Worth reading whether you’re looking to invest big bucks or just need tips for scraping by more comfortably. A great book for graduates and grandparents alike.

An amazing book. Though primarily about cultural misunderstanding in the medical world, I think this book is invaluable for realizing ways to improve any cross-cultural communication. Incredible story. [June 8, 2006 – recommended by Erika]

I read this in preparation for a trip to Japan, and appreciated learning about his humorous encounters before arriving. I can’t say that Tokyo has presented me with as many mistakes and misconceptions as it did Carey, but perhaps he helped me to push aside some of my own preconceptions before arriving.

For anyone who has ever spent time in Tokyo or is interested in doing so, it’s definitely a fun and enjoyable read.

Mixed. I definitely enjoyed reading this book. It was quick and fun. I think Curtis Sittenfeld captured the mind of an insecure 14 year old girl quite well. I found Lee’s insecurity so aggravating that I can’t love this book, but I’m not sure how much of that is the fault of the book and how much is my general dislike for the character. I think I would’ve rather read a book about Martha, Dede, or Sin-Jun.

This book is incredible. I have enjoyed every moment of reading this in the past 4 months. There is so much to it. Hugo finds a way to intertwine every incident and character five times over.

I think he would be greatly disappointed how little the prison system, or effects of it, have changed in the century+ since he was writing.

I wish I’d had a pen or pencil at all times to underline the many, many beautiful and meaningful phrases.

I liked the concept behind Fugitive Pieces, but I was not entralled by the book itself. I got really bored in the middle third, but was told to hang on. It was worth completing, but did not become my new favorite book.

(completed 10/7/05) After meaning to read Song of Solomon for so many years, I’m certainly glad I finally got around to it. The writing is beautiful and the story is intriguing and thoughtful.

All I wanted to do was read this book. It’s an engaging story, written in a manner where one could forget it’s not actually Hosseini’s own memoir.

I enjoyed the first half. I cried through the second half. This is a touching novel about family, friends, and love; it has excellent character development. It is also prompting me to add The Overcoat to my queue.

A great combination of the telling of the perfection of the 1893 World’s Fair and the vice of the surrounding civilization. It reminds me of the amount of trust I place in the strangers around me and how appearances can be most deceiving.