My son has loved this book since the first time we checked it out at the library when he was 3. He asked to read it over and over. If you have a son or daughter who loves cars, even at at a young age, he or she will love this book. My son memorized many parts of this book very early on.

This is a wonderful story that is very appealing to students. I sincerely hope it can be reprinted. It is a good book to use for themes, and there are examples of various writing crafts in the text, such as voice and word choice (wonderful examples of similes and alliteration).

I can't believe this book was written by a man -- and coming from a feminist, that's saying a lot. There are women in this world just like the women in this book, and their lives are rarely visible to most of us. But the author gets inside these women's minds, for better and for worse, and paints a picture of the kind of community no one believes exists any more -- are there really people that sheltered, that uneducated, that poor ? Yes, there are, and to see an author at least take a stab at portraying their world is heartening.

One could argue that the themes, imagery, and characters are predictable -- a kind of "Beans of Egypt Maine" Lite -- and to some degree it's true. The book will be most appreciated by those who can take what is good from it and not try to measure it against modern masterpieces.

Very, very quick read.

This is simply the best book I have ever read revolving around the lives of women. I was genuinely saddened to read the review by Kirkus, to think it may turn away a potential reader from this story which is indeed like walking through a Yankee rock garden barefoot. But the journey is one that is worth taking. Then, musing over the commentary, I realized the blurb had probably been written by a middle aged man from the South, and promptly discarded it. Women of Granite is the saga of a family of women, raised by women, and who manage to rise above the weakness of the men they themselves have chosen. It is not, as they say, for the squeamish. The character of Nana Page is engrossing, shocking, and finally endearing. It is from Nana that the next generations of women flow, learn, and evolve. It is also about how history does indeed repeat itself, sometimes much to our horror. If a reader is interested in a harsh storm, then Women of Granite, like a Yankee February, is worth reading. I do hope others give this novel a chance and post their comments.