clairealex's reviews
729 reviews

Brief. Useful as an introduction.

I find myself wondering if she really was so stuck on traditional feminine roles as Chalberg's selection of material suggests, or if stereotypical thinking directed his selections. Perhaps reading her own memoir will answer that.

Ended up skimming it. Already convinced that change requires slow steps, prior organization, but that individual acts further it, there was nothing new in the book for me. People who question these positions would benefit from reading it.

I had read that it was merely a repeat of The Hunger Games, but decided to read it anyway. And I am glad I did. The revolutionary potential of Katniss' actions has been noted and promoted a new level of oversight and punishment. It read equally as well as the first one.

Quite a good read. For once an ending seemed well handled--only one small piece seemed extraneous. Some excellent character development. I had forecast a totally different ending, and mine would have worked well also, but this one was better. I find that I enjoy being right in forecasting the ending, and I also enjoy being surprised by being wrong when it is well done.

After reading that the author has both Armenian and Turkish ancestors I appreciated the history of the book more. As with many novels with a historical context, it dealt with history that I am not overly familiar with.

I appreciated the character development most throughout this rather slowly paced novel. The aunts progressed from grotesques in the beginning to loveable characters by the end. The plot had enough twists and turns to really hold my interest. I both enjoyed and got frustrated by the alternating families and settings. The author gave clues to help keep characters' contexts straight, but not clues as to which of many in some listings to remember. I guess that is what second readings are for.

A history I was not familiar with...got me interested in reading more about labor movement.

The beginning got me involved with families and people as well as setting the stage, though it was a bit slow. The pace picked up with the fire. The description was arranged floor by floor, and there were clues relating events on each floor to each other and reminders of the brief amount of time that passed.

After poignant descriptions of the families left behind, the ending discussed legal aspects of the working conditions.

Having lived with National Parks as a given, it was interesting to read about all the controversies surrounding their beginning.

I had heard of the Johnstown flood, but knew no details.

The first chapters were essential in setting the stage, but hard to get through.

Once the flood began, it read like an adventure book. I found it well arranged as it followed the flood's effects as it moved down river, a chapter to each area. Some of the survival stories were quite harrowing.

The discussion of failure to establish responsibility was disheartening.