1 to 13 of 13
Review Date: 8/3/2006
From the jacket:
A missing wallet...the suicide of a local journalist...a notorious pickpocket found murdered with his tounge cut out...
It is twenties Vienna, a city crippled by inflation, poverty and petty crime, and one so numbed to the frequency of suicide and murder that it takes the chance involvement of Inspektor Dovisch to prevent the day's third murder from becoming just another statistic in police files.
But Dobisch is involved against the advice of his superiors, who warn him off, reduce his manpower, increase his workload, and obstruct the investigation at every turn. As Dobisch digs deeper, all the indications are of corruption at the senior level, in the police force, government and in the business community, threatening the political stability of the country.
Against the backdrop of Vienna's tarnished splendour, the drama is played out between a remouseless financial empire that penetrates every level of Austrian society and Dobisch, whose attempt to avery national catastrophe leads him through a tangled web of treachery and deceit.
A missing wallet...the suicide of a local journalist...a notorious pickpocket found murdered with his tounge cut out...
It is twenties Vienna, a city crippled by inflation, poverty and petty crime, and one so numbed to the frequency of suicide and murder that it takes the chance involvement of Inspektor Dovisch to prevent the day's third murder from becoming just another statistic in police files.
But Dobisch is involved against the advice of his superiors, who warn him off, reduce his manpower, increase his workload, and obstruct the investigation at every turn. As Dobisch digs deeper, all the indications are of corruption at the senior level, in the police force, government and in the business community, threatening the political stability of the country.
Against the backdrop of Vienna's tarnished splendour, the drama is played out between a remouseless financial empire that penetrates every level of Austrian society and Dobisch, whose attempt to avery national catastrophe leads him through a tangled web of treachery and deceit.
Review Date: 2/4/2006
Oprah's Book Club!
Review Date: 3/20/2006
I couldn't put this book down...b/c it's wishlisted and I wanted to pass it on and get a credit! Despite the hype I was very disappointed. It was refreshing to read about a "heavy set" heroine, but the story as a whole was over the top and not believable.
I tend not to read the synopsis on the back cover before diving into a book b/c it often contains too much of a spoiler for my liking. Instead, I take a peak after reading the first third or so of the book. True to form, the synopsis speaks of her trip to Hollywood and back - something that doesn't take place until well into the second half of the book.
Just my two cents...
I tend not to read the synopsis on the back cover before diving into a book b/c it often contains too much of a spoiler for my liking. Instead, I take a peak after reading the first third or so of the book. True to form, the synopsis speaks of her trip to Hollywood and back - something that doesn't take place until well into the second half of the book.
Just my two cents...
Review Date: 6/30/2006
At first I was skeptical of this book thinking that it was going to be full of moaning about menopause and the hassles of aging and as a 30-something I wouldn't be able to relate. I was pleased to find that there was an entertaining (albeit predictable) storyline - the ages and experiences of the women were, in the end, a nice change from the standard heroine. I'm even considering reading the sequel!
Review Date: 10/26/2007
What a brilliant book! It dragged a bit at the end as it tied into "true" biblical stories. It may have been more engaging if I remembered the references from my days in Sunday School. =)
Review Date: 9/3/2007
Helpful Score: 4
I loved George's Cleopatra and Henry VIII books, but this one didn't captivate me as much. It was an interesting story, but in my opinion didn't need to be stretched to 800+ pages.
Review Date: 5/31/2006
Helpful Score: 1
I was SO engrossed by this book! The narrative was very easy to read even as he jumped between generations. Although it is a long book I hated reaching the end. I sure hope "they" don't ruin the story by making a movie of it...
Review Date: 11/18/2007
Helpful Score: 2
This was a fantastic book! I really liked that fact that the author dove into the story immediately - didn't fill 20+ pages with needless background information. I got to know the main character as the mystery unfolded. It's a quick read - dark, yes, but far from hopeless.
Review Date: 3/29/2006
From Library Journal:
This first novel opens as Sundiata, a successful basketmaker, is getting married. Lisa Allen, a teacher who is working on a Ph.D. in communications, meets the romantic and persuasive Walter at the reception. Lisa's older sister, Danielle, has it all: a daughter, a near-perfect husband, and a high-powered career. Life should be good for these three independent and successful African American women. But Walter's risky behavior dooms his and Lisa's marriage, Danielle is swept away by an attraction to a younger co-worker, and Sundi must cope with the fact that her marriage expectations are not the same as her husband's. This intense novel follows the best friends for some months as they chide, goad, and support one another through crises and decisions. While not as evenly written as such genre titles as Terry McMillan's Waiting To Exhale (LJ 5/1/92), this is a worthwhile purchase for most popular fiction collections.
- Louise Saylor, formerly with Eastern Washington Univ. Lib., Cheney
This first novel opens as Sundiata, a successful basketmaker, is getting married. Lisa Allen, a teacher who is working on a Ph.D. in communications, meets the romantic and persuasive Walter at the reception. Lisa's older sister, Danielle, has it all: a daughter, a near-perfect husband, and a high-powered career. Life should be good for these three independent and successful African American women. But Walter's risky behavior dooms his and Lisa's marriage, Danielle is swept away by an attraction to a younger co-worker, and Sundi must cope with the fact that her marriage expectations are not the same as her husband's. This intense novel follows the best friends for some months as they chide, goad, and support one another through crises and decisions. While not as evenly written as such genre titles as Terry McMillan's Waiting To Exhale (LJ 5/1/92), this is a worthwhile purchase for most popular fiction collections.
- Louise Saylor, formerly with Eastern Washington Univ. Lib., Cheney
Review Date: 8/24/2006
I didn't really enjoy it. It wasn't very engaging and littered with lower class British slang. I've spent a good year plus of my life in England and still found myself repeatedly befuddled by the slang. I appreciate the author's committment to the homeless community, but didn't get much out of reading Stuart.
Review Date: 4/24/2006
One of the best books I've ever read!!
Review Date: 5/29/2006
definately not one of his best...
Review Date: 5/31/2006
Helpful Score: 1
I LOVED Middlesex, so wanted to read more from Eugenides - I was extremely disappointed. The Virgin Suicides seemed to me to be an incomplete novel - there didn't seem to be much of a point to the story. Glad it was a short book so I could move on to something else...
1 to 13 of 13
