Rating: 
Summary: Literary aspects most engaging
Review: House of Sand and Fog is a worthwhile book to read in my opinion for the reason that the author's writing style is something to be commended. Right from the start I found myself engrossed in the vivid descriptions of smell and colors... his inclusion of the characters' (Behrani's and Kathy's) consciousness of their senses helped to paint pictures of this landscape and setting very clearly in my mind. The story itself was interesting and I often felt sympathy for a few of the characters, but there were times when I felt it was dragging on too long. After I finished reading and thought about the criteria for quality fiction- that characters develop throughout the story or as a result of their situations - it occured to me that yes, the characters DID develop...however, not in the positive manner in which many stories characters develop. They develop and change, but their changes are more devastating and negative, where not one of them changes themselves for the better. Once I realized this, I was able to come to terms with the story and really look at the message the author was trying to portray. I am glad I read the book, and feel that I have gained something from it, but I will continue to look for books where characters grow in positive ways and work to overcome their difficulties in life, not wallow in them. Life is too short to bemoan the bad things in life...
Rating: 
Summary: This is probably one of the worst books I have ever read
Review: After reading the first few pages of this book, I thought it would be an enjoyable read. This quickly changed however, when the dialogue and storyline became nagging and uninteresting. At some points, the narrative bordered on cheesy romance novel filler. The characters were not fully developed or the author seemed to try too hard in conveying what they were thinking, that he betrayed them. It seemed like some of the actions of the characters were not believable, given what Andre Dubus had described of their history. The author seemed at times to get carried away with his writing style and tried too hard to make an interesting novel, that it finally lost all charm and I just wanted to get to the end. The ending was just as disappointing as the rest of the book. Andre Dubus could have dropped the last segment and had a more satisfying ending. I am shocked at how Oprah so enthusiastically recommended this book. It was probably one of the worst books I have read in a very long time.
Rating: 
Summary: Wow!
Review: I found it amazing how I could love and hate fictional characters as intensely as I felt about those in this novel. I felt moved by the immigrant family from Iran, and how they desperately wanted to reap the fruits of America. On the other hand, the American man and woman in this story I truly hated, and I did not expect to feel this way. At first I felt sympathy for this displaced woman who loses her home, but then I cannot describe how much I hated her later on. Talk about obsessed and driven to hate and revenge, this woman was all of that and more. A truly powerful story, with a strong message of how we should view other humans and accept our differences.
Rating:
Summary: Intolerance of cultural diversity.
Review: A great book club read. The author provides loads of material for discussion. Reminded me of the Tortilla Curtain. Another example of how failure to understand people of another culture can lead to a disastrous result. Unfortunately,the characters are all too real.
Rating:
Summary: Sand and Fog
Review: I thought the book was wonderful, suspenseful, and hard to put down. But....the ending was very disappointing. I expected a different ending.
Rating:
Summary: A well written story about tragically distracted people
Review: My wife brought this book home and, for the first time in at least twenty five years, I read beyond the first few paragraphs of any novel. The writing does seem good, but I can't help feeling like this kind of reading may become a distraction from the work which frees us all from the inertia and disorientation of life's sand and fog: Becoming mindful. For me, the value of this piece of fiction is as a reminder of how far we may stray from authentic living when we fail to reflect on the personal fictions which motivate so much on our own activity. This is a story about how personal stories, when not consciously integrated, can become destructive. So far, my personal story offers more than enough realism and fascination, and I suspect most lives provide the same material for potential transformation when given the level of attention we often give to works of fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Up All Night
Review: Three families floating on a sea of uncertainty. One seeks the shores of the great American dream, another just trying to keep her head above water, and yet another without a course. The plug has been pulled, and by no fault of their own, these three families will be sucked down the drain like dirty bath water. At first they remain at the periphery of the whirling pool, but try as they may, they cannot resist the inexorable pull into the depths. They fight against the current but it is too swift. In the end they can only blame one another. Kathy, a young recovering drug addict, struggles to keep her sanity and her nose clean. A bureaucratic error steals away the only stabilizing thing in her life. Bahrani, a proud Iranian colonel, seizes the opportunity for a better life for him and his family. Lester Burdon, a middle age police officer no longer in love with his wife, becomes a champion for Kathy's cause. In the end the fight over the House of Sand and Fog will claim them all. This book is a great commentary on the problems associated with cultural differences. As I read this book I just wanted to scream at these people "just talk to each other." But this inability to understand and communicate is the end of them. My only criticism of this story is that I was not convinced that Lester could act in such a rash manner. Although he had his faults, and there were many, he seemed much smarter and more stable than he reacted to his situation. This tragic tale kept me up until 4 am. A great edge of your seat page turner, and great study on human nature. I recommend it to all.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing and long-winded
Review: I gave up around page 300 waiting for this book to become either suspenseful or entertaining and skimmed through the last 50 pages. The book's two major flaws are its plot and its characters, which doesn't leave much else. The plot trudges along, alternating between uninteresting and implausable. The characters are shallow, unengaging, insignificant people who mainly inspire indifference in the reader. I couldn't wait to put it down.
Rating:
Summary: COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN!!!!
Review: I loved this book- I would highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting read, annoying characters
Review: Overall I enjoyed the book, but I kept thinking a resolution was on the next page, but that didn't happen. In fact, it kept getting further and further from a resolution. One minute you cheered for the colonel and the next minute for Kathy. I did find myself getting very frustrated with the characters, the colonel's stubborn pride and how stupid Kathy and Lester could be.
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