characters continue to let their pride and emotions rule their actions with no one as the voice of reason. Even though the story line is not unique the author does a great job of making these characters very real and you so want them to make the right choice but they don't. This is very much like real life which is sometimes very refreshing.
At the heart of the story you have two people fighting over a house. At first I was rooting for Massoud Amir Behrani who had to flee Iran after the Iranian revolution with his family and since coming to America has been struggling to find a respectable job. He purchases a repossessed home from the county with the intent to become a real estate agent. Whereas Kathy Niccolo was given the home by her father and has received multiple letters from the county but throws them away without opening them. From the beginning I had trouble with her character because she let life happen to her instead of making life happen. She continues to make one bad decision by another.
Because this book was on Oprah's book list I forced myself through the book thinking it will get better which it doesn't. Both main characters continue to let their pride and emotions rule their actions with no one as the voice of reason. Even though the story line is not unique the author does a great job of making these characters very real and you so want them to make the right choice but they don't. This is very much like real life which is sometimes very refreshing.
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Beautifully written, but I couldn't sympathize with any of the main characters, and found myself so angry at the ending I almost threw the book across the airport.
This book had me on the edge of my seat; reading when I should have been getting ready for work or cooking dinner. Such a complicated tale of how things can go off the rails with one bad decision after another. Can’t wait to watch the movie and see if it measure up!
I would give this five stars for the author's writing. I've never met such complex characters. The situation is a simple problem yet also, oh so complex. The writing is beautiful and detailed.
I gave three stars for how much I enjoyed reading it though. I didn't like the subject matter much and the characters were so complex I couldn't figure out who to 'root for'. I don't like being on such unstable ground as a reader!
I gave three stars for how much I enjoyed reading it though. I didn't like the subject matter much and the characters were so complex I couldn't figure out who to 'root for'. I don't like being on such unstable ground as a reader!
Feeling too pleased and happy with your life? Read this. It will fix that in a big hurry.
gripping story. very touching. kept flitting between sympathy for both parties.
Believe I picked this up at a thrift store. Didn't even know what it was about. I wasn't into it at first but it picked up towards the end. I've read romance novels that were less trashy than this. This is a story of white people and refugees and a house.
While I was reading in the break room a co worker asked if I had seen the movie. So I watched the movie immediately after finishing. My main beef with the movie was the lack of the mustache on Lester, because the book focused on that stash A LOT. Although I pretty much always prefer the book, I do think the movie had a better ending. Another thing I noticed was I cried a little for the movie.
I don't think I usually cry for books. I wonder if it is actually seeing the emotion and sadness in people's face that draws a deeper empathy than reading words on paper. Interesting, no?
While I was reading in the break room a co worker asked if I had seen the movie. So I watched the movie immediately after finishing. My main beef with the movie was the lack of the mustache on Lester, because the book focused on that stash A LOT. Although I pretty much always prefer the book, I do think the movie had a better ending. Another thing I noticed was I cried a little for the movie.
I don't think I usually cry for books. I wonder if it is actually seeing the emotion and sadness in people's face that draws a deeper empathy than reading words on paper. Interesting, no?