Books Catching Genius
Books and Publications Average Rating:

Rating: - Great Summer Read
I thought this book was well written and loved the characters and story line. I would have loved for the book to continue and felt the end of the book didn't close all the hanging threads as tightly as I would have liked. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good novel about family, love and the nuances of life.

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Rating: - Nice entertaining book. Nothing sensational
I read Catching Genius because I was intrigued by the subject matter. Two sisters who have to deal with the high IQ of one and the average IQ of the other. This difference in IQ and the resulting attention to one sister over another led to the eventual estranement of the two. It was very entertaining and thought provoking. The story held me from beginning to end. I thought the ending wrapped up a little to perfectly. It almost seemed as if the author tired of the characters and wanted everything resolved and done with. The book was enjoyable for the most part.

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Rating: - Started off a little slow (for me) and picked up nicely.
First off, one of the bad reviews had some incorrect information and apparently the reviewer did not read through to the end. I don't typically write reviews (more a fan of listmania) but I enjoyed this book quite a bit and was sad to finish it. It's about Connie and Estella, two sisters who were close in their childhood but then are separated by a parent who is clearly consumed by one child's "giftedness". The story unfolds with the perfect amount of information and drama to keep one wanting more. The author wrote a solid, believable story, she certainly did her research.

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Rating: - A Solid Debut of Rebuilding the Past . .
Admittedly, my interest and enjoyment of Catching Genius went through a few stages as I read. The beginning quickly drew me in to the tale of the two sisters - Estella and Connie - and their fragmented past. The next bunch of chapters tended to drag on a little bit, but thankfully by the middle and throughout to the end, Catching Genius grew on me and I sped forward to the end happy with the story overall.

As of late, I've found myself really enjoying books that are set by the beach and tell the stories of characters that grew up in beach houses in beach communities. I personally grew up in a residential community in the mountains which somehow makes the idea of growing up by the beach take on a very foreign, very romantic, "oh that sounds so nice," type of feel. It just sounds incredibly peaceful, and I enjoyed the second half of this book much better than the beginning probably due in good part to that fact.

I like that Kiernan moved the novel forward, that the characters had progressions, but at the same time that she didn't end everything all tied nicely in a bow. Sometimes I appreciate that, but I think in this case, a little sense of the uncertain is necessary. The novel is about rebuilding and repairing relationships and at the novel's end it appears as if more of the journey is still to take place.

Overall, Kiernan's style suited me. She had a pretty balanced mix of flashbacks and chapters that covered present day, and her transitions flowed well between the two. She had details, but not too many that I got bored, and her writing was clear and not overdone. I was impressed with her debut novel and will definitely look to read her next book in the future.