Helpful Score: 3
Susan Minot can write! I loved her phrases of a mind wandering. The book is of a dying woman's recollections of her life as she prepares to say goodbye all that she had been and thought and experienced. Touching, sad at times, and a reminder that one's choices could come back to haunt. Another clear observation is how little we really know one another--especially our parents. I recommend this book.
Helpful Score: 3
Fascinating novel of the memories of a well-lived, passionate life. I really enjoyed the unique way that this author brought out the emotions and thoughts of a woman now dying, looking back on the greatest love of her life. A beautiful, intelligent read.
Helpful Score: 2
Really enjoyed this. The format switches from past to present and can be a bit tricky at first, but once you catch on it's no problem. I liked this one because it really made me think about things--life, death, regrets, missed opportunities, etc. I enjoyed the movie as well.
Helpful Score: 2
Compelling story of dying woman remembering defining moment from her early adult life. Part dream, part reminicing, part wishful thinking, part drug indoced fantasy. How a single weekend can impact a life forever.
Helpful Score: 2
A heart-wrenching story of life and love and regret. The author brings us inside the mind of a person dying of a painful illness.
Helpful Score: 2
I could not get past the fact that there is no punctuation in this book. I always finsish a book, not matter how bad it is because I have to know the ending. This is the only book that I have ever started to read and didn't finish.
Helpful Score: 1
Once you get used to how the author flips back and forth from the present to past, to pain medication induced fantasy, it is easy to follow. A beautiful story that will touch your heart.
Helpful Score: 1
Couldn't make it through this, just didn't hold my attention for some reason.
I read this book years ago and it still holds up as a favorite. But again falls into my reviews of books that were far superior to the movie based on them. If you saw the film luckily it is forgettable so you can appreciate the book. A poignant tale about falling in love and never getting over it.
I made very little progress in reading this book over several weeks. I didn't care about the characters and as a result, didn't care about what happened to them.
Beautiful, sensitive writing.
An excellent read. One of those few books that leaves you truely changed.
Very original, well written book. Thoughtful author.
Story is told in a flash back and very hard to follow. As she lays dying Ann Lord remembers an old love affair and how it affected the rest of her life.
A very hard book for me to follow. However, I would like to see the movie.
Can't really get into this book-very confusing. Will try it again in a few months
This book is good, but I really couldn't finish it. I think it's because of her style of writing. It was hard to understand to me.
July 1954, an Island off the coast of Maine. Ann Grant-a 25-year-old New York career girl- is a bridesmaid at her best friends lavish wedding. Also present is a man named Harris Arden. The book jumps to Ann has five children and has been married three times and lies dying in herhouse in Cambridgeand reflects back on the apst 40 years in Maine.
Ugh. I am not a big fan of Faulkner, and for some reason, I have always hated when written conversation is not quoted, so I didn't bother with this book. It looks like a fascinating story, but I just couldn't get into it, unfortunately.
Really good read.
