What do you think?
Rate this book
Come Pour the Wine
A forty-eight-year-old divorcee is torn between her love for her exhusband, who left her in order to find the imagined freedom of his youth, and her love for an impassioned but tormented younger man
390 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1980
90 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Freeman
29 books59 followersBeatrice Cynthia Freeman (January 10, 1915 - October 22, 1988), pseudonym of Bea Feinberg, was an American novelist. She was born in New York City, where, as a young girl, she began writing books but abandoned writing to pursue a career running an interior decoration business. When poor health forced her to give up her business, she decided to dust off an old manuscript from childhood but discovered the cleaning lady had thrown it out. From memory, she rewrote the story.
Ms Freeman specialized in multi-generational stories of Jewish families, centering on a female protagonist. Her novel, "No Time For Tears," was No.10 on the list of bestselling novels in the United States for 1981 as determined by the New York Times. Her books were translated into thirty-three languages, selling more than twenty million copies worldwide.
Cynthia Freeman died of cancer in San Francisco in 1988,[1] aged 73.
Ms Freeman specialized in multi-generational stories of Jewish families, centering on a female protagonist. Her novel, "No Time For Tears," was No.10 on the list of bestselling novels in the United States for 1981 as determined by the New York Times. Her books were translated into thirty-three languages, selling more than twenty million copies worldwide.
Cynthia Freeman died of cancer in San Francisco in 1988,[1] aged 73.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
September 5, 2019
Cynthia Freeman is famous for her family sagas so when I'm in the mood for a love story/saga I reach for one of her novels. This one is a good one!
As a native teenager from Kansas she comes to New York in search of fame and fortune. The pursuit of her dream leads her into marriage, motherhood, a heart-rending separation and then divorce. At the age of 45, she meets a man who not only gives her a renewed sense of her Jewish heritage, but also offers her the chance for total fulfillment as a woman.
As a native teenager from Kansas she comes to New York in search of fame and fortune. The pursuit of her dream leads her into marriage, motherhood, a heart-rending separation and then divorce. At the age of 45, she meets a man who not only gives her a renewed sense of her Jewish heritage, but also offers her the chance for total fulfillment as a woman.
August 16, 2011
Very touching. Cynthia Freeman is no longer with us. Her writing inspired me to read more in the early 80's when my life was so crazy with my career, children and commute. Thank you Freeman for the joy that you brought me when nothing else could.
December 31, 2013
Come Pour the Wine, by Cynthia Freeman, was published in 1980, when it was a bestseller. I was intrigued by the summary, but now I’m not quite sure why. A girl from the Midwest becomes a high-fashion model becomes a suburban housewife. Not exactly titillating, that third step.
Janet Stevens should be thrilled that she’s got a successful career as a high-fashion model in 1950s New York City. Who wouldn’t be? The glamour, the money, the lifestyle a million times removed from that of the Wichita country-club set. But it’s not for Janet. She craves love and companionship and a sense of history. First she finds that with Fayge, a shopkeeper she meets who helps her learn about her diluted Jewish heritage. And then she meets Bill.
Bill’s his mama’s baby, and he’s only recently escaped her home. Only to meet Janet, who threatens his newfound freedom. He’s in love with her, but he’s also in love with bachelorhood. Unfortunately, he realizes that if he wants to keep Janet, he has to marry her.
And so it goes when it comes to children and a move to the suburbs too. But Janet’s the perfect mother and wife, and their children are a dream. They have, by all appearances, the perfect upper-middle-class American life.
This isn’t exactly a gripping, action-packed epic drama. The first half of the book is the story of the growth of a family, from courtship to high school graduation, told through vignettes of family life and spanning two decades. Not much really happens at all. These aren’t exciting characters.
They do have their dramatic moments, though. And those are what bugged me. Early on, Janet makes a ridiculous assumption about Bill, then has a breakdown when it turns out she was wrong. Bill is made to look like the bad guy, and is manipulated into marriage. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to be siding with him on this, but I am. Wholeheartedly. Bill is manipulated time and again by the completely uncharismatic, selfish conclusion-jumper Janet, and so I can’t fault him at all for later events. Which is a problem, if you’re going to appreciate this book, I think. But I also think I may be alone in siding with Bill, so you may not have that problem.
I don’t think we’re meant to take Janet’s side, exactly, but I think we’re supposed to understand her, and I couldn’t. I mean, I could, in that I know there are people like her and I likely know many of them, people who think the end justifies the means and the end they see for themselves is the “right” end that everyone should hope to attain, regardless of personal preferences. But I don’t empathize with that view, and I couldn’t empathize with Janet. Bill was not a sympathetic character at all, but at least I understood him. I recognized his motivations as much as I did hers. Through Bill, this book brought up dangerous questions: Whether children, no matter how wonderful they turn out to be, are really worth sacrificing ourselves. Whether everyone is the marrying kind. Whether you can love as well or better a second time.
In the end, I wasn’t crazy about the characters, I was distracted by rapidly shifting viewpoints and the liberal use of ellipses, and I was bored by huge swaths that may have added colour and depth to the story but really nothing terribly concrete.
It was fascinating from a historical viewpoint, however. I thought it was pretty hilarious that within a month or two of Bill and Janet dating they were expected to consider marriage, that at twenty-two Janet had to start having babies before it was too late (even though at twenty-six Bill was “too young” for the responsibility of a family), and that in their early-to-mid-forties they were grandparents, staring into the abyss of old age. Wow, have things changed. I am a really old mum by those standards. I could almost be a grandma to my toddler.
Since this was published in 1980, it does feel like it’s on a bit of a cusp. The 1950s parts are naturally dated — although Janet is trying to be a modern woman when she’s dating Bill, she asks him to order for her (can you imagine?!) — but the racier bits are rather racier than you might expect. My favourite quote is a line that Janet’s fed by one of the icky men she dates before meeting Bill: “Love to see it without the draperies.” I’m totally going to use that one.
And here’s another gem: “And a woman knew that when a man slept next to her consumed with desire but restrained his feeling for her…well, that man was in love…” I dread to think of the alternative.
Lila
Reviewed from ARC. Re-released by Open Road Media August 27, 2013.
Full review at nomdeplumepress.wordpress.com.
Janet Stevens should be thrilled that she’s got a successful career as a high-fashion model in 1950s New York City. Who wouldn’t be? The glamour, the money, the lifestyle a million times removed from that of the Wichita country-club set. But it’s not for Janet. She craves love and companionship and a sense of history. First she finds that with Fayge, a shopkeeper she meets who helps her learn about her diluted Jewish heritage. And then she meets Bill.
Bill’s his mama’s baby, and he’s only recently escaped her home. Only to meet Janet, who threatens his newfound freedom. He’s in love with her, but he’s also in love with bachelorhood. Unfortunately, he realizes that if he wants to keep Janet, he has to marry her.
And so it goes when it comes to children and a move to the suburbs too. But Janet’s the perfect mother and wife, and their children are a dream. They have, by all appearances, the perfect upper-middle-class American life.
This isn’t exactly a gripping, action-packed epic drama. The first half of the book is the story of the growth of a family, from courtship to high school graduation, told through vignettes of family life and spanning two decades. Not much really happens at all. These aren’t exciting characters.
They do have their dramatic moments, though. And those are what bugged me. Early on, Janet makes a ridiculous assumption about Bill, then has a breakdown when it turns out she was wrong. Bill is made to look like the bad guy, and is manipulated into marriage. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to be siding with him on this, but I am. Wholeheartedly. Bill is manipulated time and again by the completely uncharismatic, selfish conclusion-jumper Janet, and so I can’t fault him at all for later events. Which is a problem, if you’re going to appreciate this book, I think. But I also think I may be alone in siding with Bill, so you may not have that problem.
I don’t think we’re meant to take Janet’s side, exactly, but I think we’re supposed to understand her, and I couldn’t. I mean, I could, in that I know there are people like her and I likely know many of them, people who think the end justifies the means and the end they see for themselves is the “right” end that everyone should hope to attain, regardless of personal preferences. But I don’t empathize with that view, and I couldn’t empathize with Janet. Bill was not a sympathetic character at all, but at least I understood him. I recognized his motivations as much as I did hers. Through Bill, this book brought up dangerous questions: Whether children, no matter how wonderful they turn out to be, are really worth sacrificing ourselves. Whether everyone is the marrying kind. Whether you can love as well or better a second time.
In the end, I wasn’t crazy about the characters, I was distracted by rapidly shifting viewpoints and the liberal use of ellipses, and I was bored by huge swaths that may have added colour and depth to the story but really nothing terribly concrete.
It was fascinating from a historical viewpoint, however. I thought it was pretty hilarious that within a month or two of Bill and Janet dating they were expected to consider marriage, that at twenty-two Janet had to start having babies before it was too late (even though at twenty-six Bill was “too young” for the responsibility of a family), and that in their early-to-mid-forties they were grandparents, staring into the abyss of old age. Wow, have things changed. I am a really old mum by those standards. I could almost be a grandma to my toddler.
Since this was published in 1980, it does feel like it’s on a bit of a cusp. The 1950s parts are naturally dated — although Janet is trying to be a modern woman when she’s dating Bill, she asks him to order for her (can you imagine?!) — but the racier bits are rather racier than you might expect. My favourite quote is a line that Janet’s fed by one of the icky men she dates before meeting Bill: “Love to see it without the draperies.” I’m totally going to use that one.
And here’s another gem: “And a woman knew that when a man slept next to her consumed with desire but restrained his feeling for her…well, that man was in love…” I dread to think of the alternative.
Lila
Reviewed from ARC. Re-released by Open Road Media August 27, 2013.
Full review at nomdeplumepress.wordpress.com.
December 14, 2013
Come Pour the Wine is a romance novel that follows Janet through her new life in New York and how she finds love. The story is told in third in person through a few characters, but mainly Janet. When the story begins (in the 1950s), Janet is a young girl who leaves her family in Kansas to pursue a modeling career in New York. With a rough start, Janet soon finds some friends and connections to home. Not long after, she meets Bill through a mutual friend, and falls head over heels in love. However, love is not an easy road for Janet and Bill. The book spans about 20 years of Janet’s life in New York.
This story was not one that I’d normally pick up. [I usually like romance novels that have something else going on besides normal life events – if that makes sense.] The era 1950s-1970s was fairly new for me, although I read stories set in that time period. I never read a book with subtle Jewish connections to it. [On a side note: I have seen the TV show The Nanny, and it was neat to see how to spell some of those Jewish sayings. Obviously, I’m not Jewish!] The writing read smoothly—although I didn’t care for the jumps in character perspectives without warning. It would make me pause a moment while reading to put myself in the other character’s mind. I don’t mind having different views, but I would have been easier if there were distinct breaks to separate them.
Despite the jumps, the different perspectives helped the reader to understand what the other characters were thinking – adding more depth to the story. I never really saw what Janet saw in Bill. But, perhaps that was just me. Kit was an interesting character and one of my favorites. I thought she brought a little oomph to the story. The plot itself tied in themes about family/marriage, Jewish and religious connections, finding oneself, and love. It told a story about the normal challenges couple might face. The book was a fairly quick read and overall I liked it.
This story was not one that I’d normally pick up. [I usually like romance novels that have something else going on besides normal life events – if that makes sense.] The era 1950s-1970s was fairly new for me, although I read stories set in that time period. I never read a book with subtle Jewish connections to it. [On a side note: I have seen the TV show The Nanny, and it was neat to see how to spell some of those Jewish sayings. Obviously, I’m not Jewish!] The writing read smoothly—although I didn’t care for the jumps in character perspectives without warning. It would make me pause a moment while reading to put myself in the other character’s mind. I don’t mind having different views, but I would have been easier if there were distinct breaks to separate them.
Despite the jumps, the different perspectives helped the reader to understand what the other characters were thinking – adding more depth to the story. I never really saw what Janet saw in Bill. But, perhaps that was just me. Kit was an interesting character and one of my favorites. I thought she brought a little oomph to the story. The plot itself tied in themes about family/marriage, Jewish and religious connections, finding oneself, and love. It told a story about the normal challenges couple might face. The book was a fairly quick read and overall I liked it.
January 11, 2014
"Come Pour the Wine" by Cynthia Freeman was provided to me by the Publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Since I haven't read a book written by this author previously, I had no expectations as to what to expect with a Cynthia Freeman novel.
The story starts out with a very young Janet Stevens who moves to New York to become a Model. Janet very quickly becomes well known in the modeling world, but feels something is lacking in her life. She meets a wonderful Jewish woman, Fayge Kowalski, and becomes very close to her and her relatives. When Fayge sells her shop and moves with her family to Florida Janet misses her horribly. At a party hosted by her best friend Kit she meets Bill McNeil and is immediately attracted to him. She mentions this to her friend Kit and is told to stay away as he is bad news. Janet doesn't listen and shows up at his office and they start seeing each other. The story progresses over the next 20 years, they marry and have children then break up. Janet is left with having to start all over again at forty and making a life for herself.
This is a wonderful story to read. It is not action packed but it is a story worth reading. I will be adding other books by this author to my TBR list.
Since I haven't read a book written by this author previously, I had no expectations as to what to expect with a Cynthia Freeman novel.
The story starts out with a very young Janet Stevens who moves to New York to become a Model. Janet very quickly becomes well known in the modeling world, but feels something is lacking in her life. She meets a wonderful Jewish woman, Fayge Kowalski, and becomes very close to her and her relatives. When Fayge sells her shop and moves with her family to Florida Janet misses her horribly. At a party hosted by her best friend Kit she meets Bill McNeil and is immediately attracted to him. She mentions this to her friend Kit and is told to stay away as he is bad news. Janet doesn't listen and shows up at his office and they start seeing each other. The story progresses over the next 20 years, they marry and have children then break up. Janet is left with having to start all over again at forty and making a life for herself.
This is a wonderful story to read. It is not action packed but it is a story worth reading. I will be adding other books by this author to my TBR list.
January 2, 2014
Cynthia Freeman is such a refreshing storyteller to me. Her stories,at least the two I've read so far are of historical places and the characters are so well versed in their roles that the reader very much feels a part of the magic she weaves. The imagery is flawless and the cities and places so real I almost feel teleported back in time. A simpler time. Bill McNeil was a happy single guy living it up in the 50`s until he met her. The girl who stole his heart before he even realized it. Janet came to New York City to be a fashion model. Then she met Bill and nothing else mattered. It seemed to be working out. Then old wounds were drudged up and the real story truly begin. Such a great story I'd even pick it up and read it again.
November 25, 2016
A wish-fulfilling, fantasy-living soap opera (the best & worst that term conveys) complete with complex familial entanglements, affluent suburban ennui, and explorations of religious heritage.
June 27, 2025
Caratterizzazione dei personaggi abbastanza immatura, del tipo "non mi dai quello che voglio? Allora faccio i capricci!"
Non si può giustificare con il periodo storico dell'ambientazione.
Non si può giustificare con il periodo storico dell'ambientazione.
December 21, 2013
Come Pour the wine is 2013 re-issue published by Open Road Integrated Media. Originally published in the 1980's, I believe, this is historical/ contemporary romance is a portrait of a woman that begins her adult life as a naïve girl from Kansas arriving in New York to embark on an exciting new life, to her marriage, children, suburban life, to finding herself stunned in midlife by changes she didn't want and having to come to terms with those changes and learn to live, really live and be happy and content with who she is and to be comfortable in her own skin, and to once more have faith in love.
I was provided a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in conjunction with Open Road Integrated Media's Retro Romance group on Goodreads, in exchange for an honest review.
While the book begins in the 1950's, it takes up on a twenty year journey in the life of Janet McNeil nee' Stevens as she arrives in New York from Kansas in hopes of beginning a modeling career. She is awed by the city and also homesick. She meets a jaded young woman named Kit and the two become life long friends. When Janet meets Bill at one of Kit's parties she falls head over heels for him. But, Bill is a "mamma's boy" and has been under his mother's thumb his whole life. He is still very much tied to her and the type of girl Janet is has him warring with himself about marriage and freedom. We think Janet has won the war when she a Bill build what appears to be a stable life together. Bill begins to feel restless in the marriage by his mid-forties and once more that feeling of being smothered takes hold. His choices at this point in his life will upend all of Janet's security, her entire personality will go through a transformation. Janet will become someone we don't recognize as she rises up to take charge of her life.
Sometimes books published in this time frame can translate well no matter what. This one didn't translate all that well as a historical romance or a contemporary romance. I had to ask myself at the end of book what did I really gain from reading this book? This situation with Janet and Bill is one that had happened so many times in books and in real life. It has happened in my own family. Bill was a character that I didn't like from the beginning, but hoped he has finally grown up. Turns out he didn't. I thought Janet deserved better and she didn't get it until way too deep into her life. I'm not sure why this one fell flat for me. I confess to feeling bored at times and also read through several short stories while sort of forcing myself to read a chapter or two in this book. I didn't dislike the book exactly, but I didn't love it either. I wanted to like it more and kept hoping it would get more interesting, it just never took off though. So, I will give this one a C.
February 6, 2014
This story is about a young girl who leaves Kansas, and goes to Manhattan to try to become a fashion model. In the very beginning of the story she is befriended by a Jewish lady in the garment district and they become friends while she also is becoming a model. After a while her friends are selling there store and moving to Florida. She is sad over this and some of her model friends take her to a few parties. At one of these parties she meets a man by the name of Bill McNeil. They get married and after a few months he does not want her working as a model. She becomes pregnant and they have a boy and shortly thereafter they move to the country where Bill is taking the train into the city and after a couple of years they have a daughter. Everything is going along until the son is in high school and the daughter in Jr. High and Bill wants to move back to the city. He wants to move now not wait until the kids are out of school. Then he announces he wants a divorce. He leaves that night. A few weeks go by and they set a meeting and he tells her he does not want to be married, just that. He does not to be married but he does love her and the kids. From there the story is about how they the two children and the mother pick up and move on with their lives. Some of the disagreements you have as a family and the happy times like marriage and birth of a grandchild. The father is around but for the most part seems lonely to me but that is what he wanted. The mom picks up her live and with a friend opens a business and finds out about her past about being Jewish from her father’s grandfather. She also meets a nice man who is a doctor and that plays out as well. This all takes place with sitting on a lounge chair looking back over her life. I won’t tell you how it ends but I thought this was a very good book about family, life, and love. I got this book from net galley.
December 27, 2013
I really have to put this one in the wanted to love it but it fell short and could have said so much in many less words categories.
The story itself is not bad. It is more or less about a young woman with big ideas in her head who moves to New York to live out her fairy tale as a high fashion model and then finds that everything is not as she dreamed it would be. I have seen similar stories before, but this one really did a good job of exploring how our goals and dreams change as we age and become different people from who we used to be.
Still, some books from ages ago end up working well with the current world we live in, and some fail at that task. This one, in my opinion did not do as well. We rely so much on technology--Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of social media, that unless a book is strictly historical fiction, where I don't expect that stuff to make it seem real, I struggle to identify with the characters when they do not use these things. Yes, I know that sounds overly critical, but it is true. This book, for me, fell in between the periods I seem to be okay with.
Aside from that, I hated one of the characters. Bill is a whiny and pathetic excuse for a real man in my opinion, and I did not enjoy reading about him. I don't mind disliking a character if there is a point. Will the character eventually mature into someone that you do like? Will they force another character to become something better than they are? In this case I did not see that either happened, and by the end I was just wondering what the point was.
I didn't hate this book, but I certainly didn't love it either. I received this book free as part of the Retro Reads group for Open Road Integrated Media. All opinions are my own.
The story itself is not bad. It is more or less about a young woman with big ideas in her head who moves to New York to live out her fairy tale as a high fashion model and then finds that everything is not as she dreamed it would be. I have seen similar stories before, but this one really did a good job of exploring how our goals and dreams change as we age and become different people from who we used to be.
Still, some books from ages ago end up working well with the current world we live in, and some fail at that task. This one, in my opinion did not do as well. We rely so much on technology--Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of social media, that unless a book is strictly historical fiction, where I don't expect that stuff to make it seem real, I struggle to identify with the characters when they do not use these things. Yes, I know that sounds overly critical, but it is true. This book, for me, fell in between the periods I seem to be okay with.
Aside from that, I hated one of the characters. Bill is a whiny and pathetic excuse for a real man in my opinion, and I did not enjoy reading about him. I don't mind disliking a character if there is a point. Will the character eventually mature into someone that you do like? Will they force another character to become something better than they are? In this case I did not see that either happened, and by the end I was just wondering what the point was.
I didn't hate this book, but I certainly didn't love it either. I received this book free as part of the Retro Reads group for Open Road Integrated Media. All opinions are my own.
December 31, 2013
I enjoyed this book, up to a point. The story, rather than simply being a straightforward romance seemed to develop into a story about second chances. I gave it three stars because of, amongst other things, what I felt was needless wordiness, making it difficult for me to fully engage with it. I wasn’t quite sure where this book was going, since it got to about the mid-point, and in my mind I was already expecting it to end.
I found it difficult to identify with one of the main characters, Bill. I was driven wild by his stupidity, selfishness and innate stubbornness. He could not let go of his personal idea of freedom and ultimately lost, what he later realised, was the best thing he had ever had. I started with the feeling that Bill was going to be able to change, to grow into his position in life and his family responsibilities, but he never quite achieved that.
I liked Janet as a character and enjoyed seeing how she dealt with the problems that she faced. It was also interesting to see how different generations viewed the same, perceived, moral issues. There was a degree of hypocrisy and double standards in how they viewed things that they had done when young, when faced with their children doing it, which was interesting to see.
I enjoyed the ending. It was good to see how Janet rebuilt her life and had that second chance at happiness
All in all I experienced mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed that Janet and Bill both got what, in my opinion, they deserved, but I felt that the book was too long for what it achieved.
This review is based on a digital review copy provided by Netgalley and the publisher Open Road Media as part of the Retro Reads program.
I found it difficult to identify with one of the main characters, Bill. I was driven wild by his stupidity, selfishness and innate stubbornness. He could not let go of his personal idea of freedom and ultimately lost, what he later realised, was the best thing he had ever had. I started with the feeling that Bill was going to be able to change, to grow into his position in life and his family responsibilities, but he never quite achieved that.
I liked Janet as a character and enjoyed seeing how she dealt with the problems that she faced. It was also interesting to see how different generations viewed the same, perceived, moral issues. There was a degree of hypocrisy and double standards in how they viewed things that they had done when young, when faced with their children doing it, which was interesting to see.
I enjoyed the ending. It was good to see how Janet rebuilt her life and had that second chance at happiness
All in all I experienced mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed that Janet and Bill both got what, in my opinion, they deserved, but I felt that the book was too long for what it achieved.
This review is based on a digital review copy provided by Netgalley and the publisher Open Road Media as part of the Retro Reads program.
December 29, 2013
Come Pour the Wine is a re-issue of one of Cynthia Freeman’s books published in the 1980’s. It is a romance about a woman, who arrives in the big city from Kansas to embark on an exciting new life. The plot is about her marriage, children and suburban life. In the middle of her married life, Janet, the main character, finds herself facing challenges with her marriage. Both husband and wife go through frightening changes, and Bill, her husband makes the choice of freedom. Janet changes and rises up to take charge of her life again, supported by her children. The situation with Janet and Bill is one that has happened so many times in real life. I never really liked Bill’s character and felt that Janet deserved a better partner in life.
There were different perspectives to the plot which helped the reader understand what other characters were feeling; this gave depth to the story. Kit was such a character. There were times that I felt the book felt ‘forced’, and I had difficulty reading to the end of the chapter. I liked the book in parts. I felt that the Jewish theme at the beginning of the book never really took off. The books spans about 20 years of Janet’s life in New York. I have preferred Cynthia Freeman’s other books. However saying that this was a good quick read and after a struggle with the beginning chapters I was able to get into the swing of the book and enjoyed the 2nd half. I give this book 3 stars.
There were different perspectives to the plot which helped the reader understand what other characters were feeling; this gave depth to the story. Kit was such a character. There were times that I felt the book felt ‘forced’, and I had difficulty reading to the end of the chapter. I liked the book in parts. I felt that the Jewish theme at the beginning of the book never really took off. The books spans about 20 years of Janet’s life in New York. I have preferred Cynthia Freeman’s other books. However saying that this was a good quick read and after a struggle with the beginning chapters I was able to get into the swing of the book and enjoyed the 2nd half. I give this book 3 stars.
January 14, 2014
Cynthia Freeman’s romantic saga tells the story of Janet Stevens, from her arrival in New York at age 19 and a glamorous career as a model right through to middle age and the trials and tribulations of marriage and family. It’s a straightforward linear narrative that is unfortunately predictable and much like a Mills and Boon romance novel. There is little character development, although Janet herself is a relatively empathetic protagonist. However her husband Bill is both unlikeable and stereotyped and doesn’t change as he ages. The background of Janet’s search for her Jewish roots adds some interest to the story line, but overall I found the writing wooden and clichéd and ended up skim-reading it just to get to the end. I enjoyed another of Freeman’s novels, A World Full of Strangers, which had far more depth and power, so this one was a disappointment. However, I would try another as essentially Freeman does at least know how to spin a yarn.
July 31, 2022
the novel starts with a letter sent by the 47 years old Janet to her lifelong friend Kit, in her letter she writes her news as well as thoughts on her life, she found serenity in her forties that if she would be offered the chance to go back to the uncertainties and frustrations of her twenties she would refuse. And from there the story of the 19 years old Janet begins.
March 30, 2009
I was disappointed with Come Pour The Wine - I thought it was a bad storyline with a predictable ending and nothing like the other books I read by this author. Usually she has some kind of Jewish theme running through her books but this one only hinted at it, was totally forgotten throughout the middle, and thrown back into the end which didn't feel natural. All in all, I was discouraged from reading more of her books but I bought them all on Amazon.com for $.01 each, so I guess I'll just take a break for a little while!
June 2, 2019
I was given this book by a friend when it first came out. I remember it as having some pretty racey stuff in it...my first romance novel. It willbe interesting to see how I view it 30-some years later! Okay, it's 30 years later and I don't see how this is any different than a Harlequin romance. How did this become a NY Times best seller?
June 13, 2014
Cynthia Freeman has an interesting way of writing. Although her novels are good, I find a lot of redundancy in them. I can say this because I've seen it right down to the wording! She uses a lot of the same phrases, words, and situations in her books. Very boring very Danielle still like.
November 8, 2014
I read this book many years ago but still remember it so it must have had some impact on me. 4 stars may be a bit generous and it also may have resonated because of the time of life. There was a time when I read quite a bit of Cynthia Freeman.
August 31, 2011
A 20-year marriage ends in divorce.
Read
June 9, 20132nd one read
January 2, 2014
I had a really hard time getting into this book. I didn't like the characters and the writing was too out dated for me. I found myself putting it down too frequently to try to finish.
December 4, 2014
COME POUR THE WINE
Good book, it encompasses the years between the 1950's and 1980's. It's a pretty predictable story, but good all the same.
Good book, it encompasses the years between the 1950's and 1980's. It's a pretty predictable story, but good all the same.
March 24, 2019
Good but not ine of Freeman's best
While good, Come Pour the Wine lacks some of the finer details of Freeman's other books. Character development is not as in depth and the descriptions are not as vivid. Not quite the page turner but not hum drum either.
While good, Come Pour the Wine lacks some of the finer details of Freeman's other books. Character development is not as in depth and the descriptions are not as vivid. Not quite the page turner but not hum drum either.
March 3, 2018
It was enjoyable but very formulaic. Good but not great- though it held my interest. The “Jewish” aspect seemed a little forced.
April 3, 2021
I read this book over 20 years ago and really enjoyed it. I love Cynthia Freeman's style of writing. I decided to read it again and it's still hard to put it down.
July 30, 2021
I read it to the end, hoping it would improve. For me, the book merely had potential that was never fulfilled.
July 20, 2022
A beautiful love story! I hate the “divorce part” where Janet begs for love. On the other hand, it’s so realistic!
October 6, 2024
Great book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews