Customer Reviews

Gentlehands

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book began as the typical young adult novel, a good looking boy falls for the rich, classy and beautiful girl, but somehow, the author managed to pull it off in the end.

Buddy Boyle is young and immature to the ways of the world. But when Buddy meets Skye Pennington, he realizes that there is a whole other world, and it has class. Unfortunately for Buddy, he lives in a middle class lifestyle and has nothing to impress Skye with (since all boys seem to have a need to impress their girlfriends) So Buddy takes Skye to meet his wealthy and estranged grandfather.

I enjoyed this book because it is quite different from most of the books that I've read before. I am more into historical fiction type books and although this book may seem like that type, the theme is mainly concerning discrimination. I've never read a book about the holocast, and this book gave an interesting point of view. At one point in this book, I really felt like crying because of how cruel some people can be. This book touched me on a real emotional level surprisingly since it started out quite differently. The symbolism is wonderful. The grandfather talks about how all birds are prisoners of their own territory and yet he always feeds the birds. I thought Gentlehands was marvelous, but the only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because it ended rather abruptly. It's one of my pet peeves when books end too quickly, and this book did. But give this book a chance, it gets boring at some parts, but it really is a great book and has a great lesson: that the past is all in the past.

I cannot even begin to say how much this wonderful novel has affected my life. I first read it in junior high school ( I have just graduated college), and have re-read it about four times! The story, dialouge, and characters completely draw you in, and Kerr is able to comment on some incredibly fundimental issues while still keeping the reader's attention. In fact, although Gentlehands is a young adult novel, it is better off read by someone at the college level, so that all of the subtleties can be understood. One of the few books every American should read.

I think this is a very well written book for teens AND ADULTS! I think it moves along well and has very thought provoking topics.

Perhaps it should be rated at a Young Adult level because of the topics and the main character's age. I think older teens would appreciate the issues Buddy has to deal with in regards to his little brother, his parents, his boss, and his rich girlfriend. I think his interaction with his parents fairly typical for a son testing new waters, ones in which his folks have never journeyed.

This book really made me think about the humanity of the grandfather and his relationship to his grandson. It made me think how a single person can appear as a beast to some and yet be a source of love to another. I read this book a month ago and I'm still struggling with my feelings on that issue.

To me, this is the sign of a very good book - when you are still pondering it's messages long after you have closed it's pages!

This book is truly good. It got me really sad for Grandfather to have to leave Buddy, just when Buddy was getting to really like him. I read this for a book report and didn't think it was going to be interesting, but I was wrong. This is one book I won't forget.

Buddy Boyle lives in a pretty middle-class average place, with his parents and his younger brother. His mother's father lives close by in the next town over, but they never communicate with him. He was never a real father to Buddy's mother; she was an accident and he didn't stay around to watch her grow up. By chance they live so close.

Buddy was never interested in his grandfather until he started dating Skye, a beautiful rich girl who spends her summers in town by the ocean. Buddy knows that his family couldn't possibly impress this wonderful girl, but he remembers from his one visit to his grandfather that he lives in a nice home on the ocean filled with fine things. So Buddy brings Skye there to see him.

Immediately Buddy and Skye both fall in love with Buddy's grandfather. He is sophisticated; he knows about wine and opera. His home is filled with fine and expensive things. He takes care of the animals that live near his home. He seems the epitome of culture and grace, and Buddy and Skye start spending a great deal of time with him. Buddy feels like his grandfather can teach him all sorts of things about fitting into Skye's world that he couldn't learn at home.

Buddy's parents are not thrilled about his newfound relationships with his grandfather and with Skye, but they don't stop him. That is, until a nasty rumor starts spreading about Buddy's grandfather. Could he really be who people say he is?

The ending of this story was really good. It fit in well with the rest of the story. I also liked that the grandfather was made so appealing; it forced me to reconsider my views on the goodness of people. However, I disliked Buddy intensely. He wasn't nice to his family, especially his little brother, and so I found it hard to sympathize with him or root for him throughout the story.

Before you say... "Oh, no. Not another love story book", please know that this story is based on actual events (the Holocaust part) and of finding out who we really are and who the people around us are too.
This book was in the "Summer Reading List" for when I was entering 10th grade, and the title caught my eye. So, I picked it up and read it in one day - it's that short and that good - and loved it. I recommend this book to anyone who want's a book that it's easy to read, quick and with an unexpected ending.

While the track of the story is bit predictable, this book is worth a read. I've read it several times and i'm still haunted by Buddy's grandfather and his secrets, and how he and Skye are doomed from the beginning. But if you like a coming of age story, this is a good one. It's not just the past of Buddy's grandfather that comes between him and Skye, but class issues as well. Give it a chance. I think you'll like it.

Buddy Boyle falls in love with an upper class girl, his father beats him, his mother doesn't approve, the only person that understands is his grandfather. I really liked this book. It caught me up right away. His grandfather is an understanding animal lover who was born in Germany. His is Buddy's best friend. GOOD TILL THE LAST PAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book, Gentlehands is by far the best book i've read. The author, M.E. Kerr keeps you guessing whats next in the capter, and yet u can't seem to put the book down. I will always anxoius to see whats next. This remarkembly good book is about a boy named Buddy Boyle who love this girl Skye Pennington. He takes her to see his grandfather who he hadn't seen since he was little. And he grows up to really like him. And...well you'll have to read it! I'd recommend it!

When i first picked out this book i expected it to be a fast read, that i heard good things about, and something i could easily write a book report on for my wounderful history class. i really an not a reader, it is actually really hard for me to get into a book. This book hooked me in really fast, it had a tone through out the whole book which was easy to follow. i loved the love in the story along with the conflict. It deffinitly kept me in suspence. i think this book is good for a young adult/teenager, who like romance/mystery stories.