Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful, totally unexpected!!!
Review: You are just not getting it, people. This book is a SATIRE, as tongue-in-cheek as it gets. It is brilliantly done, a la Wolfe (Bonfire of the Vanities; A Man in Full), but much more sympathetic than anything Wolfe has written. This is the only Cornwell book which I will reread. It is much more than a thriller, much fuller, packs much more of a punch. The Kay Scarpetta books are very straightforward, a mystery, a plot, etc., etc. This book is anything but straightforward, and the plot is only one aspect of this book. And not the most important aspect, either. It didn't take too many pages to realize what was up. I was soon rolling on the floor, wiping away tears of laughter. What made it even more of a treat is that it IS such a far cry from Kay Scarpetta. Like a completely unexpected present. The problem is that in the marketing of this book, it was never indicated that this is not at all like the other books. For example, in the dust jacket description of the book, it seems like a Kay Scarpetta plot with different characters. All about plot, mystery, crime, suspense. It is absolutely not even an attempt to be that kind of book. This book is poking fun at everyone in it except Smoke and Weed. And even Weed is wierdly funny sometimes, as when he transforms Jefferson Davis into a homeboy basketball player--what a riot!!! I did think it somewhat comical when she described Smoke as taking his role as socio/psychopath seriously, knowing exactly what he is and wanting to be the best sociopath he could be. Cornwall's tongue was in her cheek there, too.This book was wonderful. Give me more, although it will be tough to follow. A successful satire needs to be fresh and unexpected. A series of books with these characters and situations would soon turn into farce. Every now and then, though, give us a glimpse of the world from this wonderfully skewed angle. It IS a welcome break from Scarpetta.
Rating: 
Summary: Minus rating would be better for this book
Review: Patricia Cornwell - I waited months on a list for Southern Cross. I don't know where Southern Cross came from, but send it back! The subject, content, and mechanics of the writing were terrible. I am no writer, but an avid reader. Please go back to your style that we all love.
Rating: 
Summary: How could you not like this book?
Review: I have been reading Patricia's novels for about three years now and have been catching up on her previous novels in between her new ones. I enjoyed Southern Cross! I really liked Hornet's Nest as well. To see a continuation of the characters and their lives was just enough for me. I thought it was a good look into society and people, and how minor misconceptions can turn into huge misunderstandings. I hope these characters eventually tie in with the Scarpetta series. I think P.C. is just having fun with this series. I had fun reading both books! The satirical take on situations is great!
Rating:
Summary: Unfinished outline?
Review: Did Ms. Cornwell have an outline for a book, and suddenly have a publication date? To meet the date did she then fill in parts of the outline, and decide to let the reader fill in the gaping holes? Did she start to develop some of the characters, and then get as disinterested in them as this reader did? How else do you explain this waste of time and money of anyone who attempts to read this hodgepodge of plots and characters? A very dissatisfying experience.
Rating:
Summary: Sorely disappointed...
Review: I was very excited when I purchased this book. What a waste of money! I am an avid Patricia Cornwall fan (not just Kay Scarpetta) but this pushed my loyalty to the limit! Uninteresting characters, ridiculous animal pranks, useless cursing, etc., etc., etc. I'm struggling through to the end. I have approximately 30 pages to go and would give up now but I'm curious to see how she's going to end this debacle.
Rating:
Summary: This book is an affront to the reader.
Review: Actually, this book should be given minuses insterad of stars..It is a minus book! I've read several of Ms Cornwell's previous books. Each time, I say "No more" and each time I succumb to my adult daughter's enthusiasm and read another one. Well, this is the worst of the lot. No plot, offensive characters, and im my opinion, a total waste of time and money. I have beter things to do with my time than read literary garbage...this was not even a decent "escape" book. Just plain garbage.
Rating:
Summary: After 150 pages I put this one DOWN!
Review: I usually thoroughly enjoy Patricia Cornwell's writing but this is horrible. I lived in Richmond for 10 years and do enjoy reading about the details of the city. What is up with these stupid cats?????
Rating:
Summary: Sequel to Hornet's Nest is ok.....
Review: I thought SC was ok,but I liked Hornest's Nest better. Although,I am more partial to Scarpetta novels. Its not bad. I read it all in a day.If a book is that bad, i wont finsih it. I may be crazy,but I would still like too see a 3rd in that series.
Rating:
Summary: Am I the only one who loved it?
Review: I know that the Scarpetta series is hard to beat, but come on people! This was Patricia's first attempt at wry humor, for me it worked. I enjoy the grit of her writing and her characters. True, some of the names were a bit screwy, but have you ever read an author by the name of Charles Dickens?
Rating:
Summary: I checked it out from the public library.
Review: Lucky me - I didn't was my money on this tripe
|
