Question 1. Rate it!

[Ashley]

How would you rate Commencement? Defend your rating.

[Carol]

I had difficulties deciding if I wanted to give it three or four stars, finally deciding on three. I initially thought this book was strong enough on its own to hold, but with additional thought changed my rating. After some more thinking, I'm finding that I am not in the biographic of the characters of this book. I in reality am preparing to go to my 40th High School Reunion one month from today. So I could be these girls mother and even perhaps their kids grandma. In fact, I could be a lot of you ladies Mom and kids grandma too! :-) College was notibly different when I was in it than now. I went to a Religious school (BYU) and absolutely loved it. I probably would not have been a fit at Smith.

[Lauren]

I'm so torn about this book. On of the one hand, it made me ache to see my college girls and brought to mind our college years in a wonderful way. For me, eliciting that sort of emotional reaction is a big point in a book's favor. I don't think it's easy to do.

But … absent that emotional connection, I didn't love it. I feel like Ms. Sullivan tried to do too much, and I never quite felt the connection between the protagonists that was supposed to ground the book.

[Ashley]

I gave it a 4. Like Lauren, I have the sneaking suspicion that my sheer enjoyment and nostalgia of college life and friends puffed up the rating a bit. Eh, who cares. I liked it. My review is here:
http://sharingtheshelf.blogspot.com/2...