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The Ocean Inside
by
Janna McMahan (Goodreads Author)
The acclaimed author of "Calling Home" delivers a gripping and evocative new work, in the tradition of Jodi Picoult, about a family thrown into crisis.
Paperback, 352 pages
Published
April 1st 2009
by Kensington
(first published March 30th 2009)
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WOW...just started and lyrical prose has sucked me in...I love this book already!
Finished this very quickly...couldn't stop taking breaks to get back to the story. Very real characters and what happened to them is something that could happen to anyone. Their reactions to the situtations presented were totally realistic as I've experienced some of what they went through. Without telling you all the details and how it worked out, I will say that life happens to all of us and sometimes we get distr...more
Finished this very quickly...couldn't stop taking breaks to get back to the story. Very real characters and what happened to them is something that could happen to anyone. Their reactions to the situtations presented were totally realistic as I've experienced some of what they went through. Without telling you all the details and how it worked out, I will say that life happens to all of us and sometimes we get distr...more
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I'm not entirely sure this book earned a full three stars, but it was definitely better than two stars. I can't pinpoint what was wrong with the book - it was relatively well-written, I found sympathy with the characters (although admittedly I sympathized more with the daughters than the parents), the book ended well. But as difficult as it is to say what was wrong with the book, I also can't say anything was glaringly right either. It just "was." I did find Sloan's storyline to be a hefty distr...more
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In The Ocean Inside, Janna McMahan introduces to a real family with real struggles facing a real disease. Their reaction is human and the writing makes you feel as if this were a family you know from your own hometown. The familiarity of the Sullivan's is what makes this book so real and touches your heart. The Ocean Inside was my first introduction to the works of Janna McMahan, but it won't be my last. I am off to search B&N for more of her books!
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I might have been able to enjoy this story more if it hadn't been set in my own little town of Pawleys Island, so I had to grind my teeth to the nubbins over the amount of things the author got so very wrong about both Pawleys' and nearby Georgetown's history, geography, and culture. Yes, I know it's fiction, but keep the fiction, fiction and the real, real or else use a fictional place name. Petty, I know, but blatant errors are like chalk squeaking on the blackboard and detract from anything e...more
Sometimes a book hits you for reasons you can't quite explain. The Ocean Inside was that book for me. Perhaps because the author's story took a family and tore it apart emotionally and allowed the tide to ebb and flow with the emotions and fear. Perhaps because the ocean brought all things to a conclusion. According to the author, the ocean inside us is universal and is the part of us that lies hidden from the world. It is the part of us that has a secret, a fear, a longing or an emotional burde...more
Too much speculative fiction has probably ruined me for this sort of real life story because I can’t help but think that nothing happened in this book. And yeah, I feel like a real douche canoe for admitting that a story where a kid gets cancer and a family falls part equates to “nothing happened” in my mind.
Except, the story wasn’t exactly about a kid with cancer and a family falling apart. Those things happened but only in order to set up the real action, which was the older teenage sister ge...more
Except, the story wasn’t exactly about a kid with cancer and a family falling apart. Those things happened but only in order to set up the real action, which was the older teenage sister ge...more
I can understand the comparisons to Jodi Picoult, given the different points of view and the similar setup to "My Sister's Keeper" (one sick sister, one not, and the resulting family drama). However, Picoult has evolved over time, and I imagine McMahan will too. The amount of drama felt like too much here; it felt forced rather than a natural result of the family's stress.
It wasn't a bad book, and I would read another by McMahan. But she's not an automatic buy yet.
It wasn't a bad book, and I would read another by McMahan. But she's not an automatic buy yet.
This book had an absolutely stunning opening scene and soon began to unfold a story that was captivating. The writing style was very easy and similar to a lighter version of a Picoult along with a similar type story line. Though I do tend to find with Picoult's that things are a little too drawn out this book had the perfect pace and interwove different aspects of the story in a pleasing way. I very much enjoyed reading this and hearing all the voices of the place in which it was set. It's obvio...more
I was really surprised by how much I liked this. I thought from the book description that it would be a book about demonizing parents for forgetting to be parents but I was surprised by how it was not like that at all. It was more about how stress can manifest differently in everyone and how sometimes the person with the most pain, fear and stress can be the one most sensitive to others. I particularly liked the relationship between the sisters and thought it was realistic and hopeful. The way t...more
I thought the book was fairly interesting but I thought that the author should not have added the story about LaShonda it distracted me from the story about Sloan and Ainslie. I was disappointed in the ending and thought that the whole thing with Sloan being rescued by dolphins was corny. I guess I wish the author had just stuck with the story about the sisters and the cancer.
A glimpse into a family under pressure.The complexities, interactions, reactions, and intricacies of an American family are well done by Ms. McMahan. The characters were interesting, even when not likable...and they were definitely not all likable.This added to the realism and rounded out the story.
The book held my interest.It read quickly and easily.
I look forward to reading more books by Janna McMahan.
The book held my interest.It read quickly and easily.
I look forward to reading more books by Janna McMahan.
As a fan of low country stories, this is one of the best books that I have read in a long time. I love the NC/SC area, I own a 2nd home there, and as I read this book it transported me down there and drew me in fro the first page. This book makes you smile, laugh, cry and mixes in a dose of reality and suspense, basically it has it all!
I ended up liking this book the more I read. What was best was the perspective change from person to person, where you learned the motivations and thoughts of the characters. Also, that it did not focus on the details of the illness, just the effects on the family. Did not sink to weepy melodrama.
It was a fun read, although it was a serious subject matter, it was still kept pretty light. I related with the main characters. Lauryn and Sloan were so brave in their battles and trials of life. The ending wasn't really an ending. It felt anti-climatic, after the big build up of many intense events. As I look back on it, I appreciate the fact, I as a reader can make up for myself how it all will work out for each of them.
Would have been a better read if the book had an ending. The author didn't even leave me wanting more . . it just ended? Not sure why? Is a sequel involved? And, if so, not sure that I will choose to select it because none of the characters developed into completion.
I bought this book solely on the jacket description which read something like "Jodi Picoult fans will enjoy this novel." It was a good book, but not as memorable as Jodi Picoult's many titles. Worth the read though -- especially if you're looking for a good "beach book."
I chose this book because it was free from Amazon's kindle downloads. I'm usually disappointed by those books, but always give them a try (because they are free!). This novel started off weird, I immediately sensed the drama that was coming my way (really sick child, marital problems, teenage angst...) but was surprised by how "un-fake" it felt (as apposed to feeling "real"). I think McMahan did go a little overboard with the drama, but I still enjoyed reading it. I think if you're looking for a...more
Aug 30, 2010
Alissa
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
No one
Recommended to Alissa by:
Free Kindle
Shelves:
read-in-2010,
kindle
The author mimics her writing style similar to Jodi Piccolt with each chapter narrated from a different persons perspective. I really tried to like this book but the characters are not very likeable and the plot is disconnected with huge gaping holes.
Other readers have compared Janna McMahan's The Ocean Inside with Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper, I agree and I also agree, you can see why Jodi is the best selling author. This was an enjoyable read, nice characters, good story line, but just not top notch yet. But I would definitely give this author another try on another novel.
I think I got this as a Kindle freebie. It did remind me of Jodi Picoult just a bit. Raising two daughters, I found myself connected to the relationship between the sisters. Overall, I liked it and if it's cheap, I recommend it.
This book was ok - pretty predictable. It felt like a combo of Nicholas Sparks and Jodi Picoult. It seemed like there were a lot of random unnecessary details. I would have liked to have a bit more at the end though.
I'm not sure this book deserves 2 or 3 stars. I was with the main character until she lies to Mr. Washington at the end. That was just cruel and mean. She was not very redeeming or likable.
This novel was amazing. Once I picked it up I could not put it down. The story was captivating and I loved how the chapters rotated by telling the story from various perspectives.
Pretty good for an Amazon freebie. Mostly family drama, with a splash of intrigue. Set in Low Country South Carolina. I enjoyed reading about many of the places I visited near my folks' new digs.
Excellent book and now a new favorite. Mirrored some of the same things we are going through in our family so it really hit home. Would highly recommend.
This book was beautiful and lyrical. I could not put it down, the only thing I did not like was the amout of points of view the story is told from
Wonderful character definition, moving plot line. I completely emphasized with these characters also one of my favorite books of the past 12 months.
Prob more of a 2.5 stars. It kept me entertained at the beach, but I kept wishing I was reading one of the other books I brought.
I wasn't too crazy about this book. I didn't like the ending and felt like I was left hanging. There were too many things happening and I didn't feel like I had closure after reading it.
It was a slow start but once the story picked up it got good. The storyline felt real and the characters were lifelike. They were all easy to relate to. I enjoyed it.
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