Helpful Score: 7
I was so disappointed in this book. I loved The Dive from Clausen's Pier, but not this one. I ended up skimming the last 50 pages to get it over with. I felt like she never got to the point and the writing danced around what it was really trying to say. She was also unable to get me emotionally involved with these characters and I didn't care how it ended.
Helpful Score: 4
Although I read this book all the way through, I must say that I just didn't âget into itâ that much. I just felt so removed from the characters and, in many ways, not much happened. I was disappointed in this book as I had enjoyed The Dive From Clausen's Pier.
Helpful Score: 1
Overall, I liked the book. In fact, I liked it better than "The Dive From Clausen's Pier". However, with that said, a lot of the description simply didn't ring true for me. Someone else mentioned that the male characters were written as stereotypical or "stock" men, and I can agree with that assessment to some extent. Brody, Liz's husband, was rarely home due to his high-powered job with his friend's internet security company, yet he still managed to forge a connection to his second child (and only son) Joe.
I kept waiting for a deeper exploration of the pains and myths driving all of these characters. I wanted more backstory on Sarabeth's home and family life--didn't get it. I wanted Sarabeth as well to be a better adult. Pining over the loss of a married boyfriend and mooning over another man who was also married (but looking) had me liking her far less. Everyone in the book (except for a couple of the doctors) seemed to be a pitiful victim of their own inability to act properly.
The ending was completely unsatisfactory. It really did feel contrived, and I was upset with the author for giving us such a tepid resolution.
I kept waiting for a deeper exploration of the pains and myths driving all of these characters. I wanted more backstory on Sarabeth's home and family life--didn't get it. I wanted Sarabeth as well to be a better adult. Pining over the loss of a married boyfriend and mooning over another man who was also married (but looking) had me liking her far less. Everyone in the book (except for a couple of the doctors) seemed to be a pitiful victim of their own inability to act properly.
The ending was completely unsatisfactory. It really did feel contrived, and I was upset with the author for giving us such a tepid resolution.
A lifelong friendship that is pushed to the breaking point. A slow going book and probably my last by this author.
This is the first book I have read by Ann Packer and I was not impressed.....but I will try another. This one never seemed to have a point---or I just didn't get it! I feel like the author left out the important things that I would have liked to have known about her characters. Was not a TOTAL waste of time, just left me wanting....
For some reason, I couldnt really get into this book.
Personally I enjoyed this book. Yes, the plot is a bit "loose", no there is no defining climax, but that's not what this story is all about. It's the story of a family and how the actions, feelings and behavior of those we love affect us. It's the story of two friends that even though they travel on two different paths, seem to come together and need each other.
For many parents today, this book rings true of our lives. We try to interact with our children, we try to make time for ourselves but we wind up driving through on autopilot and only wake up when something out of the ordinary happens. This story is a reminder of what is really important and how easy it is to overlook that and wallow in the suffering of day to day activities.
Many people have said this book is boring or it wasn't very good, I think that it's all in the readers expectations. I couldn't put this book down. Read the book and decide for yourself.
For many parents today, this book rings true of our lives. We try to interact with our children, we try to make time for ourselves but we wind up driving through on autopilot and only wake up when something out of the ordinary happens. This story is a reminder of what is really important and how easy it is to overlook that and wallow in the suffering of day to day activities.
Many people have said this book is boring or it wasn't very good, I think that it's all in the readers expectations. I couldn't put this book down. Read the book and decide for yourself.
I really did enjoy this book - although I think I liked her first book better. It was pretty depressing (being mainly about depression...ha, ha). I thought that main friendship was a little lacking - it's not like other friend-books where I am dying to have my friends read them after me. But, I did enjoy it and I'm sure I will continue to watch out for this author.
I was very disappointed in this book. I could not get into the characters or the story line at all. In fact, I started skimming through just to finish. That seldom happens to me as I can usually find some reason to stick with it. The characters had no depth and I found it hard to figure out what she, the author, was really trying to communicate. A big let down after her first novel.
