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itsaripotter's reviews
335 reviews
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
4.0
Very good read- the story is well driven, and the alternating chapters between the two protagonists keep you interested in both sides of the narrative. The lack of quotations was a little jarring at first, but I found that it actually aided the flow of the story. In my opinion, the book felt less serious than the movie, though I liked that version as well. The colorful characters Inman encounters actually reminded me of Oh, Brother Where Art Thou?. Highly recommended, especially if you're a Blue Ridge/High Country resident.
The Alienist by Caleb Carr
5.0
Excellent book! The storytelling is so smooth that I was quickly lost within the narrative. The characters are distinct and compelling, and each chapter feels very episodic, making it a real page turner. The level of detail and research that went into this book must've been immense because you truly believe the characters know what they are discussing. The story is amusing, tragic, and exciting, and a definite must-read for anyone, Crime and Thriller lovers especially.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
4.0
Very well crafted. The beginning is slow to get into, but once you become familiar with the pacing of the story it becomes an easy read. I appreciated that there was not much of a back story because it focused events on the Father and Son's current struggles. The ending was a little cheap for me, almost feeling like a service to readers' sympathies for the Son, but overall a very good story.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
4.0
Great story and a refreshing take on the pantheon of gods worldwide. I found myself setting the book down many times so that I could research the assortment of deities that appear throughout the story. The little vignettes were great supplements to the main narrative, and each received a satisfying conclusion that added to the melancholy of the events taking place. Shadow is hard to pin as either the dumb muscle or the intelligent protagonist, a sentiment that is repeatedly echoed by other characters. The sex scene between Shadow and the mysterious woman in Cairo -her identity is revealed near the end of the book- seemed to be thrown in just for the sake of it, and I didn't understand why she becomes more prominent later in the story. She plays an slightly important role later, but her accession seemed premature. The ending was a little disappointing for me, but I think it was because I wanted to see some truly awesome god-play at work. These are minor flaws, however, in an otherwise very well-crafted book.
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
4.0
A good book that is both sad and amusing. There are times when the author's character drones on for pages and pages of pretty pointless self dialogue, but I loved the interaction between the two main brothers.