Very enjoyable. An easy read, I devoured it in four train rides. It is perhaps not “Jane Austen in Brooklyn” as some of the publicity would have you believe, but it is a well-written, lively, humorous story with characters that you can like, and a happy ending. The story revolves around some almost Shakespearean realtionships. It starts with Henry and Denise; they were divorced 24+ years ago due to her infidelity and his homosexuality. Now she has been widowed, and wants to be friends again.... (show more)

Very enjoyable. An easy read, I devoured it in four train rides. It is perhaps not “Jane Austen in Brooklyn” as some of the publicity would have you believe, but it is a well-written, lively, humorous story with characters that you can like, and a happy ending. The story revolves around some almost Shakespearean realtionships. It starts with Henry and Denise; they were divorced 24+ years ago due to her infidelity and his homosexuality. Now she has been widowed, and wants to be friends again. And by the way can he be her lawyer and get the pre-nup annulled? She also does her own matchmaking for Henry. Meanwhile, Henry has reconnected with Denise’s estranged daughter, Thalia, whom he had at one time adopted. Thalia has her own stories to tell, being an aspiring actress in New York, working as a coat-check girl in Henry’s hairdresser. I think you get the flavor. All of these stories interact and are resolved pleasantly, with enough mild humor in between to make you smile. I recommend it. 11 Dec 2009. (show less)

The sequel to “Hunger Games”, this is a great read. Again, the book is aimed at young adults, a group that does not include me, but I found the book not in the least juvenile. It could easily be read by an adult audience. I had wondered how the author could move the story along from the first book – how could a 17-year-old lead any kind of rebellion (which you assume was coming from the first book)? But the author does a good job, not casting Katniss as the leader of a rising, more as a figu... (show more)

The sequel to “Hunger Games”, this is a great read. Again, the book is aimed at young adults, a group that does not include me, but I found the book not in the least juvenile. It could easily be read by an adult audience. I had wondered how the author could move the story along from the first book – how could a 17-year-old lead any kind of rebellion (which you assume was coming from the first book)? But the author does a good job, not casting Katniss as the leader of a rising, more as a figurehead or symbol of it, which becomes gradually clearer as the book moves on through the tour that all Hunger Games victors have to take. At first a little slow, perhaps to reacquaint us with the characters and the milieu, the book rapidly takes off and does not stop its breakneck pace. I don’t like to discuss too much of the plot, but I was surprised and involved as it developed. And the ending left me anxiously awaiting the third book, which is not out for another 8 months! (show less)