Customer Comments

Nieyda has commented on (17) products.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Nieyda, January 8, 2013

I loved this book. Both parts of the book are very well-done, and although each seems to be separate at first, Lee does a great job of weaving in themes from the first into the second. The children have very child-like perspectives. They do not seem adult beyond their years. Every character - particularly each of the Finches - is distinctive. I liked how Atticus shows depth. He is not heroic simply because of who he is defending as an attorney but his entire outlook on the case and its significance to his family and career. This book seems so simple, but it's about several things at once - racism, injustice, social status, innocence, accusation, and experience.

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Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Nieyda, January 8, 2013

I couldn't put this down. Probably read it twice from re-reading paragraphs I found particularly juicy. At no time does depth and understanding of character or situation depend on any knowledge of, or interest in the historical period covered. Everything is there on the page in full sensurround 3-D human condition. It is a stunning piece of fiction, and I had no idea what I was in for.

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The End of Boys by Peter Brown Hoffmeister

Nieyda, January 8, 2013

I absolutely loved this book. There are parts of this book that I earmarked to read again, simply for the beautiful writing. But what is really amazing to me is the ability that Hoffmeister has to show the flaws in people. It is a powerful thing to show the shortcomings in a parenting style and how that can turn around and be alright. People learn from their mistakes. We all make parenting mistakes and instead of coming away from this book hating his parents I came away loving them for their human frailties and being able to learn from their mistakes. This book is a true example in the power of forgiveness and understanding. I highly recommend this book

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Bloodlines: An Irene Kelly Novel (Irene Kelly Mysteries) by Jan Burke

Nieyda, January 8, 2013

Bloodlines is a complex novel with several parallel stories. After about the first fifty pages or so, when most of the characters had been introduced, I found it to be addictive. Structured in three parts with decades between them, the book is a window into the past that's a real tribute to the author's attention to detail. The last of the three parts of the book might not have been quite as credible or satisfying as the first two, but all-in-all, it was a great ride. I'll be reading other books by Jan Burke

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The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0 by Christopher Moore

Nieyda, January 8, 2013

The Stupidest Angel is anything but the normal Christmas tale. Christopher Moore has revived the residents of Pine Cove, and some other characters from his other novels, with all their silliness and insanity and added an angel that is one part the Terminator and two part Jim Carry from Dumb and Dumber. This rather short novel has more one-liners than a Henny Youngman convention and more laughs than a barrel of tea party congressmen. I especially loved the return of Roberto T. Fruitbat from Island of the Sequined Love Nun but you do not need to have read any of Moore's other novels to enjoy this one.

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