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Strange Fits of Passion
Strange Fits of Passion
Author: Anita Shreve
A turbulent, tragic story of domestic abuse from the bestselling author of The Pilot's Wife. — Everyone believes that Maureen and Harrold English, two successful New York City journalists, have a happy, stable marriage. It's the early '70s and no one discusses or even suspects domestic abuse. But after Maureen suffers another brutal b...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780156031394
ISBN-10: 0156031396
Publication Date: 10/4/2005
Pages: 352
Rating:
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 90

3.6 stars, based on 90 ratings
Publisher: Harvest Books
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

candieb avatar reviewed Strange Fits of Passion on + 239 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
I've read a few Shreve novels, the first being The Pilot's wife, which was wonderful. I read a couple of others they were just "okay", but this is definitely a good one. It's pretty hard to read in places, it is about domestic abuse, but it also makes you ask yourself some tough questions - at least it did me. There are so many layers to life and to the choices we make - AND to the consequences of those choices. This is a very well written novel. It took me a bit to get into it, but once I was there, I was THERE. In the end, my heart ached mostly for Emily. For the unanswered question in her life, for everything she had been through. Interesting that she was such a small character, but was the one that left me with the most thoughts.
reviewed Strange Fits of Passion on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
Great read, different because each chapter is from a different character's point of view. I had to check to see that it was a fiction book because it read as a reporter gathering facts about the case.
reviewed Strange Fits of Passion on + 75 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
Another dynamite book by Anita Shreve, it's the story of a couple who appear from the outside to have a stable marriage when the exact opposite is actually true. The woman escapes with her daughter to a small town in Maine and tries to have a fresh start, but her husband continues to pursue her. Excellent book - I highly recommend it.
ScrappinNanny avatar reviewed Strange Fits of Passion on
Helpful Score: 4
Couldn't put this book down. Loved it. Great story with message that makes you think what you would do in that situation.
luvbooks avatar reviewed Strange Fits of Passion on + 126 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I highly recommend this book! It is very insightful and moving! A must-read!
Read All 43 Book Reviews of "Strange Fits of Passion"

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reviewed Strange Fits of Passion on + 4 more book reviews
not her best work. hard to get into, and slow
penguincollector avatar reviewed Strange Fits of Passion on + 4 more book reviews
I enjoyed this book. Good read.
reviewed Strange Fits of Passion on + 2 more book reviews
This was a good book. If you like Anita Shreve then you will like this. You feel for the main character and what she goes through as a dedicated mother and wife.
reviewed Strange Fits of Passion on
A book I thoroughly enjoyed! Told from multiple points of view, the story builds in different directions. A good reminder that "truth" is often a gray area.
reviewed Strange Fits of Passion on + 51 more book reviews
Reminds me of the 3 blind men and the elephant, one feeling the trunk, one feeling the tail and one feeling the leg. They each described the elephant as they "saw" it. So, too, the characters in this book "saw" and applied their own point of view to the dilemma therein. Even at the end of the book, the reader is not sure what to believe. We get to partake in the "seeing". Good book!
reviewed Strange Fits of Passion on + 158 more book reviews
Wonderful story that will break you heart.
reviewed Strange Fits of Passion on + 54 more book reviews
A lone woman and her infant, running away from an abusive marriage; a wintry ocean house that beckons you to stay safe and comfortable within its walls; women who reach out to you and gift you with thier friendship; a man who offers love and safety; a murder, a suicide and you have all the makings for a great story! It touched all bases with me!
reviewed Strange Fits of Passion on + 275 more book reviews
This was an interesting book...Anita Shreve weaves a tale of cruelty and abuse, love lost and found. It is an educational book as well attesting to just how devastating domestic abuse can be. It is also, as the back cover says, "...a powerful portrait of truth and deception."


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