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Jenevieve Nelson
Wow, well first of all I'm really disappointed in how many comments here are implying that women lie about sexual assault, even in fiction. As someone who has experienced a situation where I don't know what happened, it's deeply troubling how quickly women are to dismiss other women's stories of assault. This is a complicated story where the main character is a serial cheater, and your issue is with Jake's actual wife remembering a situation where a man took advantage of her? Y'all should seriously think about your priorities.
I felt it was a necessary part of the reader liking Ursula. Mallory might be the protagonist, but she's not the good guy. Ursula also has faults, but she doesn't carry on an affair for nearly 30 years behind Jake's back. It's important that by the end we see Ursula as the complicated woman that she is, and I think that humanizes her in another layer. Over the whole book Ursula has the most personal growth. She evolves from a frigid workaholic to a woman who cares deeply for her daughter and wants to see a better world for her daughter. In the beginning, she never would have voted against it because it would have impacted her professional plans. By the end, she's got the biggest conscience and pushes herself to act accordingly.
I felt it was a necessary part of the reader liking Ursula. Mallory might be the protagonist, but she's not the good guy. Ursula also has faults, but she doesn't carry on an affair for nearly 30 years behind Jake's back. It's important that by the end we see Ursula as the complicated woman that she is, and I think that humanizes her in another layer. Over the whole book Ursula has the most personal growth. She evolves from a frigid workaholic to a woman who cares deeply for her daughter and wants to see a better world for her daughter. In the beginning, she never would have voted against it because it would have impacted her professional plans. By the end, she's got the biggest conscience and pushes herself to act accordingly.
marlenea autio
I know I don't line up with all the other comments. I was gripped by the Cavandish comparison. Knowing that women have been sexually assaulted for decades and men have been let off because they are male, pale, and Yale. I found this whole episode real.
Kd111600
In 10 years of being on this site, I've never answered a question, but I am answering this one.
To all those who hated this portion of the book - can you not see how this part effected the entire rest of the book? It goes: Hearing -> Ursula's vote -> the guy (cant remember his name) saying he's going to fund her presidential campaign -> her running for President -> her confronting Mallory on the island -> Mallory forcing herself to end things with Jake -> to Jake's shock of the phone call from Linc and running to Mallory's side.
You may not like how related it was to an actual confirmation hearing; it may totally misalign with your own personal politics; you may want the editor to lose their job - but that decision humanized Ursula by making her confront her own past and showing she actually cared about others AND it set the stage for the rest of the book.
To all those who hated this portion of the book - can you not see how this part effected the entire rest of the book? It goes: Hearing -> Ursula's vote -> the guy (cant remember his name) saying he's going to fund her presidential campaign -> her running for President -> her confronting Mallory on the island -> Mallory forcing herself to end things with Jake -> to Jake's shock of the phone call from Linc and running to Mallory's side.
You may not like how related it was to an actual confirmation hearing; it may totally misalign with your own personal politics; you may want the editor to lose their job - but that decision humanized Ursula by making her confront her own past and showing she actually cared about others AND it set the stage for the rest of the book.
Caroline
I could not agree more. Such a poorly disguised jab at the Kavanaugh hearings.
Michele Kinsey Gross
I agree! Loved this book until I came to that part of it. It totally derailed the book for me and I grudgingly finished the book----and took away a star rating. With all that is going on in the world I look to my reading as a way to get away and hate it when I am highjacked like I was in this book. Totally irrelevant to the story.
Sharon
It related to Ursula’s history and why she voted that way!
Susan Grebe
This was the absolute WORST part of the book. Elin Hilderbrand's editor should have told her to get rid of it. It added nothing to the story.
Neva
Same for me. Such a blatant way to get her opinion in - I guess that is her right to do, in her book, but made me angry for her to make such a thinly veiled statement. At least the fictional accusers had a slight bit of evidence/corroboration of wrongdoing. There. I had my say, as well.
Judy
I noticed on her FB page, that Ms H, stated her newest book “Trouble in Paradise” contains NO politics. So she must read our comments - yea!
Jackie C
I totally agree...it was clearly the author's personal opinion on the Kavanaugh hearing. It had no place in the book and then for Ursula to use her own personal experience with a "possible" sexual assault as a reason to vote againt the nomination made even less sense. It should have been caught by the editor...what a stupid thing to add to an otherwise enjoyable story.
Joe Rauschenberger
I do understand it was meant to humanize Ursula, but for me it was too late. I recognize people can evolve over 28 summers, but my dislike for Ursula was cemented by that point. She never truly loved Jake, and only regarded him in how he reflects upon her. She may have done the right thing with her vote, but a stopped clock is right at least twice a day too. She was still ruthlessly ambitious and mostly selfish. And though I didn't mind the point of the Cavendish story, I do agree it went on too long, into too much detail, and completely took me out of the story so close to the end of the book when all I wanted was to spend precious time with Jake and Mallory.
Jan Reatherford
That chapter made me close this book and I will not read anything else by the author. I was sooo disappointed! I loved , loved the book until Chapter 26 which ruined the entire book for me. I am so angry at the author. A great book ruined!,
Linda Fahrenbruch
I never felt like this didn’t belong in the story. Ursula plays a big part in this story. This was a defining moment for her, when she had the courage to do what she knew was right.
mm
I thought it was important to the character. She felt like the most developed one out of all of them.
Marie Aliotta
So true. It wasn't needed. I'm sure the author wanted to show her liberal side. I also took a star away from the rating.
Sarah Frisby
The worst part of the book. I skimmed through.
Carrie
Me too...wasn't appropriate and should of not been included, if pressed to answer, EH's political ideas/opinions?? honestly, skimmed most of that crap part...did dim the story imo.
Patty
agree...made me leave the story for a bit...felt disjoined
Charlene
I agree. I overlooked this whole area of the book because I liked the main story so much.
Caitlin Bogart
No answer, but I agree!
Marion Marchetto
Just a personal comment. An author's work many times incorporates or is driven by their personal feelings about an event or situation. As this novel, like others before it, is the work of an individual, I believe that it is the perfect vehicle to express the author's views. If not in a written piece, then where? If you, the reader, doesn't like what the author writes, then by all means say something but remember you also have the option of scrolling through something you don't like.
MaryAnn
So would I miss anything if I skip over this part of the book? Something I never do!
Mara Reich
It just adds to Ursula's character, but I agree with you, maybe a 5' mention would have been enough.
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