Two Daughters

by Marlene Fanta Shyer

Leading a seemingly perfect existence, Libby Ehrlich, mother of two gorgeous teenage daughters, owner of a successful antiques business, and wife of a leading cardiac surgeon, finds her world shattered by tragedy, which forces her to examine her role as a wife and mother. Original.

317 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Leslie Hayden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an entrapment of emotions. I didn't think I would like it but I found myself constantly thinking about it, when I could get time alone to read it. Given that statement I would've given it four stars but the ending just left me completely confused. So many times I wished Lib would've found her backbone much earlier and confronted her husband, Peter, about his cruel, immature, selfish ways. He held the family hostage first with his drinking and then with his sobriety. Lib suffered at his hands and found herself unwanted, tired, careless, and depressed. In a way I can relate to that quite a lot. He held his children hostage with emotional, mental, and verbal abuse. So many times throughout the book I wished something would tragically happen to Peter so his children wouldn't have to suffer. Poor Claudia never stood a chance once Ellery got pregnant. And Ellery, well, she seemed to have no guidance at thirteen. I was shocked she wound up pregnant and she carelessly wanted to keep the baby. Then when she transferred schools she took on a new identity and became self-absorbed, which also shocked me a bit. It made me mad that throughout the whole incident neither parent could come together maturely, cooperate together, and put their own strife behind them in order to successfully raise their kids to become balanced individuals. As j said this book had my emotions all over. It was a good read despite the ending.

[Annemarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book...seemed very slow at the beginning, but once the story was off, it was prett good.