In her highly acclaimed first novel, Anywhere But Here, Simpson created one of the most astute yet vulnerable heroines in contemporary ficti...
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reviews
Jun 22, 2009
Lauren
rated it: 
Usually when a book takes eight months to read, it does not bode well, but The Lost Father becomes worthwhile - eventually. I began The Lost Father in August, hoping to finish it before school started. But instead, I was bogged down in the stilted melodrama of Mona Simpson’s prose. The novel follows Mayan, main character, as she searches for the father she has not since childhood, and of whom no record can be found. Mayan carries her weighty emotional baggage from medical school in New York, t
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Aug 23, 2011
Caitlin
rated it: 
Though I did not enjoy this book as much as "My Hollywood" or "Anywhere But Here", I still really really loved reading it and was glad that it was so long and there was so much for me to experience! I think one of the reasons I didn't like the book in a 5-star sense is that there was not an extremely strong and interesting character like Lola or Adele. This is a sequel to "Anywhere But Here", but in that book I was absolutely fascinated by Adele, more so than her da
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Feb 05, 2012
Elizabeth
rated it:
Note to myself: Discuss why so discursive and whether that was a good choice. (Also how easy it was to forget characters over the length.) Length in the sense of not being a page-turner. Cf. with Game of Thrones series which are this long or longer but page-turners. Not the emotional wrenching for me as her other book which focused on Owens (Jobs).
I had read Off Heck Road and My Hollywood before her brother, Steve Jobs, died and before I knew their relationship. This book illus More...
I had read Off Heck Road and My Hollywood before her brother, Steve Jobs, died and before I knew their relationship. This book illus More...
Mar 06, 2010
Jessica
rated it:
This book is so rich and a wonderful read. I can really relate with the protagonist as a sort of eccentric, but down-to-earth outsider. The premise of the story is simple. She is looking for her father, but the book is intricate and filled with little stories in between. I love it and don't want it to end.
Jan 01, 2011
Christina
rated it:
so-so read. I kept reading b/c i just wanted to know what happen! not because i was that engaged by the story. I think my view is colored by my impatient for people in general who can't get their lives together.
Oct 22, 2011
Jacqui
rated it: 
Phenomenal book. Simpson takes an obsession about finding one's father and manages to make it intriguing throughout the entire novel. Her writing dtyle is raw and personal. Loved it. I did not know before a few weeks ago that she is the biological sister of steve jobs-- this book is based loosely on the search for their dad. Absolutely stunning book.
Sep 25, 2008
sdw
rated it:
I got about half way through this book before Inter Library Loan started screaming at me daily about its over-due status. It is now on the list of books I get to read as a reward when the dissertation is done. I really enjoyed the first half though. It made me realize that often time I read and appreciate books I don't really enjoy reading. I read them because they are "important" for some reason or another. But this one I actually had fun with and sought out moments to get through a
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May 03, 2009
Rebecca
rated it:
3.75. I liked the book, but worry she's just got the one story/theme.
Aug 17, 2007
Abbey
rated it: 
I was excited to read this book, but decided to quit reading it about a quarter of the way through, which is something I hate to do. If you are looking for a follow up to Anywhere But Here, don't bother reading this. I stopped reading it because I found it tedious and slow, the plot seemed to be going nowhere, and I was bored by the adult version of Ann/Mayan. Also, several minor details were changed from one book to the next, such as Ann's first name, her hometown, etc. Those things didn't make
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Jun 20, 2009
Mimi
rated it:
There are many books on romantic love but Mayan's unrequited love for her father is not covered as much. Everytime I picked up this novel, there was a refreshing insight or memory. I was impressed by Mona Simpson revealing of the many layers of Mayan's life affected by her absent father. The descriptions of Mayan's mother, father, and grandmother were a wonderful portrait of how those close to you have the ability to both hurt you and love you.
Oct 11, 2009
Laura
rated it:
I read 20 pages before I gave up. I was hesitant to read this for a long time because I was afraid that it would mirror my own situation and thought that would be a difficult subject to read about.
I shouldn't have worried. The main character is pathetic, as well as her mother, who pines for any man to become a replacement father for her daughter.
I couldn't stand the writing style nor the slow paced storyline. Blech.
I shouldn't have worried. The main character is pathetic, as well as her mother, who pines for any man to become a replacement father for her daughter.
I couldn't stand the writing style nor the slow paced storyline. Blech.
Apr 01, 2009
Pamk
rated it:
This book frustrated me. It's about a woman's quest to find her father but she went on and on ad nauseum and after 250 pages of reading the same things over and over again I gave up. Life is too short....
Aug 19, 2008
Layna
rated it: 
Really disappointing as a follow-up to Anywhere But Here. I was kind of surprised by the glowing reviews on the book after reading it. I didn't feel any empathy for the narrator and considering the relentlessness and single-mindedness of the book's focus, it's necessary.
Jan 21, 2008
Betsy
rated it:
The writing was beautiful, but I found the character whiney and negative. The story dragged on and I wanted to give the character a whack across the face and say, "Get over it! Move on!" While it was effective at expressing obsession, it was unpleasant to read.
May 12, 2008
Prooost
rated it:
Add me to the list of non-finishers. "Anywhere but Here" was so good, and this one was so bad, I started to wonder if she actually wrote both of them. Interestingly, though, when her mother makes brief appearances in this book, things perk up a little.
Dec 16, 2009
Sarah
rated it:
I tried so hard to like this book. I pushed my way through half of it and complained to whoever I was with about what a bad book it was. I did this until I was told that I was being annoying. So I stopped reading it. That was a really good decision.
Dec 11, 2007
Jennifer
rated it:
The much-anticipated sequel to Anywhere but Here...and I hated it! It was a cheesy soap opera, which would have been fine had it not had arty pretensions. Oh well.
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