Rated of 5
by ezinvt
This book is a poignant example of how people who are not in control of their lives can take hideous control of those who seemingly are in control. The characters are painted carefully; attention must be paid to the addict's abject maelstrom. I just read this book. Halfway through I looked to see when it had been written. It was before 9/11, and I think that that makes a huge difference in one's reaction to the plot. I tried to picture what would have changed had this been written after that horrific watershed. This book may not be a laugh riot, but it is thoughtful and warm, and well worth the effort.
Rated of 5
by Sarah
Not only did I read this book, I also saw the movie. The book was gripping and it had good setting; the characters were very realistic and they acted as any person would have in this situation. The book is very insightful into the way two or more people can degrade their lives in the way of a material possession. The movie however is not worth seeing, it is an unimaginable bore and it resembles nothing of what the book portrays in the way of human nature.
Rated of 5
by Anonymous
This book is an example of writing that shows an author did this. By that I mean much care as to language and structure, plot and character went into the book. It can lead to heated discussions as the characters are analyzed in a book group. The ending, dare I say it, first confused me and somehow disappointed me. Pages that were turned offered suspense. The further you read the more you anticipated a gut wrenching ending. The drop off made for many questions. But I would read other offerings by Dubus as he does take his craft seriously.
Rated of 5
by Jahan
I'd read the glowing reviews of this book but was not terribly excited to start it. Having read the first chapter at 5PM, I couldn't put it down until I'd finished it at midnight. Fantastic novel. The best character development I've read in years, each person becoming a living, breathing mix of good and sordid attributes, a complex and totally believable mish-mash of what each of us is under the surface.
I defy anyone who reads the first twenty pages to put it down before they finish it. It could have been 100 pages longer and I would have followed the tortured collision course they all took each step of the way.
I highly, highly recommend this one.
Review (not rated)
by S.L.B.
I'm not going to rate this book because I didn't read all of it,just a few pages but that was enough! I too,wanted to read this book because it was on Oprah's book list but I also heard mixed reviews but checked it out of the libary anyway but as soon as my libarian looked it up on thier computer he said'Uh,oh,this doesn't look good,it's been sitting on the shelf since December 2001!' You come to your own conclusions about the book but I could see,in my opion that it's flat,dark and whiny. It may be a masterpiece in some people's eyes but not mine!
Rated of 5
by Coco
I was completely dreading reading this book for a class b/c I saw how long it was and when I read a short description of it, I was rather disgusted! But as soon as I'd read the first chapter, I was hooked! I couldn't put it down (and it still took me about a week to finish). It was a riveting, attention grabbing (and keeping) novel. The ending is very unexpected and disappointing, but otherwise the book is more than worth the read. It's also very eduactional and gives you a look into the lives of people that most people like to believe are different from us, but aren't, with the same types of problems. It's a little depressing, but the maturity level of the reader is supposed to compensate for that. And the fact that the reader is put into both parties on both sides makes it much more interesting. It's an in-depth novel with many underlying themes and morals...Just a Great Book!
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by ezinvt 
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by Sarah 
