Customer Reviews: Read 78 more reviews...
 A tender, passionate, well paced, skillfully written story .... November 24, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've read a lot of the other reviews posted and this book seems pretty divisive - not what I expected. I personally loved it - I sobbed through the final chapters. It delivered on everything I expected. I'd call it truly an epic, one I will go back to read again and again. The different strands of the story are very carefully and patiently woven together. The characters are very skillfully portrayed - I felt so much tenderness for Leo's father. In all, this story was so very moving and beautifully written. Those 1 star reviewers must have hearts of made of granite!
Balanced Beautifully between plot and poetry November 15, 2008
What I loved most about this book, is that fact that the author managed to write beautifully, and still weave a wonderful plot line, two in fact. I sometimes find books either have the plot, or the writing.
I love the way the two stories parallels eachother, where two men are going through different fights, in different times, over different landscapes
A Fantastic read, I've been suggesting it to all my friends, and even buying it for them just so I can guarantee they will read it
 No page-turner October 28, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
After reading the reviews I have to admit I was hugely disappointed by this book.
It started out promising enough, but I have to admit I was bored half way through and it's taken me near enough 6 weeks to complete!
Don't get me wrong, I loved the sentiment of this book, but felt it could've done with having 100 or so pages being dropped, those being most of the story of Leo & Eleni whom I didn't care about. It was the story of Moritz and Lotte which interested me. I understand that the author needed to find the connection between the characters at the end, but to be honest adding so much detail of Leo & Eleni didn't do the book any justice and I felt it was unnecessary.
All in all, this book was ok, but definately no page-turner. Therefore, I gave this book 2 stars, one for Moritz and one for Lotte who had an amazing love story which had to be told to prove that love really does exist and that some people will go to the ends of the earth to find it.
 This book does not know what it is meant to be October 17, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Was excited about reading this book following good reviews and a tempting title. Very disappointing.
At some points it lamely attempts to be profound but is not. The prose is almost childlike in places, and frequently changes its overall thrust/theme.
I was expecting it to be a book of some sort of emotion or mystery but it was like reading one of my own teenage school stories.
Very disappointing
 On the presence and power of love even after it is lost October 14, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The memory of love can at times be more present and more devestating than a human being can phanthom. "Random Acts of Heroic Love" is the story of Leo, who loses the love of his life in a bus-crash while backpacking in South America and the story of Moritz, who flees a POW camp in Siberia under WW1 and journeys back to Europe on foot, hoping to find the love of his life waiting for him.
The two men are alike in so many ways, but Leo goes under with grief after Eleni's death, while Moritz is strong with hope and determination after only a single kiss from Lotte. However, when the title calls "Randoms Acts of Heroic Love" into focus, I do not believe that it is the two main characters' love, but the love from the characters around Leo and Moritz.
"Random Acts of Heroic Love" has a certain novelty as the main characters are men, and it certainly aspires the reader to thoughts of love, loss, and life. It is atmospheric, beautifully written, and maintains a softness despite rough scenes in both the Leo and Moritz plotlines. However, it is a bit mushy, a little overly romantic despite the author's attempt to add a scientific approach to love with an university professor and a ph.d. in the mating rituals of ants.
I would recommend "Random Acts of Heroic Love" to someone, who loves romantic films and who - with a glass of red wine in hand - willingly discusses the notion of love.
Louise
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