Random Acts of Heroic Love

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Customer Reviews:

• 
  2008-06-07
  By G. Palmer, London
  Ok, have to admit the book title itself deserves 5 stars, and I really wanted a good read about love, loss and emotional journeys - to the extent that I picked up only on the positive reviews, having seen other books I'd read and loved attract their own fair share of detractors.
  
  However, it's been a struggle - the characters are strangely...I can only describe it as 'unevocative'. Some of the means employed to give insight into the wellspring of characters' emotions are almost clumsy, and the dialogue is another thing again - I could only imagine that the author must have lived through similar unfortunate tragedy, and is faithfully reproducing his true experiences under the guise of fiction, because as one of life's little ironies we know that truth exists in the phrase "If you wrote a book about it, people wouldn't believe you" - because I find the dialogue (only in the Leo episodes granted) thoroughly unbelievable.
  
  The most interestingly drawn and lovingly described character is dead from the very get go, so you only get to see her through flashbacks and the occasional dream. You almost feel cheated, like you've just got to a wine and cheese party, and find that there's only the mild cheddar left.
  
  As a reader, I found the storyline overly dependant on the book jacket's promise that "two men('s)...hidden connections are revealed in a stunning climax that lives long in the heart", because there is little if any poetic tension between the two tales in the book itself - if it hadn't been spelt out that there was going to be a "stunning climax" you'd think that it wasn't just the lorry and the bus - two books had also collided together and "Random Acts..." was the result.
  
  I Really wanted to like this book, and I'm sure that some people will love it (just look at the real mix of reviews). My personal recommendation would be to borrow it from the library or a friend, so if you end up indifferent to its charms at least you won't resent being out of pocket too.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  2008-06-09
  By R. Gray, London
  This book is a stonker. The emotional description starts off fairly crudely and feels laboured, but is quickly replaced by a story that embraces the reader. Two tales of love, weaved brilliantly together and written in a way that managed something rare - to bring a brief tear to my eyes. Absolutely brilliant.
  
  
• 
  2008-06-15
  By A. DORRINGTON, London,UK
  I couldn't get into this book at all. Gave up one third of way through & glad I did. I thought the beginning was excellent, concerning Eleni & what happened to her but then went downhill fast. It just didn't hold my interest. I thought all those pictures of animals & sayings extemely annoying!
  
  
• 
  2008-06-23
  By Ali, Newcastle upon Tyne
  I loved this book. It laboured a little at times but stick with it and you will be well rewarded. OK a little quirky at times but so is the distraught Leo and even though the "surprise" is visible a mile off, the journey is wonderful. A lovely and unusual book.
  
  
• 
  2008-06-29
  By Elizabeth, Bedfordshire
  I am just echoing what previous people have said. Random acts is a truly beautiful debut novel and I was hooked from the first page. Definitely recommended!