book data
90 ratings, 2.98 average rating, 19 reviews
(more data...)
edit
published
1995
by Granta (NY)
binding
Hardcover, 270 pages
isbn
0964561107
(isbn13: 9780964561106)
description
In a debut novel of remarkable breadth and intimate insight, Claire Messud tells the story of two middle-aged sisters and the divergent life paths cho...more
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »
friend reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists.
Add this book to your favorite list »
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 128)
Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
people who enjoy being depressed
i raced through this one....mainly so I could get it over with and start Into the Wild. Messud is just not my cup of tea. reading her is like going out for a drink with your highly intelligent, priveleged friend who just whines at you about their not-very-impressive problems...and then continues to look down on absolutely everything around them. One of the characters, Virginia, even admitted so much in the book, that she takes pride in being negative. I tried to think that was the character talk...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Has a copy to sell/swap
—
Read in January, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2008
This was an interesting book. I picked it up because I absolutely loved Claire Messud's "The Emperor's Children".
"When the World Was Steady" follows the lives of 2 adult sisters by alternating sections devoted to each sister. Both are completely different in the ways their lives have progressed, but both are faced with life-altering experiences and we are shown the strength of their characters by how they react and change with these experiences.
I will say that for ...more
"When the World Was Steady" follows the lives of 2 adult sisters by alternating sections devoted to each sister. Both are completely different in the ways their lives have progressed, but both are faced with life-altering experiences and we are shown the strength of their characters by how they react and change with these experiences.
I will say that for ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Ultimately the way I felt about this book was very similar to how I felt about Emporer's Children. The story clipped along at a nice pace, there were some characters very richly rendered, but at the end of it all I felt sort of "eh" about the whole thing. Both were told from multiple viewpoints, this one predominantly through two sisters who are essentially estranged, with the occasional viewpoints of random, lesser characters. One of the sisters I disliked immensely and would poke my ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I loved this book. Messund writing reminds me of Pym and Elizabeth Bowen. Messund writes of two middle age sisters both finding themselves at turning points in their lives. Virginia lives with her mother in England. After a break down she is forced into traveling with her mother to the Isle of Skye. Emmy has escaped Virginia and her mother by marrying William and moving to Australia. Emmy fleas to Bali once William has leaves her for her best friend Dora. Both women must confront their grownup s...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I've read two books Claire Messud, and my primary criticism of both is that I really don't like the protagnists of both then -- I may feel compassionate towards each of them, but I don't really like them. This novel is set in both Bali and Scotland. It's easy to read (having read 90% of it while stranded on a flight from Houston back to DC), but I can't say I would have read it had it not been the only book I had readily available on the trip back home.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2007
Well, after Emperor's Children this was something of a disappointment, but I suppose it was destined to be, as I found that book spectacularly good. It was certainly engaging, and the pacing made it a quick read, but ultimately something less than satisfying. I never really felt as though I got to a place of resolution with any of the characters, and each of them got to a moment where you (I) simply wanted some kind of epiphany--but didn't get it.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2008
This book moved along quickly and developed the characters nicely, but I felt like I missed the boat on something. It just didn't sit quite right with me as I neared the end.
That said, I think this does read like a first book, which it was for Messud. I absolutely loved The Emperor's Children and her other books, so she's improved with time. Read those instead.
That said, I think this does read like a first book, which it was for Messud. I absolutely loved The Emperor's Children and her other books, so she's improved with time. Read those instead.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
I ended up getting this from the library because I forgot to check whether any copies of the Emperor's Clothes were on the shelf before I went. (They were not.)
I feel like I've heard that each of her successive novels gets a lot better, so this was definitely good enough for me to keep the Emperor's Clothes on my "to read list."
I feel like I've heard that each of her successive novels gets a lot better, so this was definitely good enough for me to keep the Emperor's Clothes on my "to read list."
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
She is terrific at detailed character development, but not what we come to expect with stereotypical character growth. But I think her point is that we don't really change major things about ourselves in punctuated bursts; many of us really hardly change at all throughout our lives.
Like this review?
yes
5 comments
It reads like a book that a post-midlife crisis writer would create, rather than someone in her 20s. She's a strong writer but this didn't work for me as well as The Emperor's Children.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
Thought the parallel stories of the two sisters were interesting, but was somewhat surprised at the flat way it wound up. Liked her other books better.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
Not sure why I kept going with this one, I didn't really like any of the characters, or the story much.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 2008
definitely a first novel. some parts were boring. i hated one of the characters until she fell apart.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2004
loved *The Last Life* and the novellas, but I lost interest in this one very quickly.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in September, 2006
Parts are set in Bali, which I appreciate. There is a very good nasty-old-woman character.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in November, 2007
Just couldn't get through, what with the insane work hours and all.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in November, 2007
Very boring, couldn't make it past the first 100 pages.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
to-read
(on 26 people's shelves)
currently-reading (on 7 people's shelves)
fiction (on 3 people's shelves)
middle-ground (on 1 person's shelf)
gave-up-on-it (on 1 person's shelf)
gave-up (on 1 person's shelf)
fiction-us (on 1 person's shelf)
fiction-2007 (on 1 person's shelf)
faves (on 1 person's shelf)
dont-care-to-finish (on 1 person's shelf)
More shelves...
currently-reading (on 7 people's shelves)
fiction (on 3 people's shelves)
middle-ground (on 1 person's shelf)
gave-up-on-it (on 1 person's shelf)
gave-up (on 1 person's shelf)
fiction-us (on 1 person's shelf)
fiction-2007 (on 1 person's shelf)
faves (on 1 person's shelf)
dont-care-to-finish (on 1 person's shelf)
More shelves...
