Customer Comments

This novel was so beautifully written, the characters became part of my network of friends, New Hampshire became my second home, and I felt as if I had kayaked the Allagash River. This novel is meant for the biologist and the romantic amongst us. As a biologist, it touched my inquisitive nerves... and, as a romantic, it touched my heart. And, yes, there were times when I found myself with tears streaming down my face at the sweet and poignant moments. The love between Mary and Cobb, their Yeti Love, is what so many of us dream of, yet fail to achieve.... that's not to say that the loves of our lives are not fulfilling, but there is something so special between Mary and Cobb, the reader can't help but feel as if their's is a unique, 1 in 6 Billion, love. I am recommending this book to all my friends, especially the biologists and the self-proclaimed naturalists in my sphere.

Ugh. I hate writing negatively about a book. But, this is one of the rare books where I feel compelled to do so. The topic (teen-angst-ridden-girl) is a rich field to be mined. But, for the love of all that is bibliographically holy, this book is dripping with excessive adjectives. Sometimes, I only need to know that the car is blue. I don't need to know that it is the azure blue of Meditteranean coastal waters on a mid-afternoon in Spain five days after a lunar eclipse (alright, she didn't actually write that, but this is similar to the type of descriptions on page after page). Seriously, if you want a heavy read, this book is for you. Otherwise, go for something more fun. On the bright side, this is the first book in many years that gave me the freedom to stop reading half-way through without finishing.

I tend not to read too many fiction novels because I don't suspend disbelief so easily. But, this is one book with which I suspended disbelief and thoroughly enjoyed the very touching storyline. The book came highly recommended by a friend and I am glad I read it.

For those of us who wished we could take our children around the world - or wish our parents had taken us - this is a true-life story of a single father lovingly trying to instill into his two children an appreciation for other cultures and their environmental roots. Along the way, he battles his emotions over the break-up of his marriage, the loss of his brother to cancer, and the trials of raising two adolescent children who are intimately linked to the conveniences of modern Western culture. The love of the father for his children is evident and is inspiring.

Is it possible to enjoy a book with such a difficult premise? We can read about murder. We can read about rape. But, if you are like me, pedophilia has been beyond where I want to go. But, I did. And, I'm grateful. "Edinburgh", by Alexander Chee, is about more than a despicable act. It is about the transformation of a man. No child should have to go through what Fee goes through in this story. But, children do. And, this novel puts a face on it and gives us hope and beauty. It teaches us what we already know - that a person can be more than a victim.

While browsing through the stacks at Powell's, I stumbled across this book. I hadn't heard of the author or the book. I'm so glad I decided to buy it. The description and "review comments" on the back of the book were nothing special, but I was intrigued by the title. Judging from it's description, I thought this would be a story connecting me to a child, perhaps giving me insight into my own childhood. That is partly what happened. But, I also gained some perspective regarding parenting and how children, even siblings, perceive their parents differently. Additionally, I gained some insight into how parents with the best intentions can be largely misunderstood by their children (and misunderstand their children!). I found each of the main characters (a mother, a father, and two sons of an upper-middle class suburban Philadelphia family) likable and interesting in their own right. Peripheral characters, as they came and went, were also interesting and kept me engaged. I found this book in the gay and lesbian section, but I wouldn't say it is necessarily a gay-themed book. Because the main character is a child through a good portion of the story, sexuality has only a limited role. But, there is a growing up and "coming of age" context that I think gay men, lesbians, transgendered, and heterosexual men and women can all relate to. I think virtually everyone can read this book and identify with the characters and their situations on some level.