Everyone appreciated reading this book. We had an excellent discussion. One of our members is the daughter-in-law of a family who experienced similar circumstances, but made very different choices with different outcomes. We also related this book to current world situations. It is an easy read and puts another face on this time in world history.

Our book group has enjoyed both of this author's books. First, The Kite Runner and now this one. It generated interesting discussion and gave insight into the lives that women lead in oppressive countries.

We all enjoyed Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See, however this book got mixed reviews in our group. Some loved it while others thought it was rather strange. It did generate some very interesting and lively discussion about women and the differences between cultures and beliefs, especially regarding the afterlife experiences.

I thought that this book might be boring, but I was pleasantly surprised. It is very interesting. It is well written and I learned a lot about the early life of Judge Sotomayor. I would recommend it. Everyone in our book club expressed the same opinion.

This book is an insightful look into the life of a child raised in family violence and his ability to escape the cycle and enter into the world of professional opera. It is an easy read and gives many details of his struggles and his determination to succeed. One must admire the adults in his life who helped him along the way, which was not always an easy task. There are many details about the physicality of singing that I enjoyed, as a singer, but others may find them more difficult to understand. I will definitely follow this young man as he continues his career.

This book is well researched and written. Living 150 miles from Canada, I never knew that at one point in time the US considered annexing our neighbor to the north. This event played a significant role in the relationship now enjoyed by our countries. The collision of two ships in Halifax harbor and resulting explosion was terrible, but the aftermath during which people came together to help each other and rebuild was inspiring. The impact of World War I and this event on the lives of people and what they accomplished subsequently was truly inspirational. It is not easy to read about war and tragedy, but I found it very interesting.