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"Kathryn Harrison is a wonderful writer...Spellbinding."
"- The New York Times Book Review
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"A juicy story of psychosexual susp... read full description
"
"Kathryn Harrison is a wonderful writer...Spellbinding."
"- The New York Times Book Review
"
"A juicy story of psychosexual susp... read full description
reviews
Nov 12, 2008
Jason
rated it: 
(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted here illegally.)
This is an author I first discovered believe it or not through a random airport buy a number of years ago, when I picked up her racily-covered 2006 Exposure during a boring layover and ended up really enjoying it, albeit in a "high-class Judith Krantz" kind of way. And so when I More...
This is an author I first discovered believe it or not through a random airport buy a number of years ago, when I picked up her racily-covered 2006 Exposure during a boring layover and ended up really enjoying it, albeit in a "high-class Judith Krantz" kind of way. And so when I More...
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Mar 03, 2008
Coffeeboss
rated it: 
I've liked Katherine Harrison (The Seal Wife) and been intrigued if a bit weirded out by her (The Kiss), and now I found a book of hers I didn't like. Rampant with sexuality, though barely stimulating, her characters cheat, manipulate, ignore, stalk, and steal each other's partners. Oh, and not too surprisingly, there is a tease of incest here too to make it all more shocking. Except that it is all actually pretty boring, and the main character Will, a psychiatrist, is so emotionally unstable an
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Feb 02, 2011
Christie
rated it: 
I have mad love for Kathryn Harrison. I think she’s a beautiful writer and she often tackles difficult subjects, train wrecks from which you can not turn away.
Envy is the story of psychoanalyst Will Moreland. The landscape of his life is pitted with estranged relationships (his identical – save for the brother’s wine-stain birthmark – twin, Mitch); death (his young son, Luke, killed in a boating accident) and a strained sexual relationship with his wife, Carole (they still do it, but More...
Envy is the story of psychoanalyst Will Moreland. The landscape of his life is pitted with estranged relationships (his identical – save for the brother’s wine-stain birthmark – twin, Mitch); death (his young son, Luke, killed in a boating accident) and a strained sexual relationship with his wife, Carole (they still do it, but More...
Nov 02, 2011
Stephanie
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
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Feb 05, 2009
Perhaps best known for her 1997 memoir, The Kiss, in which she recounted her affair with her estranged father, Harrison is an expert at exploring themes of transgression, betrayal, and obsession. Envy deals with it all: marital estrangement, sexual dysfunction, sibling rivalry, and parental grief. Though riveting in parts and suspenseful the entire way through, the novel's sheer drama, approaching the formulaic, suffocated a few critics. The characters (some flat, others narcissistic and passion
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Apr 05, 2009
Indigo
rated it:
This book was really depressing at certain points and kind of disturbing. It's about this guy named Will whose son just died and is having a lot of complications with his marriage. At his college reunion he runs into his ex-girlfriend who has a daughter that could possibly be his. You start to learn about all the scandals he was involved with in the past and it becomes obvious that he still has feelings for this woman. The only reason why I didn't enjoy this book fully was because it was a li
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Feb 16, 2009
Book about a therapist who has lost his son, is distanced from his wife and having pornographic thoughts about his patients. His twin brother, superstar swimmer, but with port wine stain on his face, has alienated himself from the family. Therapist discovers he may have a daughter he never knew. New patient ultimately seduces him... I won't give the rest away. Good read. She's very good at the technical stuff of moving the story along without doing so chronologically or with every boring scene.
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Sep 16, 2011
Kelly
rated it:
My thoughts so far, on page 198 out of 300: I must say that I had assumed, from the description, that this book would be a lot more "action"-oriented than it has turned out to be. The main character, Will, is philosophical and analytical to the EXTREME, oh my goodness; being that he is a pyschiatrist, I suppose it makes good sense that he would be. However, most of his self-analyzation - about himself, his life, his marriage, his non-existant relationship with his brother, his past,
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Sep 07, 2008
Sally
rated it:
I reviewed this book for the Chicago Sun-Times Book Review section. It was published 7/15/05. This book resides at the intersection of mysticism and psychology. It's insights are obscured by the parameters of the writer's own point of view. Huh? Read it and you'll see what I mean.
Kathryn Harrison's Envy: More Sizzling Sex Secrets
By Sally Duros
Kathryn Harrison has delivered a compelling tale in her brooding new novel, Envy. Readers who admired her controversial m More...
Kathryn Harrison's Envy: More Sizzling Sex Secrets
By Sally Duros
Kathryn Harrison has delivered a compelling tale in her brooding new novel, Envy. Readers who admired her controversial m More...
Apr 07, 2009
nicole
rated it:
Kathryn Harrison is a masterful writer. This book is an incredible whirlwind with intriguing components: sex, love, marriage, identity, incest (?), and more sex.
If you've read her memoirs, some of this material will feel familiar. As someone who started with her non-fiction, I find her rendering of these narratives fresh and captivating, however familiar.
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If you've read her memoirs, some of this material will feel familiar. As someone who started with her non-fiction, I find her rendering of these narratives fresh and captivating, however familiar.
!
Jan 25, 2008
Nancy
rated it:
Wow. Although I disliked the author's "The Mother Knot: A Memoir," I decided to give this novel a try after seeing that it was a NYTimes Notable Book selection. I found this story gripping. Very edgy sexual content and lots of psychoanalysis. After the central character, a psychologist, attends his 25th college reunion, his inner life begins to unravel. From his initial question of whether he might have been the father of a former girlfriend's now-adult daughter follows his painfu
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Dec 05, 2008
Truthmonkey
rated it:
This was almost a 2 star book, but there was one little twist that I liked better than the rest. Too much sex. I mean, I like sex as much as the next girl, but it was almost gratuitous, and definitely vulgar. Only a so-so story, and very little characterization, so I guess she needed the sex to sell it.
Aug 14, 2008
Jessica
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jan 22, 2009
Fran
rated it:
A lucky random pick from the college library shelf... I raced through it, totally engrossed in the story of a New York psychiatrist figuring out some sick family secrets of his own.
Jan 31, 2009
Gabriella
rated it:
I have read Harrison's memoir The Kiss, so I expected the book to be a bit bizzarre, I loved it though and would like to read all of her books.
Jul 11, 2009
Allison
rated it:
Main lesson from this book: reading about other people's psychotherapy is boring. But, enough twists and turns to keep me entertained
Jul 07, 2009
Stephaniek
rated it:
at times self-consciously written, but still deliciously dark and gripping, although "resolved"/concluded far too easily
Feb 07, 2009
Caitlin
rated it:
This was such a disturbing novel. Yuck! I put it in the basement when I was done reading it.. unsettling!
Jan 01, 2012
Frederick
rated it:
I could not get into this book. The part I read was about a guy who went to his college reunion.
Feb 06, 2011
DW
rated it:
A very intense and intricate story. Shocking in places. Two or three stories in one. Family scandal.
Mar 04, 2009
Christan
rated it:
Psychological look into the nature of human desire. Very well written.
Sep 29, 2008
kristine
rated it:
boring porn as kathryn harrison tries to shock again.
if you want true harrison edge, read "exposure", "thicker than water", and "the kiss". she's able to summarize her fucked-up childhood in those three, and it's much more potent than the faux-shock factor in "envy".
about the only thing i enjoyed were THE SURPRISES, which i will now give away:
-the twin bro slept with all of the psychologist's former gfs, including his wi More...
if you want true harrison edge, read "exposure", "thicker than water", and "the kiss". she's able to summarize her fucked-up childhood in those three, and it's much more potent than the faux-shock factor in "envy".
about the only thing i enjoyed were THE SURPRISES, which i will now give away:
-the twin bro slept with all of the psychologist's former gfs, including his wi More...
May 07, 2008
Jaime
rated it:
The back of the book strongly pushes the sex aspect of the story, but I think really the story is about grief. It explores different types, degrees, and methods of grieving, along with different losses — children, siblings, intimacy, innocence and purity. Will is self-analytical to an annoying degree, and there were several times when I just wanted him to shut up already. If you don’t mind that, this is a pretty good story. I do wish you got to spend some more time with Carole. She and Will don’
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Mar 06, 2011
Babete
rated it:
( Inveja ) Não é um livro fácil, tem muita teoria e blá blá blá, mas tem algumas tiradas interessantes.Só fica realmente interessante quase no fim!
Apr 01, 2008
Marguerite
rated it:
Kathryn Harrison kept me turning pages in this, thanks to a deft use of suspense. I did anticipate one twist, and thought the wife's character was flat (though a refreshing contrast to the gaggingly reflective husband). But the pace and plot kept me interested. Not enough to stay up to read the last 50 pages, but close. I'll be looking for more of her books in the library.
Dec 17, 2009
Mark
rated it:
This is a slightly perverted but thoroughly engaging story of a psychiatrist going through a mid-life crisis. He meets an old flame at a college reunion and learns he could have fathered a child; he also has a enstranged twin brother. This book will keep you interested, though not everyone will like where it goes.
