Customer Comments

A hefty journalistic volume recounting the paths of three preeminent female newscasters. Two of the three are younger than I, but I recall hearing supposedly wise people surmising why there would never be females in the news business. (One of the reasons was that their voices were too shrill.) These three cajoled, manipulated and worked their ways to the top of their profession only to seemingly reach that Peter Principled level of incompetence. (Was it really incompetence or unrealistic expectations by management.) All three women are portrayed with strengths and weaknesses. Each had a unique background as well as road to travel to the top of the news mountain. I completely wallowed in this book but am dismayed that even in these "enlightened" times a woman can't seem to hold on to a prestigious anchor chair longer than five years. Whose problem is that?

I trudged through Koch's previous book, "The Dinner", since I had immense trouble with the actions which were the basis for the dinner. After reading this book, I really wonder about the writer's mind. A mind that can write so brilliantly such a despicable tale. Dr. Marc Schlosser is a general practitioner whose contempt for his patients oozes from the page, so much so I had trouble being pulled into the story. I detested Schlosser. Why would I want to read almost 400 pages about this sleeze? The answer is that one of his patients dies and the reader is slowly manipulated into hanging on to find out exactly what the doctor did and then why he did it. It quickly becomes clear that the doctor was seeking retribution, but for what? Not everything in the books or about the doctor is repulsive. The love and affection he has with his family, especially his daughters. He would do anything to protect them. Still, Schlosser does tend to think of himself and his needs and desires first even if no one else in the family goes along with his decisions. The book may have started slowly, but the last half of the book I read in marathon fashion. Hang in until the end and see the just or unjust desserts.

Wow! If I could have read this book in one sitting, I would have. I could not get enough time with this book nor turn the pages fast enough. I can see that it would be an excellent book for a book discussion, which is how it progressed from my TBR list. A man, recently returned from action in WW I returns to Australia, meets girl, gets job in an remote island lighthouse, woos girl through exchange of letters (every six months), marries girl, brings home to the lighthouse. After two miscarriages and a stillborn birth an unexpected arrival restores hope to the despondent girl. The decisions made with this arrival drive the rest of the story and provide much head shaking, questioning, and even anger for the reader. No way I agreed with many of the choices by several of the characters, but it certainly made for a good read and a lively discussion at the book group.

First, I should say that I am NOT a John Waters aficionado; I know who he is and have seen Hairspray the musical on film. Secondly I listened to this book on my iPad. I usually listen to books on my iPad at work at a small university library. I usually place the book on the check-out counter and do not use headphones or ear buds, but I suspected that might be embarrassing with this book. I was right. The book is divided into three parts. The first part is called "Good Rides". I guess if fulfilling every sexual fantasy you've ever had is a goal, then Waters had "good rides". The second part is "Bad Rides". These rides all involved abuse, physical harm and humiliation. Finally, the third section is what actually happened. I do not know (since I sometimes lose my concentration with audio books) if I had been informed about that previously in the book, but I suspect not. Waters finds it's not easy to get a ride, but being recognizable usually did the trick. Interesting premise.