If you can totally ignore the blatant errors in this Victorian tale, and just concentrate on the story, the book is passable. But, being a British Victorian Fiction major in College, I could not. The author did not do his homework in terms of what was in use at the time, what people wore, ate or spoke like and just over-used the comma in general. I would not reccommend this to a picky reader!

I think taking this perspective (of a white woman looking in at the world of african-american maids in the south during this critical period in history) is unique and makes me want to recommend that people read the book. But, I don't think the author winds-up the book very well. The focus shifts too suddenly from a good balance between the two worlds to being all about the author and her struggle to get the book written and published. I'm not buying a lot of the sterotypes in the book because they were too heavy-handed - things are much more shades of grey on both sides of the fence. But - I would think the book would appeal across generations and would be good for almost any club.

This is a fabulous book not only for the pictures of the novels inside, the smart chronological organization and the heft and sturdy binding, but the sheer ability to start to "check-off" things on a "list". I immediately went through it and checked the ones I had read and was pleasantly surprised I was halfway there - and only in my 30's! Ah, the joy of a good education.

These books are addictive, but not in the cheesy, young adult sense. Sure, the narrator is an 11 year old girl, but the subject matter and treatment that the story receives is way beyond that and clearly meant for adults. I loved the souble story line going on in this second installment of the series and am thrilled that Alan plans for 7 at the current time!!

The author takes what is a true event and takes A TON of creative license with the facts. That being said, I still love the story. I just hate to think that people read this and think that what is on paper is what really happened and/or that the timeline that is represented is really true. I think he could have done more with the middle of the story surrounding the alleged breakdown, and the ending is a little far fetched (And totally false) but overall it is well-written and certainly compelling.

Being of Japanese descent, I am always amazed at how little Americans know about the Japanese being sent to Internment Camps during WWII. This book takes that critical history lesson one step further and, in the format of what is really an epic poem, gives the reader a background of the journey to America and the struggle to adapt and make a life leading up to the Camps that took all of that away.

I really expected more out of this book than an overly technical explanation of wave-radio signals for torpedos. I never got the feeling that the two stories of the two "inventors" was really put together well and I there were huge chunks of time that were given short shrift.

Once you accept that this is just a fictionalized biography of a once-famous bank robber who has a unique memory of his past, you will enjoy the ride.

When you find yourself, near the end of the book, just wanting the guy to find her so that you can stop reading, you know something is wrong. That whole sequence was so ridiculous and drawn-out, it was as if the author was begging for someone to turn the book into a movie. Please don\\\'t.