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Two By Two

Nicholas Sparks

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* Index : Archived Seasonal Challenges
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What Members Thought

Oct 22, 2018 Melike rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: southern-lit, romance

At 32, Russell seems to have everything: an adorable 5 year old daughter, a gorgeous wife and a successful job—in short, he is living the perfect suburban dream that many people strive for. As we all know, life is not perfect and soon enough things get topsy turvy.

I found this tale emotionally moving, the characters relatable and lovable (except for Vivian). My only complaint was the length of the book. At almost 500 pages it simply was too long and at times slow moving.

This novel was my first ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 04, 2016 Nancy Brady rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: library-book

A wise therapist told me more than once while I was going a rough time (much like Russ in the novel) that there are three stories...his, hers, and somewhere in the middle. (Thanks Howard)

This novel of a marital breakdown and its aftermath, particularly,the forging of a stronger, loving bond between a father and his five-year-old daughter, is told through the perspective of Russell, husband of Vivian and father to London.

While family and friends may have seen the fragility of the relationship bet A wise therapist told me more than once while I was going a rough time (much like Russ in the novel) that there are three stories...his, hers, and somewhere in the middle. (Thanks Howard)

This novel of a marital breakdown and its aftermath, particularly,the forging of a stronger, loving bond between a father and his five-year-old daughter, is told through the perspective of Russell, husband of Vivian and father to London.

While family and friends may have seen the fragility of the relationship between Vivian and Russ, obviously people-pleaser Russ didn't, and he is blindsided by his wife's passive-aggresive nature and her pervasive need to control. Not to mention her excessive need to use retail therapy.

As his job changes with the beginning of his new business, she returns to work to ostensibly cover the shortfall leaving Russ to step into the role of primary caregiver to London, squiring her to lessons like tennis and dance. Suddenly, Russ is doing it all...maintaining the home: cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc...while Vivian is jetting around the country, spending days away from the family only to zip in for quality time with her daughter.

As the marriage deteriorates, old friends and family step in to shore up Russ and London as he looks back on his life. What next for this family? Can they work it out, or is this marriage over for good? Can Russ keep London's life stable?

Loved the family of Russ...his sister Marge, his mother and father, and Liz. Marge and Liz were super and their story was heartbreaking. London, too, was so adorable, a real butterfly, and Emily and her son Bodhi were a welcome addition to the story.

Frankly, Vivian was an unsympathetic character, but then she was portrayed that way. She plays Russ throughout...using anger, manipulation, and more...but then this is Russ's story.

This reader wonders what Vivian's story would be through her perspective, but then it would be a very different novel, yet my suspicion is she suffered from post-partum depression, was always a spendthrift, was always selfish, and chose to prevent other pregnancies without her husband's knowledge because she really hated her life with Russ, but wanted a high living lifestyle that he could provide, and when he wanted something different, well... ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

May 25, 2017 Megan rated it liked it

Shelves: rlftci-17-000-in-2017, read-in-2017, tower-teams-v, may-2017

This was an okay book, but similar to others by this author. I didn't connect or relate to any of the characters, so that was bad. All in all, this was just okay. ...more

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Jan 05, 2018 Arow rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star, fiction, 2018

Okay, I know there are a lot of reviews out there putting this novel down and only 1 star. I will agree that it is not your standard Nicholas Sparks romance (in any way, shape or form), however it is a beautiful story about all the different types of love a person can have in their life and how life really can throw you some curve balls and it's up to you to figure out how to proceed.

I have read almost all of his novels, I will admit I had to stop reading See Me, I could not relate to the chara ...more

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