dr_rachelmcshane's reviews
428 reviews

Agatha Christie has done it again! She gave a mystery that had me guessing from beginning to end, and just when I thought I had figured it out, she threw a curve ball at me and showed me that I was ALMOST right, but still wrong. :) Mrs. Marple has always been my favorite Agatha Christie detective, and she didn't let me down in this book either. If you're looking for a good mystery to read and a real "page turner", Agatha Christie is the author to read. The only word I can think of to describe "The Body In The Library" is this: MASTERPIECE....but then again, that's what I use to describe ALL of the Queen of Crime's stories.

Being my first "real" western to read, it took me awhile to get into it. But once I did, it had me "hook, line, and sinker". I will definitely be reading another soon.

This book really had me confused at first. I had read other Charles Martin books, and loved them. But about fifteen chapters into this one, I wondered if this was the same Charles Martin I knew and loved. I couldn't figure out where he was going with his mysterious main character, or why almost half way into the book I felt like I still didn't know anything about him. But suddenly, everything fell into place. It all made sense, and from that point on, I was an emotional wreck. Charles Martin has written a beautiful story about a little girl with a physical heart that needs replacing, and a grown man with a spiritual heart that needs healing as well. Through love, he brings the two into one, and leaves you with an incredible story of love, forgiveness, peace, and healing that will take your breath away.

This book is one of the best pieces of literature I have ever read. The style of writing, the story, the setting, the characters, the life-lessons and morals it teaches: this books is beautiful. I have read it and re-read it a few times. It is a timeless classic that everyone should read at least once in their life.

I've read this book three times. It's one of my favorite classics ever. The way F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the story to reflect the 20's and society in that time is just incredible. This book is much more than just a love story. It's a painting of a culture when people cared all about parties and fun and none about people and who they hurt. And of the two men who tried their hardest to embrace that culture, but got lost in the shallowness of it all. It's one of my favorite books of all time, and a classic that everyone should read at least once in their life.

This is probably my favorite book of all time. I have read it and re-read it and re-read so many times. Every time I read it, it touches my heart. It is a beautiful portrayal not only of Hosea and his wife, but also of God's love towards people. I love it and would suggest it to EVERYONE.

"Dove In the Window" is a murder mystery set in the small western town of San Celina. Benni Harper is married to the police chief, and can't help but meddle in local mysteries, despite the many criminals, threats, and dangers that come her way. She's like a modern-day, rough on the edges, cowgirl Miss Marple. But it's no Agatha Christie masterpiece. The plot of the book seems like it takes awhile to pick up, and then feels a bit rushed towards the end, but the colorful characters and intimate setting easily make up for it. "Dove in the Window" is a puzzling murder mystery with a refreshing small Western town and big hearted cowgirls and good ol' cowboys that you are bound to fall in love with by the end of the book.

As a big Simon and Garfunkel fan, I was immediately intrigued when I heard about Art's book Still Waters. I ordered it from Amazon and read it through in just a few days. It was interesting, but it definitely has it's pros and cons, depending on how you approach it.
If you're a little but like me, you might approach it as a big Simon and Garfunkel lover. If so, you'll probably genuinely enjoy this book. It was a good read coming from that point of view. I knew a lot of facts about Art's life, so it was intriguing to feels his personal emotions and feeling through his autobiographical prose and poems.
BUT if you're a little bit like me, and approach it as an avid reader of poetry, you might NOT enjoy this book. Although each poem is apparently overflowing with emotion, the words aren't always as beautiful. The structure is free verse to the point that it just might drive you insane. I enjoy free verse poetry, but was a tiny bit annoyed to find many of his "poems" were simply paragraphs on a page. Also, each poem and prose piece is very specific to his life, so if you don't know anything about him, you might be confused or lost in the meaning behind them.
If you are a lot like me, you're probably a huge Simon and Garfunkel fan AND an avid poetry reader. And if you read it from that point of view, you'll probably find this book fairly interesting and worth the read. It's best to go in expecting a few things.
First of all, although it's classified as poetry, it's mostly prose, and the few poems it does have are absolutely structure-less.
Secondly, the pieces in Still Waters are so specific that if you know nothing about Art Garfunkel's life, it will simply be random words on paper.
But finally, you must realize that although he's no Dickinson, Whitman, Frost, or Angelou, Art Garfunkel does have a way with words and a uses it to beautifully spill his heart out on paper.

This book was absolutely incredible! I loved it so much, I read it in one day-I couldn't put it down. Granted, it wasn't the most intense book I've ever read, but that's because it's a non-fiction story. It's one of the most beautiful love stories I have ever read. It shows what true commitment is, and gives a real-life example of sticking together through thick and thin. I loved how it showed their personal relationships with God, and how it affected their decision to stay together, even though Krickett didn't know the man who called himself her husband. The beauty of their love and commitment brought me to tears. I would definitely suggest the book to everyone. It's an easy read-180 pages-and it will absolutely be worth your time.