Customer Reviews

Resurrecting Randi

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Okay, since the last book I read was Harry Potter (and before than I
can't even remember!) people warned me that Resurrecting Randi would
be too dark or too "mature" for me. Well, I started it on a flight to
California and have to say that after about 10 pages of the book I was
completely hooked. Truthfully this book was amazing. It made my
three and a half hour flight literally fly by. The entire time I was
thinking, "wow! This is really, really good, this will be my
girlfriend's favorite book." I mean I don't want to go into detail
but the imagery was great, and the characters were explained in such
detail that at the end of the novel I couldn't believe the enormous
transformation. This would make a killer movie and I have been
pestering my girlfriend to read this book because I want to talk to
her about it but she said that she is saving it for when we go on a
trip in the middle of this month. She is only 18 but I guarantee she
will love it!

While I admire anyone who takes on the task of writing a book, I am not sold on this first effort. I received a copy of of it after signing up for the publisher's advocates group on Craigslist. While I think the advocates group is a brilliant way to promote new publications, I can't be an advocate for this book because it is so frustrating to read. It has some decent moments, but the characters are stereotypical, especially the women. Who wears purple lipstick and a see-through tank top to school with no bra??? Who leaves calendar instructions in a love note??? The plot is like a an after-school special series, the situations are not believable and the story overall seems like the fantasy of a college instructor rather than a reality I can be convinced of. I might pay attention to Shepherd's second effort at a novel, just to see where his writing goes, but I can't finish this one. Sorry!

This is a dark tale of one man's descent into obsession. Layla is everyman's worst nightmare....Lolita on steroids. A few rough spots and improbable leaps in this first novel by David Shepherd, but nonetheless a frothy page turner. Don't be surprised if you see Harrison Ford or Kevin Costner turn up in a movie version of this book.

This was a great book. I read it within 24 hours. Could not put it down. My daughter got my copy and did the same. A great book with well developed characters....that keeps you on the egde a bit and makes you think....

I just received this book yesterday and could not put it down. This is a suspensive thriller that deals with very serious topics (suicide, psychiatric problems, etc), but also has a plot that you just cannot let go of. The characters are so real and complex that I found myself sympathizing even with the worst of them. I disagree with the previous reviewer in that I do not know if this is a book about hope as much as it is a book about perseverance. This book reminds me of Lolita by Nabokov.

The back cover of this novel asks the question "Is life worth
living?", but, in my view, the central question of this novel is
actually, "Is a life of suffering a life worth living?" The novel
opens with an excerpt referencing Nietzsche's philosophy of eternal
recurrence (a cyclical time concept that posits that the universe -
and so one's life - eternally recurs over and over again) and I think
that theme more accurately captures the heart of this book. Prof.
Travis Harrison has endured unspeakable losses and lives a life that
most of us would never want. But one can think that, ultimately,
Travis feels differently. Having crossed paths with the chaotic
student Layla Sommers, Travis comes to terms with the he has had and
what he has lost, and in his effort to help this troubled girl, one
still finds a sense of purposefulness and meaning in his otherwise
destroyed life. Different readers might have different perspectives
on the ending of this novel, but, in my view, this novel is ultimately
one of hope. It is a great examination of the endurance of the human
spirit and how, despite the crushing pain one can experience in one's
life, that acts of kindness and generosity of spirit are still what
render our lives most meaningful and worthwhile.

This was, for me, an unusually fun read (even given the gritty subject matter). I was mesmerized by the character of Layla Sommers - she was just so interesting personally and psychogically, and my heart just broke for her! I felt for the narrator, as well, and I think this is because the author has a gift for character. Also, this story, though a fast nd "easy" read, was so intelligent . . . clearly the author has done his research into psychotrauma, and I was impressed with his working of Layla's character as defined by her "primal scene" and her inability to get beyond it, and her's and the narrator's need to diulge their secrets and wake up from denial. VERY crafty, this writer! I would definitely seek out him again.

What a great read! I was hooked almost immediately and finished the book in two days. At times I didn't want to continue because I knew the characters were making bad choices, but I had to find out what would happen. In the beginning I thought the story was improbable but I found myself caring about the main character and understanding him and his actions. I think David Sheperd is an excellent storyteller and I look forward to his next novel.

A thoughtful, well written book that makes you think, filled with richly developed characters, that involve you in their lives from the beginning -- until you are so quickly caught up in the detailed twists and turns of the plot that you can't put the book down - that's "Resurrecting Randi". The story is depressing at times, and the ending is surprising. I read it in less than a day and I'm glad I did. I think you will be, too.

I am an avid reader of best seller fiction ie John Grisham, Jodi Picoult etc. I received Resurrecting Randi from a friend who indicated the book was "dark" and had a surprise ending. The story immediately grabbed me and I found myself anxious to see what would happen next. I read the book in under two days. It has a great plot and is well written although I felt the characters were somewhat under developed (I wanted to know more about them!) Overall an enjoyable read!