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27th out of 70 books
—
9 voters
Waking the Dead
Fielding Price keeps seeing Sarah everywhere--did she survive the car bombing, or is he losing his mind?
Paperback, 384 pages
Published
February 1st 2000
by Berkley Trade
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A story about idealism and loss, as shown in a relationship between Sarah and Fielding, a couple whose relationship was bound to end in tragedy from the start. See the movie first and if you like it, read the book. The movie is my favorite of all time. I watch it again and again and cry every time.
I feel like the characters show you two different paths that an idealistic person could take, almost like Anna and Levin in Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. Sarah is passionate, religious, and radical. Her ve...more
I feel like the characters show you two different paths that an idealistic person could take, almost like Anna and Levin in Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. Sarah is passionate, religious, and radical. Her ve...more
Now I understand why so many people appreciate Scott Spencer's work. Thanks to a user on LJ for recommending I try again after my disappointment with Willing. Fielding Pierce is a man who wants to be a part of the system. When he falls in love with a woman who believes the system is flawed and devotes her self to working for those who can't fight for themselves, it would seem that there's no way the relationship would work. And it wasn't working when she was killed as part of collateral damage i...more
I've had this book sitting on my shelf for probably 10+ years, and only just got around to reading it. I didn't have to rush.
I didn't particularly like any of the characters, though I think that was an intentional move on the author's part (or it wasn't, and he's just bad at developing characters beyond being entirely self-serving). I don't want to give away plot details, so I'll just say that Mr. Spencer could benefit from a more discerning editor; too many times the protaganist walked into ro...more
I didn't particularly like any of the characters, though I think that was an intentional move on the author's part (or it wasn't, and he's just bad at developing characters beyond being entirely self-serving). I don't want to give away plot details, so I'll just say that Mr. Spencer could benefit from a more discerning editor; too many times the protaganist walked into ro...more
Well, it was good but not as good as I thought. I guess I was expecting something different, more of a thriller, judging by the book's blurb and write-ups. As it was, the outcome was predictible. However, as a psychological study of one man's obsession and single-mindedness to achieve an ambition, and the mental pressure and slide to the edge of a breakdown, it was effective. You could feel the weight of everyone's expectations - father, mentor, siblings, lovers, his own - crushing down on him,...more
I want to start out by saying that Scott Spencer has the most beautiful command of language that I've read in a long while. I honestly didn't expect to like this book much, but the story completely drew me in. I feel like there are so many levels to the plot besides just being about an aspiring politician obsessing over a deceased girlfriend: family and how their expectations (or lack thereof) shape you, the corruption of politics (sometimes in spite of the best of intentions), true service to G...more
Nobody writes love stories like Scott Spencer. In his books youthful passion and idealism are rarely good things. In this book the main character is haunted literally by his youthful innocence and passion which may or may not be as dead as he thinks. Spencer can make waking dreams seem so real and the entire book has a is it real or fantasy feel. I was enraptured from beginning to end.
This was okay. It was compelling (it certainly got me turning the pages), but it was definitely not an enjoyable read. Spencer does have a knack for character development--in just a short sentence or two, he can create a character where you just *know* everything about them: their motivations, their emotions, etc. Stylistically, some of this similes/metaphors go a little bit overboard.
Something of a disappointment after reading Man in the Woods. It didn't make me care about the characters as much. Looking forward to reading more of his though.
Don't bother. I picked this up at Half Priced Books. Had never read any of this authors books, but have seen some of the movies. I was not impressed
Loved this book just like his others, this story is so ...real, so intense, barely put the book down.
If you read this book after a break up, look out!
A moving book and beautiful movie.
Excellent book, excellent movie.
Amazing book and film..
A lovely psychological exploration of loss and identity.
Feb 25, 2008
Molly
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
fans of heartbreaking relationship stories, with a dash of politics
A good book, possibly an even better movie. The book captures a lot of the feeling of their relationship, but it is also full of page after page of descriptions about Fielding's political career, which takes away from the more meaty and emotional relationship parts of the book. I would say it's safe to see the movie first, and then read the book if you like the movie.
I really really love this movie, so I wanted to give the book a shot...something I rarely do after I've seen a film. I have seen this movie several times, and am in tears every time. The writing didn't evoke the same emotion from me as the performances in the film did.
Another great one by Spencer. I haven't read A Ship Made of Paper and found myself underwhelmed by Willing, but the rest of this writer's work is really worth reading.
I sort of liked this movie, but found it a little lacking and so I checked out the book to see if it could give me more. It didn't.
haunting love story; warning: do not read while drinking red wine or if you've had a recent break-up (or maybe do).
A mesmerizing book that touches the heart and makes you live with the characters. One of my all-time favorites.
...still reading...but so far, so good...it's as haunting as the cover is
Good stuff, as usual from this author.
May 17, 2013
frazzledsoul
is currently reading it
May 12, 2013
Tamra
is currently reading it
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Scott Spencer (b. 1945) is the critically acclaimed, bestselling author of ten novels, including Endless Love and A Ship Made of Paper, both of which have been nominated for the National Book Award. Two of his books, Endless Love and Waking the Dead, have been adapted into films.
He has taught at Columbia University, the University of Iowa, and Williams College, and Bard College's Bard Prison Initi...more
More about Scott Spencer...
He has taught at Columbia University, the University of Iowa, and Williams College, and Bard College's Bard Prison Initi...more
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