Rating: 
Summary: Complex and Wonderful Story
Review: As one of the reviewers below - I did not relate to or much like ANY of the characters in the book - but boy, I could not wait to see what they would do next!!I thought Kathy Nicolo was trashy, and Lester just a sad case all the way around. The Behrani's were so interesting, but what a tragic life when you set your self and family up for such a long fall. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a story as much as this one.
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Summary: Glorious Tragedy, with Wonderful, Unexpected Plot Twists
Review: Andre Dubus III has written a novel that is absolutely glorious. I primarily read poetry, and it is rare for a novel to seduce me so well, and with so little obvious effort. I was intrigued even by the title, "House of Sand And Fog." This story has wonderful dramatic tension throughout, and that tension eases, and then mounts, and then releases, over and over again, until the final climax of the book. You will not predict most of the plot twists. And I love that! I love an engaging novel that I cannot predict. SO many novels are predictable. This is the rare exception. The characters are precisely drawn and animated, and I cared about all of them. I found my loyalties shifting back and forth from character to character throughout a lot of the book, which is a tribute to the author's ability to make his characters whole and genuine. I could not stop reading this book. And the tale is riveting! And the ending does not let the reader down. A marvelous novel that I recommend to everybody.
Rating: 
Summary: Get Real
Review: Although I find that at times I want to keep reading this book to find out what happens, I find it completely boring throughout. As an attorney I am baffled at this storyline as any law suit she does have is with the county. Otherwise, the cheating cop boyfriend who admits his breaking laws "for the good of all" is completely absurd and desppicable. I ahve read many of Oprah's books prior to this one and find that her books just seem to get more and more depressing.
Rating:
Summary: victims
Review: this is a geat, well written read. It's underlying theme is about victimization. The main characters are victims of a revolution one can't control or a typographical, clerical error neither could control. The story is about what they can control. Clever style and a tight gripping story.
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Book I Have Ever Read
Review: I thought this book was great. It makes you think the whole time you are reading it. Don't be surprise if you want to throw the book across the room because you get mad at a character, it just happens. If you get this book and read it, you will be happy with the results.
Rating:
Summary: The house is man's own castle
Review: I have not choosen to read this book because it was picked by Oprah in her book club. My reason for picking this book for read was the base storyline.Immigrant from Middle East buys the house of the dysfunctional American young woman, on auction. The young woman's personal problems stay in the way of her leading normal and responsible life. The two opposite worlds collapse as it becomes obvious that one clerical error leads to the chain of events that one cannot expect at all. Written from two perspectives (immigrant's and young woman's) this story is compelling from start to finish. And even though it is obvious that there will be not winners in this story, that will not stop any reader to finish the book. The end of this story is totally, totally unpredictable.
Rating: 
Summary: House of Emptiness
Review: I started reading this book with high expectations. I like reading books that leave room for the imagination. Half way through, I realized that I developed no connection with the characters. I didn't care for Ms. Nicolo and her cop boy-friend and more disappointingly I didn't like or sympathize with the Iranian family although the book's whole story line suggested that I should have because these poor people are foreigners who came to U.S.A by being forced out of their own country due to the regime changes and they are home-sick and trying to make a new living in this totally strange country with its strange rules, odd lifestyle etc. etc. I felt that the book was limiting my imagination by forcing me to read it as if I were watching a very predictable movie. I guess the author had a movie script in mind and arranged the whole story with that perception. Flavorless and a very empty book.
Rating: 
Summary: Loved the title.
Review: Great title, House of Sand and Fog. This may be the one time where I judged the book by its title rather than its cover. House of Sand and Fog is a book you will either love or hate. If you like characterization and dialog, this book's for you. It is slow moving at times, the characters actions, or reactions, occasionally seemed slow. Some of the characters seemed a bit dense at times, hence the reference to "Fog" in the title. But the story is sound. I don't know anything about author Dubus, I do know that he as a talent for drawing a reader right into his characters lives. If you are looking for a happy book House of Sand and Fog will not fit your bill. If you are looking for an over all good book then get House of Sand and Fog now!
Rating:
Summary: Abysmal
Review: Oprah's books are usually reasonable. Not great, but reasonabable. This one wasn't The first third of the book is well written and compelling in that you want to find out what happens to the characters. The last two thirds of the book are abysmal. If you liked the movie "Silence Of The Lambs", you will love this book. The author is, in my opinion, in some deep personal trouble. He sees a very bad side of life and insists that we accept it. Yes, life under a despot, the Shah of Iran, in intolerable. The author brings this intolerability to us right in our own back yards. America is not a dictatorship, yet the author would like you to believe that anyone who lives here is unable to overcome a horrible past. Read it if you must; but be prepared to pay the consequences. In all truth, God did not intent for his children to act as this book portrays.
Rating:
Summary: A very good storyline - recommended!
Review: This book was very well written and the storyline was very good. I absolutely love how the author shows two very different perceptions of two people. It is very easy to notice how their perceptions of life, family, their environment, and of love are very different. The two characters desperately need a certain modest house in California, both for what seems like different reasons, although the author reveals later that their needs are very much similar. I feel the author does a very good job of putting the reader in both characters' minds and how their values are different, but same. The story is gripping, suspenseful, exciting, and at times, shocking. I shall remember this book for a long time, and you may too.
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