Gone but here
Falling Together by Marisa de los Santos is a poignant tale of three friends from college days that have moved on and connect years later. A thoughtful look at relationships and how we all likely have people in our lives that may be "gone but here" -- a piece that helps us realize the tapestry loved ones weave in our lives. Would make a great book club focus on the strengths and twists and turns of friendships.
Rated of 5
by Annie H. (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Falling Together vs Falling Apart
I was about a third of the way through this book when I got the phone call that my best friend was in the hospital and the doctors were preparing for a brain death exam. She was a best friend since high school, 41 years. I say this not for sympathy though I'm sure you do, but because I finished the book with a much altered perspective and an earthquaked landscape to my life.
But grief and loss are similar despite different age groups, different types of loving and different cultures. Love remains and the loss of it requires navigating through a murky, uncharted terrain. Marisa De Los Santos has paid attention to the details involved in this journey and has presented characters and situations beautifully and thoughtfully described. These characters are people you know and their lessons learned are those which we learn over and over again in our lives. I laughed, I cried, I will read this book again and I will share it.
Rated of 5
by Lynn R. (Wautoma, WI)
Falling Together
I felt that this book would be a nice summer read at the beach. It flowed easy, there were not too many characters, it had a nice but expected ending. The fact that all the characters except Jason were sooo nice, he was nice too, just a bit of a jerk, was a little unreal. Most people I feel are nice, but not that sappy. I had just read a fairly heavy read and this was a nice next book.
Rated of 5
by Sue J. (Wauwatosa, WI)
Interesting read
Falling Together is an interesting story about three freshman college students who form a strong friendship that lasts through college, but ends abruptly after graduation. A ten year college reunion sends them on an adventure that takes them to the Philippines in search of one of the three who has gone missing. It was a very enjoyable read, though the last quarter of the book could have been a little shorter.
Rated of 5
by Karen R. (Locust Grove, VA)
Good story
This story explores rekindling friendships and I enjoyed reading it for the most part. The character development was well done. I found myself getting irritated at some of the behaviors and at other times rooting for the characters. The first half of the book was slow with way too much detail surrounding insignificant events. But the story then started coming together and it proved to be a satisfying read. Not my favorite from the author but it would make for a good book club pick.
Rated of 5
by Dorothy T. (Victorville, CA)
Falling together or apart?
This novel has a lot to recommend it: engaging characters, a remarkable story-line, colorful settings, and underlying themes of love, life, death, and relationships, all providing great fodder for book club discussions. I was disappointed with the conclusion of one part of the story—I would have expected more emotion, perhaps—but the ending is satisfying. I enjoyed the author’s penchant for parenthetical enlightenment, but I was annoyed with the overuse of obscenities (indeed, I fail to see the need for any use of them).
Rated of 5
by Debra F. (Alton Bay, NH)
Not a Love Triangle...
Marisa De Los Santos takes three young people, Pen, Will, and Cat, and gives then quirks, beliefs, errors, and hardship. They love one another as friends until they don't.
The blow-up among them leaves each adrift. A college reunion promises to help them sort things out, but it's not that easy. To say they would travel to the ends of the earth to redeem their friendship is putting it lightly.
But what emerges is a portrait of people growing, changing, and learning to live their lives with joy, dumping guilt and past grievances.
"Falling Together" is an uplifting and powerful story of friendship, finding love, and looking at the world each day with the idea of living the moment for its beauty. Highly recommended!
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by Marcia S. (Hendersonville, NC)
of 5
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