Rating: 
Summary: Suspense at it's Best
Review: Great mystery and intrigue was built into the plot of House of Sand and Fog. The not knowing and suspense is what made this novel a great read. Dubus created characters that will continue to be very memorable long after the book is put down. At times the reader despises them, but turn the page and your opinion will shift again. The characters, Kathy, a needy woman; Lester, a cop on the edge; Mr. Berhrani, a former colonel in seach of respect in a new country, collide tragically in their attempt to maintain ownership of this house. For ownership means a new career and dignity for the Colonel and his family, and Kathy it signifies stability and progress. House of Sand and Fog captures the issues of dependence (emotional, physical, and substance), status in society, family, desperation, and immigration. The book challenges the readers values and morals. This was by far the least predictable book that I have ever encountered. A great read individually or for a book club!
Rating: 
Summary: a struggle to read
Review: I read this book at the urging of my fiancee, who found it delightful. I struggled to finish this story. While I could not predict the ending, I found the entire book very slow and at times confusing. I did empathize with the immigrant wife and son. the rest of the characters were very disturbing and dysfuntional people. What happened to the original homeowner was her fault and the city/states fault. No one elses. The concept of the story was good the substance and writing could have been much better.
Rating: 
Summary: A dark and riveting thriller
Review: HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG is a dark and sobering commentary on the American dream. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness all come to a devastating end when recovering addict Kathy Nicolo along with Deputy Lester Burdon enter into a bitter struggle with an Iranian immigrant, Colonel Behrani and his family over the house her father has left her. Powerful, intelligent and beautifully written, HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG is a uniquely different kind of thriller, a memorable page-turner, and the best book I've read in some time.
Rating:
Summary: an understanding of two different lifestyles
Review: What I thought was most thrilling about this book was how two people from totally different backgrounds and lifestyles start out with an interest in the same house, almost hate each other until toward the end they both finally appreciate each others point of view and actually have sympathy for one another. Excellent writing and interesting descriptions. I could almost place myself up on the widows walk with a glass of champagne.
Rating:
Summary: BIG disappointment
Review: I was curious enough to find out what ultimately happens with the house, that I finished the book. But I found myself despising the main characters so immensely that I hoped that neither of them got the house. The repeated descriptions of Kathy and her nicotine breath and messy hair made me nauseous and made me wonder why Les wanted her so badly. I liked the wife and son very much and found myself hoping that they would get the house to the exclusion of the colonel.
Rating: 
Summary: Strong Characters You'll Care About
Review: The characters in House of Sand and Fog, despite their annoying personal habits, were totally believable and evoked sympathy with this reader. Dubus's masterful characterization made the read worthwhile. His strong characters drew me in and had me "taking sides" before I'd finished the book's fourth chapter. (The author's use of first-person narration allows the reader to fully "get into" the heads of the Colonel, Nadi, Kathy and Lester, and to feel as though we "know" them.) Once the reader gets that sense of knowing the characters, we begin to care about what happens to them. I found myself hoping that everything would turn out well for ALL of them. I disagree with some readers who say they found the book "suspenseful" --I actually thought the outcome was rather predictable. Nonetheless, I kept turning pages, because I just had to know how things would end for each of the characters. In case you haven't yet read the book, I won't give away here how things DO turn out, but I will say that readers should find this book enjoyable, even if they find the conclusion to be a bit of a let-down.
Rating:
Summary: House of Sand and Fog
Review: I liked this book. I found myself looking forward to reading it each night. But,...it did start to drag on a bit and the end was a little bit of a downer. I kept hoping for someone to be happy in the end!! I am not sorry that I read it, or paid the money for the book, but i would hesitate before I recommended it.
Rating:
Summary: Didn't like the Characters much
Review: I chauk this book up to another weird Oprah selection. She knows how to pick 'em. I just didn't think the characters were very reasonable. They just let their emotions take over. I was hoping for a more satisfying ending. I was hoping somehow a cooler head would prevail and tragedy would be avoided. (I am still hoping for a new ending to Romeo and Juliet.) Once Lester got it wrong there seemed to be no way out. The tension just escalated. I thought the ending was extreme.
Rating: 
Summary: boring
Review: Could this book have dragged on any longer? I found myself struggling to finish the book because it took so long for something to actually happen. I did want to find out what happened in the end (which was completely ridiculous), but didn't care much about the people, except the wife and son. Everyone else pretty much got what they deserved. And the end? It's like the author had to contrive something so tragic that it didn't even seem real. Also, I agree with another review - if he said the words "his/her eyes were moist" again, I thought I might throw the book across the room. I usually love Oprah's books, but this one isn't worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Desperate Characters
Review: Once you get through the beginning, this book certainly picks up speed. I thought the characters were quite unusual, and to find them together in the same book kept my interest, as I waited for the next crisis each would face separately and together. Desperation was certainly present at the end, when unexpected, out of control events kept me turning the pages, trying to figure out what would happen next. This was a different read with a unique ending.
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