Marion Hernandez

This is a wonderful book; Ondaatje's imagery is unique and captures the landscape of Ceylon with beauty and grace. The family tree is complicated, but it is an integral part of the story.

The beginning ... up to the middle, after Unfair makes its first big break with their game, is great. The details and the relationships among the main characters are complex as each person is driven by their own set of expectations. But the book bogs down in the middle because once the first hurdle/success is achieved, the action and arc of the story is lost. I cannot exactly figure out the author's motives for the second half of the book: I wish I could read an interview!

A difficult read but tempered by Mira's strong faith instilled in her as a child by her father. Even though the Holocaust has been written about for all these years since the end of the war in 1945, Mira's experience in the camps was the worst description I have ever read. We know the story ends well since it is Mira's daughter who writes her mother's story. The real message is faith and strength even when at times, "it is every man for himself." I hope younger generations continue to read history, especially about World War 2. So many lessons are in that history that no generation must ever repeat.

I found the lack of direction and endless descriptions of characters to rob the book of the action need to propel the plot forward. How it make the Booker Longlist is beyond me.

I am not a fan of this book. The author loves the courtroom and that is where you will be page after page with no other outlets,subplots, or settings to deepen the story's complexity. It is one dimensional in every regard. I think this speaks directly to a lack of skill in writing novels. The setting and script is too narrow. I cannot, just cannot how "thriller" gets attached to legal courtroom exercises.

Too many characters... some with the same name duplicated from generation to generation, time that shifts between before WW1 and 2 and both America and Germany as characters. It was crazy; I had to review and backtrack every chapter to see who is connected... and oh yes. A nun from the 13th century shown to represent an anchoress. I wanted to like this book but my take us that no one really proofread this book so connections could weave the threads of the story together.

The entire vibe here is just too superficial. If this series is written from a book, why isn't there a clear explanation for what they are doing in France? They are not French, yet Roger Allen's character works for the French government ... why? The setting is so glossy it also seems superficial. Every day is perfect... as if the directors are shooting a travel brochure. The Nancy Carroll and Roger Allem's relationship also seems glossy and superficial. And there is Nancy Carroll herself who has the perfect hair, wardrobe, etc...and lifts her eyebrows as her main contribution to "acting.". She is modeling/selling herself like the photographers are modeling/selling Provence. Also how contrived is it that in episode 2 Nancy Carroll has just coincidentally gone to school with the 3 main characters of the murder? She is kissy-kissy all over the place and yes, it smacks of posh. The only good character and real acting comes from Roger Allem's assistant who has tons of personality, acts as part of her job and is not model instead of acting. She is set up I guess in direct contrast to Nancy Carroll as if someone said halfway through casting.... "0k, let's get real here." Watch only if you want to see pretty, vacuous things all lacking in substance.

Very poorly organized. It is as if the authors just wrote off the top of their heads. Lots of names, little background... don't bother.