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456th out of 1,263 books
—
2,764 voters
Sabbathday River
by
Jean Hanff Korelitz (Goodreads Author)
When Naomi Roth pulls the body of a stabbed infant girl from the Sabbathday River, she precipitates an investigation that devastates the small New Hampshire town she hoped to save. Smart and engrossing, this thriller addresses the complex morality behind its characters' behavior with gravity and deep humanity. Idealistic Vista volunteer and New York Jewish liberal in searc...more
Paperback, 528 pages
Published
February 1st 2001
by Jove
(first published April 12th 1999)
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I picked this book up from the library because I really enjoyed Admission - the newest novel by the same author. Sabbathday River was written 10 years before Admission, and it's easy to see how the author has grown and improved. I don't know that if I had read this one first I would have run to read the new one.
A baby is found floating in the river and a suspect is immediately found. Although a local girl, Heather has been an outsider in her own community, so there are few people who support her...more
A baby is found floating in the river and a suspect is immediately found. Although a local girl, Heather has been an outsider in her own community, so there are few people who support her...more
This book was intriguing from the very first page; I could hardly put it down once I started it. I have always loved murder mysteries, and this is by far the best one I have ever read. It is nearly impossible to not comisserate with Naomi throughout the discovery of the first baby and everything that follows. I have also known an Ashley or two and respect Heather for the strength she demonstrates after her life unravels.Every part of this book was amazing! I have already insisted that several of...more
A pleasant surprise since I knew nothing about the author or the content of the book until I began reading. While this is basically a mystery set in a small town area of New Hampshire, there is a thick layer of "women's issues" addressed throughout as well as a "growing up" of idealistic, "hippy", tree hugging types who thought they'd change the world. Also, I liked that all the characters are "flawed" in one way or another, and so it becomes very difficult of be judgmental of what is moral or t...more
An interesting exploration of small town mentality bound with a grisly mystery this book explores a lot of issues. It makes for intriguing reading but sometimes there is almost too much and it slows the momentum of the book, dragging a little in a places. Its a little reminiscent of the Scarlet Letter with a more modern setting.
I found it compelling though, I cared about what would happen. The ending was a little bit of a cop out in terms of Judith's confession I think I would rather that that p...more
I found it compelling though, I cared about what would happen. The ending was a little bit of a cop out in terms of Judith's confession I think I would rather that that p...more
One of the best legal/mystery books I've ever read. Very much character/psychology driven, with great plots twists some interesting philosophizing, and the best part: I'm almost to the end of the book and I still have no clue "who done it." I also really like that the three main characters, all women, are imperfect, especially the defendant who, unusual in this kind of book, is rather pathetic and even unlikable, making it even more mysterious.
Considering this is a novel, and the author could have written any story she wanted, it is beyond me why she made this up. It is simply horrible.
I will say the writing was good, and there are some important issues addressed in the book. However, I was turned off at the very beginning and continued to read it only because it was the first book I was to read for a new book group. I have since quit that book group and joined another.
I will say the writing was good, and there are some important issues addressed in the book. However, I was turned off at the very beginning and continued to read it only because it was the first book I was to read for a new book group. I have since quit that book group and joined another.
Young, naive Heather Pratt scandalized the town of Goddard, New Hampshire by having an affair with a married man. When a murdered newborn baby was found in the Sabbathday River, the whole town accused Heather. The only two people who stood up for her were Naomi, a woman who came to town ten years before as an idealistic volunteer for VISTA, and Judith, an attorney who had just moved into town with her husband. Good book.
EXCELLENT from start to finish. A modern day homage to the Scarlet Letter. Exquisitely written. Incredible plotting. Passages of sheer genius. Finally, a writer who can write realistic court room scenes in a great novel.
This book was written in 1999 and seems to be hard to find. Purchase a used copy if you must or check your library.
This book was written in 1999 and seems to be hard to find. Purchase a used copy if you must or check your library.
A surprising book and I really liked it.
It's a shame it didn't get better publicity or promotion, it probably didn't get the attention it deserved because of it.
If you come across this little gem, have a read!
It's a shame it didn't get better publicity or promotion, it probably didn't get the attention it deserved because of it.
If you come across this little gem, have a read!
Very good. Interesting mystery, legal drama, women's rights, small town prejudices in the 50's. Can't find my copy but really want to read again to refresh my memory so may rebuy or borrow from the library.
I wish there was a way to rate this 2.5 stars. I didn't always like it. There was a decent mystery, and it was literary in the sense that characters were dealing with their issues, the philosophies, their religion in addition to dealing with the plot. The writing was good. However, there were some aspects of the story that I found unbelievable to the point of almost ruining it for me. In particular I found the resolution of the mystery frustrating. Also, one of the main characters is supposed to...more
I read a lot of murder mysteries, usually of the subgenre called "police procedurals", and I think I'd been pretty well submerged in those at the time I picked this one up. It turned out to be quite a surprise. It's more about how a small town reacts to people who don't conform, than actually about a murder and bringing a criminal to justice. One of the best parts is the exploration of a college-educated "outsider"'s attempt to bring her feminist values to the town's women, and how that affects...more
While the ending is super predictable and not shocking as the author intends this is still a really good book that has well developed characters, great dialogue and plotting.
Read this after admission and literally couldn't put it down. I stayed up all night reading and t was totally worth it. Will be getting all of korelitz's works.
Wow, I read this in two days...totally kept me on the edge of my seat. Definitely worth reading, and a great book for discussion in a group setting.
Good vacation read. A mystery, 2 dead bodies, courtroom drama, love interest, a tug at a mother's heart.
What a wonderful combination of superb characterizations and page-turning mystery. Korelitz's descriptions of the characters are so real that you are inside their heads...even if you don't want to be. The dynamics of the community, the thoughts and actions of the characters, the unexpected discoveries...all make you forget you are reading. You are there. I found myself angry, sad, chilled, frustrated, puzzled. Every time you think you grasp the whole picture another small piece is revealed, caus...more
This is a hard book to put down. I was drawn in from page one.
Entertaining.
Great read! Thanks Dianne!
I like this book enough to have read it several times, but I think it has a few problems. Some of the side plots that impact the main storyline seem a little farfetched, and I really didn't like really like the outcome as far as the trial went and the punishments for the murderers. It also made me aware of and pique my interest in Jewish genetics & some of the disorders they are at a higher risk of.
Crime novel plus big discussions of feminism,oppression of women,and the double standard; the iniquities of the justice system and the death of 1960's idealism. I enjoyed the book, at times during these discussions of the Big Issues it got a little boring...nu already let's just solve the crimes. Who did kiled the two newborn infants. Lots of twists, excellent book.
Beautifully written and deeply moving, this is a compelling novel and certainly one worth reading
This book really did not grab me, such that it has taken me more than a month to finish it (and in the end I am not sure why I bothered). It was fine, just did not pull me in.
Great book, really well written and more disturbing than I expected.
I would highly recommend!
I would highly recommend!
I read this book years ago, and though I for some reason had a hard time following Korelitz sometimes, the book was still amazing.
I started this a second time and enjoyed it this time. I don't usually like to read about court cases, but this one held my interest.
suspenseful courtroom drama. thanks for recommendation, bev.
May 11, 2013
Jgammon98
marked it as to-read
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| putting aside the book for now | 1 | 9 | Dec 29, 2008 06:10am |
Feb 21, 2009 04:58am