Hold Tight is a page turning novel by Harlen Coben. I have read a couple other of his books in the past and have never been disappointed. This book was no exception. It is fast paced and full of adventure, mystery and haunting questions about what a parent might do for their child.
This novel has several sets of characters in one community, but is mainly about the lengths that parents are willing to go to to protect their kids. There are a couple troubled teens, one boy with a life threatening illness, one girl who has been bullied. In each case, the parents are willing to spy, threaten, even kill for their kids. The novel moves at a fast pace and the characters continually switch and in some cases are not brought around to connect to each other until the end.
This book was a thrilling ride, that at some times was heartbreaking. And in the end it begs the questions: What lengths would you go to? Is spying on your kids for their benefit; does it save them or push them further away? What is trust worth and how to you maintain it? All very important questions that are thought provoking and worth debating. I think this novel would make a good book club selection for that purpose. There is a lot to debate, and maybe no real definitive right or wrong answers. Thought provoking and thrilling...a good ride!
Happy Reading!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Lost & Found
Carolyn Parkhurst's second novel, Lost & Found is an entertaining read with some profound insight into relationships, and human nature. I found this book entirely enjoyable, and it also affected me.
The book is about several characters who are participating on a TV Reality show called "Lost & Found." The main characters are a mother/daughter team, but the secondary characters play an important role and are very entertaining and engaging. There is the TV show host, a religious couple who have been able to turn their lives around, brothers, a pair of actors that were child stars, and in each set of characters, there is at least one person with a secret or some personal crisis that they would prefer the world not know about. The producers of the show, know each of these secrets/crises, and it is their job to try to make the characters crack. In the end, will they each find what they are looking for? Each character is well defined, and portrayed consistently, and likable - well, for the most part!
This book is well rounded...a little action/adventure, a little romance. I found that it was a funny, probably realistic, look into what reality shows are really like. I also found the author's insights into human nature to be profound, particularly the relationship between parent and child. At times you laugh, at times you want to cry. I love when a book can elicit such a response. I truly enjoyed every page of this book and would highly recommend it.
Happy Reading!
The book is about several characters who are participating on a TV Reality show called "Lost & Found." The main characters are a mother/daughter team, but the secondary characters play an important role and are very entertaining and engaging. There is the TV show host, a religious couple who have been able to turn their lives around, brothers, a pair of actors that were child stars, and in each set of characters, there is at least one person with a secret or some personal crisis that they would prefer the world not know about. The producers of the show, know each of these secrets/crises, and it is their job to try to make the characters crack. In the end, will they each find what they are looking for? Each character is well defined, and portrayed consistently, and likable - well, for the most part!
This book is well rounded...a little action/adventure, a little romance. I found that it was a funny, probably realistic, look into what reality shows are really like. I also found the author's insights into human nature to be profound, particularly the relationship between parent and child. At times you laugh, at times you want to cry. I love when a book can elicit such a response. I truly enjoyed every page of this book and would highly recommend it.
Happy Reading!
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