jerefi's review against another edition
2.0
The writing was fine and I went through it pretty quickly, but I found the ending to be rather lackluster.
jodieoc's review against another edition
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
2000ace's review against another edition
4.0
Sara Paretsky sets this book in the Kansas heartland of the Kaw River valley where she grew up, and although it isn't a mystery, there is plenty of suspense and action. The cast of characters includes the members of two families, one modern and more or less forward-looking with solid middle American values, the other a fundamentalist Christian family, complete with a domineering matriarch, a sadistic older brother, a totalitarian father, and another son who dreams about the daughter from the modern family.
When an attractive new neighbor lady of dubious sexual orientation moves into an old mansion down the road, she brings with her temptation in several guises: one is sexual, one is feminist, and one is anti-war. At around the same time, a trio of Jewish rabbis visit the evangelicals, and deem that their perfectly red calf may be a harbinger of the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem.
This book is a very engaging read: quite different from Paretsky's other books, but, at the same, wedded to the others by her distinguished writing style. Highly recommended
When an attractive new neighbor lady of dubious sexual orientation moves into an old mansion down the road, she brings with her temptation in several guises: one is sexual, one is feminist, and one is anti-war. At around the same time, a trio of Jewish rabbis visit the evangelicals, and deem that their perfectly red calf may be a harbinger of the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem.
This book is a very engaging read: quite different from Paretsky's other books, but, at the same, wedded to the others by her distinguished writing style. Highly recommended
kathrynreadsalot's review against another edition
3.0
Favorite author from childhood. Still can spin a tale that keeps my attention.
raehink's review
2.0
I didn't finish this one. Lost interest after eighty pages or so. I found the characters wooden and stereotyped and really didn't care about any of them. I was intrigued by the setting as well as the juxtaposition of different religious viewpoints, but not enough to keep reading.
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