Rating: 
Summary: Ugh ...
Review: I agree with the person who said that the first part of the book leaves the reader shell-shocked. You can't even sympathize with the parents' loss because you haven't had a chance to learn about the characters. Not only that, but the story DRAGS ... the ending is even worse. A wasted premise.
Rating: 
Summary: Read the book first, the reviews later
Review: I bought this book after reading a wonderfully favorable review in EW (they gave it an 'A'). I think this got my hopes up and I expected more. What I found was an interesting story of how a family copes with the loss of their son, and how the man who accidentally killed the child lives with the guilt of knowing what he did and getting away with it. I won't reveal the ending of the book, but after reading in EW that there was a surprise waiting there, I expected something more significant to happen than what did. Overall, the book feels choppy with three different perspectives telling the story. Good idea, but it doesn't work here. This book reminds me too much of the Jack Nicholson movie "The Crossing Guard." I want to like Reservation Road more than I did, but I can't.
Rating:
Summary: Reservations
Review: I carefully considered the rating, and finally gave it three stars for the lovely prose and the plot line.Frankly, I did not enjoy the journey...the characters fall flat and the actual execution of the plot is dry and in some places way too contrived. I simply did not care that much about the characters. I finished because I had bought a hard back version based on a review in Atlantic Monthly, but I was not left longing for more or even appreciating the whole effort. I felt cheated and Atlantic Monthly owes me $ 19.99. This is the only book in a long time I sold to a used book store. Normally, I keep all books, especially hard backs. But I could not imagine ever picking this one up again for any reason whatsoever.
Rating: 
Summary: Compelling, quick read
Review: I couldn't stop thinking about the book. I can't wait to give it to someone I know so we can talk about it. The book really made me think about fate or coincidence because the number of factors that were in place for Josh to be killed was amazing. Amy & Isabelle is a comparable, though quieter tale you would enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: A lot of potential that was wasted ...
Review: I had amazingly high hopes for this book ... it was touted as a thriller. Well, I dragged myself halfway through it and wasn't thrilled. The author's idea was an interesting one, but he failed to develop it in a way that would've been sufficient to keep my attention. And, unfortunately, even though showing the story from the POV of three different characters is innovative, it bogged the story down for me. The author's command of the English language seems rudimentary at best. Mr. Schwartz, if you're reading this, I'm sorry if it sounds harsh, but you really let me down.
Rating:
Summary: A compelling and quick read
Review: I had recommended this book to my book club to read. It was voted down. (Their loss they missed a good one) So I went ahead and read it on my own. Im so glad I did. It was such a compelling story. I still keep thinking about it. I have tried to put myself in each of the characters place how would I have handle the situation they were in? I cant imagine it, and there are no easy answers. Which comes through in each of the characters. You can feel their pain and struggle. The characters were so well developed even the children. (Emma Sam and Josh) They just werent bystanders in the story. My heart went out to all of them as if they were real people. Yes even the bad guy who did the unthinkable. Even though I think what he did was horrible and cowardly since he didnt stop. I still felt sorry for him. His life even before the accident seemed to be spinning out of control. He just couldnt get it together. Then this happens. I may have hated what he did but I couldnt hate him. It made for a very emotional read. But I loved it. One of the better books I have read. And to think I first saw it on "Good Morning America: recommended by Charlie Gibson. Thank you Charlie. Its a book I wont soon forget.
Rating: 
Summary: Be prepared to postpone your plans once you pick it up!
Review: I have been waiting for John to write another book since enjoying Bicycle Days. Reservation Road was a gripping read. I felt the anxiety, dread, and guilt of each of the three characters from whose perspective the story is told. The story flips from one character to the other, with a momentum and crescendo that engulfed me for an entire Sunday (I have to admit that I had planned to get alot done that Sunday, but could not tear myself away until I read the conclusion). I enjoyed it thoroughly in spite of the depressing nature of the plot.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT BOOK - WOULD MAKE A GREAT MOVIE
Review: I loved the way Mr. Schwartz moved from character to character with each chapter. I found myself feeling like I knew each person to the core. A great read!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books you'll read
Review: I ordered this book after being recommended it by my best friend. He felt it was one of the best he had read, but thought I might have a problem with since I have children. It is a very hard subject and the fact that you are thrown into it within the first pages makes it that much harder. As I was reading, I couldn't believe that I was reading such a great book. I enjoyed the 3 points of view and liked the fact that the 2 men were in first person, while the mother was in third person. It allowed you to look at the husband from his view and his wife's view. Yes, the ending disapointed me when I read it, but thinking about it afterwards, I realized it was the perfect ending. A "hollywood redemption" ending would have ruined it. My friend and I discussed it at length afterwards and through our discussions realized so much more about the book and how good it was. My wife has refused to read it and I don't blame her as it is hard to take the loss. I think of this book often and I know that I'll re-read it soon. It is great on so many levels. I would not recommend this to the casual book reader looking for a simple novel. If you read it, expect to re-visit it often. And for those who read it and were disappointed, I challenge them to really think about it and see how many layers this book has.
Rating:
Summary: WHAT GIVES WITH THE ENDING?
Review: I really liked this book until the end when it all fell apart. It's as if the author didn't have any idea how to conclude what was an interesting read. The ending seems like it was written by someone other than the author. I still give it three stars for the originality of having different narrators tell their story.
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