- Cathleen Schine's reputation as a wit and storyteller is unquestionable--her previous novels were critically praised and loved by booksellers.- T...
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reviews
Jul 07, 2009
Valerie
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I'm really glad that I listened to this on tape and didn't waste time reading it. I would have been really pissed if I had spent time out of my life to read this. Although the book started off rather interesting I just couldn't see how everything fit together. Madame B was mentioned so many times that if a person hadn't read the book they would have been totally lost. She tackles so many topics within the book as well that the characters are someone shallow. The reader did a good job with so
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Jan 29, 2012
MM
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This one isn't great -- it's cliche-ridden and superficial. But hey, I'm on a vacation and it's perfect airplane-reading. It's not offensive, doesn't require brain-power, and has moments of humor and insight.
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Mar 17, 2010
Marguerite
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I liked this mother-daughter-granddaughter story, apart from and including the Madame Bovary parallels. The screenplay Elizabeth writes is dreadful, but it's meant to be. I'd never heard of a "journalist ending" before, despite a lifetime in that occupation, but I'm guessing it could apply to Cathleen Schine's novel. After a lot of drama and agonizing, she wraps things up somewhat unexpectedly in a few pages. But, maybe the phrase means a descent into increasing unimportance, instead.
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Mar 13, 2009
Christine
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After reading "Not Buying It" where the author chooses not to buy the new book by Cathlees Schine (even though she apparently loves the writer), I gave her a try. I liked "The New Yorkers", but didn't love it. I liked this book a bit more. I love the language she uses and she's able to create whole pictures in my head as I read. Again a couple of the plot twists/character quirks felt a bit odd, but the book challenged and explored the many complicated relationships we all
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Oct 09, 2011
Leeann
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This was a free book when I first got my Nook. I had read this author before and thought it might be good. It might be, but it was not for me. Surviving Cancer, dying, life changes, unsettled lives - enought already. Good thing it is a fairly short book, I might have put to down. This is one of those that I wish I could just stop reading, but I always finish the book I start.
Jun 20, 2010
Kathleen
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While I count Schine as one of my favorite contemporary authors, I found this book uneven. Perhaps cancer assaulting two of the principal characters contributed to my response...or maybe it was the main character not responding to the emotional work everyone was performing around her, which she practically ignored...I don't know...
Jan 10, 2012
Genevieve
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I found this book to be too heavily feministic and negative. It dealt with some serious issues, however, the main characters tended to be selfish and self-centered. I couldn't figure out why they were dissatisfied with their lives and how that became their significant other's fault. Too liberal and far-fetched for my taste.
Nov 29, 2011
Kelly
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Can a book about how life is overwhelming for people of the sandwich generation be interesting? Apparently not. I wanted to like this book because I could relate to women feeling needed by everyone, but it was too boring.
Oct 02, 2011
Pam
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Ok book. Said some thoughtful things. Grandma dying of cancer of the jaw; mother fighting colon cancer. Daughter taking care of everyone including husband and baby. It is not a downer; actually kind of happy. Easy, fast read.
Aug 30, 2011
Michaelann
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uneven -- sometimes the characters were compelling (mother with new lesbian mother, yes; academic-transiting-to-screenwriter, not always) but sometimes annoying. appreciated the family relationships and the ending was strong....
Feb 14, 2009
Erika
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Was about interesting topics, like mortality of your mother, adultery, different roles a single woman plays, but no insights or depth of perception. Only good thing was that it was not offensive and was quick to read.
Nov 27, 2008
Trina
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This is funny and sad -- a daughter, a mother and a grandmother who are all ill, all mistrustful of one another, putting up fronts, etc. but who must care for one another in their respective illnesses.
Jul 20, 2010
Njwillott
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Good beach reading. I liked the concept of the perspectives of the three generations of women, and it was sometimes amusing, but the drama was overdone. Shine tried to tackle too many serious issues at once.
May 19, 2011
Kathy
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I had too much going on in my life to concentrate very well on this book. I felt it was disjointed, I think mostly because of things going on with me
Jul 02, 2011
Angie
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it wasn't riveting but I really enjoyed the relationships and the characters. An easy read - but I enjoyed it.
Aug 24, 2009
Jennifermason744
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i honestly didn't like this book at all. it was basic about 2 women dying of cancer. it was boring and dull.
Nov 29, 2010
Kelly
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I really liked this book. Didn't expect to, not sure why so many are giving it a bad review. I had a hard time putting it down. I really sympathized with the characters. Was sad when it was over ... Almost feel like there should be a part two.
Apr 30, 2008
Natalie
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Why do I keep trying to read Schine's books? I think they ought to be better than they actually are. I stopped reading this one 1/2 way through when I realized I couldn't keep the mother and grandmother characters separate in my mind. None of her characters seem very believable or compelling, and so they all blurred together. Not worth your time.
Feb 08, 2008
Jessica
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I didn't care too much for this book. It is a story of a woman's disastrous life including her mother and grandmother's problems also. The author tackles death, sexuality, fidelity, and identity. It was just a little too much. The author could've wrote one story for each of those very big issues.
Oct 29, 2008
Lynnie
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This book was mentioned in the book, "Not Buyig It" by Judith Levine.
This book took me a long time to read.
It was slow and kinda interesting.........
I don't think I'll read another Cathleen Schine book.
This book took me a long time to read.
It was slow and kinda interesting.........
I don't think I'll read another Cathleen Schine book.
Oct 26, 2007
Kyla
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(Can you tell I'm getting desperate for books from my understocked in popular fiction university library?)
Eh. I wouldn't call it chick-lit but paperdoll-lit - flat, 2D, who cares characters.
Eh. I wouldn't call it chick-lit but paperdoll-lit - flat, 2D, who cares characters.
Jun 04, 2007
Briana
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this book is good...told from the perspective of three different mothers struggling with issues (adultery, death, sexuality). was good, but a bit over the top on the drama!
Jul 06, 2011
Stephanie
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At first it started out great! But then as I kept reading it wasn't all of what I expected. I actually just stopped reading the book altogether.
Dec 22, 2008
Ivan
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This is the book I currently find in a off sale with discount up to 70%. I need to prepare myself because the review is not quite in to this book.
