What the hell WAS that? I'll tell you what, it was BAD, that's what it was!!

Eh. Too Jodi-Picoult-ish. And a shame, because I loved "The Double Bind" and "Skeletons at the Feast" mightily.

Whew. Another wild ride. Engrossing, despite the fact that Lisbeth and Mikael never really are together, and hampered by scattered chunks of clunky writing. Do we really need to know every damn thing LIsbeth buys at IKEA? Really? Still, waiting for #3.

Eh. An "Alienist" wannabe without the, uh, be. Purty cover, though.

Masterful. Intertwined stories with cleverly constructed with characters you want to take into your house and mother. Really, a story about mothers, in a large part. With a backdrop of Vietnam-era New York, brand spankin' new World Trade Center towers, and a little man on a wire. Trite to say that people are touched in ways large and small by a myriad of happenstances every day in their lives, but nevertheless, true. Loved this book. Lotsa.

Devastating. I honestly did not have a clue where this story was heading for, well, most of the book, and that is rare in my experience. A dreamy, deliberately paced novel that is part coming of age story, part Cold War polemic, with war crimes, Acadien French, Bugs Bunny and loyal dogs thrown in for good measure. The opening sets up an almost excruciating sense of foreboding, which is not realized until well past halfway into this long book. I actually found myself crying for a fictional character's fall, and found solace in that fact that he was an invention.

Then I found out that the story was inspired in part by a true story in Canada's history (don't read about it before you read this book), and that broke my heart more.

Cookie-cutter thriller with a side of extra-creepy. Workmanlike prose, sturdily written, but you ain't no Clarice Starling.

Atmospheric but keeps you at a distance. Strangely detached for a purportedly hot and heavy novel. I did enjoy it, but it didn't stick around in my psyche for long.

It really doesn't matter if/when/how you think you've solved the mystery of the identities in this story; you're still left with plenty of questions when you've "solved" it. Clever and interesting, though I became somewhat less invested in the characters as I read, not more, which is my usual pattern.

Loved "Fall on Your Knees". So far this one is gorgeous, too, though I can't tell where it's going, which is rather delicious in and of itself.

Fascinating so far, like a pile of rope in the middle of a room. I can't wait to see how/if/why the pieces are connected.

For book club. Brilliant writing, rather horrifying story. It became a little like a train wreck that I couldn't look away from. But some great characters, some compelling stories.

I actually wanted this book to go on more, not because it was that brilliant, but the story and characters interested me and the ending felt ... not rushed, just strange. I am currently obsessed with Highgate Cemetery because of this book and "Her Fearful Symmetry" (Audrey Nifenegger).

Cool idea, so-so execution. What if you suspected your child was a reincarnation of someone else?

Self-published drivel.

Colonial America and witch trials. I'm in a historic fiction jaunt; it will be difficult to re-enter the 21st century.

Enjoyed greatly my time in Restoration Paris. I love a good historical fiction with real people, tweakings of history, and evocative setting. Yum, yum.

Doorstop. Great beginning, engaging midsection with expertly tension-filled excruciating buildup, then a slightly odd, funny, absurd explanation/denouement. Aaah, what can I say, I still love this shit.

Okay but not great. I love the setting, the time and the subject matter; just wish it had been done better.