Sign up for our newsletters to receive our Most Anticipated Books of 2025!

Read advance reader review of Indiscretion by Charles Dubow, page 3 of 4

Summary | Reviews | More Information | More Books

Indiscretion by Charles Dubow

Indiscretion

by Charles Dubow

  • Critics' Consensus (0):
  • Published:
  • Feb 2013, 352 pages
  • Rate this book

About this book

Reviews


Page 3 of 4
There are currently 24 member reviews
for Indiscretion
Order Reviews by:
  • Judy W. (Tucker, GA)
    Indiscretion by Charles Dubow
    Alas, another novel-same theme: "Man can't keep his pants zipped"! There was not much to the story to engage the reader. Forced myself to finish the book thinking surely something different would happen to the main characters. I would only recommend Indiscretion to those who enjoy a good, trashy read.
  • Jean G. (Rockford, IL)
    an age old discussion
    This book reads very elementary in subject and simplistic in style and diction, one I first thought of as an inconsequential beach read. It is saved by the clever appearance of the narrator who has an integral part in the story along with his occasional narration. This provides some much needed depth into the actions of the characters who on the whole remain one-dimensional throughout. Predictable events take place and most of the emotion drawn out of the reader comes from the narrator's ability to surprise. There are consequences in the lives of the characters that create fodder for discussion. A modern story involving the twists and turns of life. Easily read and a good read for book clubs.
  • Ariel F. (Madison, WI)
    Like the Great Gatsby? You'll enjoy this book.
    Interesting readable novel set in the New York City area. If you liked the Great Gatsby, you will like this novel.

    It was a quick read about a successful author, his indiscretions and their impact on others. The characters were wealthy and for the most part likeable.

    I would recommend this for female readers.
  • Judith B. (Omaha, Nebraska)
    Romance in the Hamptons
    This debut novel features a plot that is populated with characters of questionable morality. Their actions seem to spring from purely selfish motives that slowly enfold over the course of the book. The story is narrated by a biased Walter who is not identified until page 25, resulting in a confused voice. The pretend happy ending seems to be unnecessary and merely a page-filler. The actual ending is realistic if not expected. This book is about people who are able to deal with death and disappointment because money is not an issue. The story centers around the complex relationship of young Claire who takes shortcuts to love and success, Maddy whose privileged background has left her ill-equipped to deal with loss, and Harry whose early popularity and literary success have resulted in the belief that he could take whatever he wanted. I didn't like these people, but I did enjoy Dubow's use of language, character development, and style of writing. The book should appeal to readers who are seeking light entertainment. I don't intend to recommend it to my book groups.
  • Diane D. (Cape Elizabeth, ME)
    Good story, but not great
    I was a little disappointed. Dubow develops lovable characters that are flawed, but I found the narrative a bit awkward. It's certainly a quick read with a plotline that draws you in.
  • Carolyn S. (Decatur, GA)
    Indiscretion
    Indiscretion by Charles Dubow was a less than satisfying novel because it used a predictable and overused plotline with characters that did not fit in the present day. The characters, the rich and the dissatisfied did not seem authentic. There was nothing about them that you could have empathy for in today's life. The narration of the story between the first and third person was disruptive. I would not recommend this book.
  • Sheryl R. (DeQuincy, LA)
    A roller coaster read
    This book about the affair of an upper class writer in the "perfect" marriage began rather slowly and I found myself rather unfavorably wondering if the story was nothing more than a Gatsby redux. A short way into the book, though, I began to care about the characters and the effects of their individual actions on the others and the group. By mid-book, the carefully well-crafted story hooked me and I had a hard time putting the book down. Ultimately, though, by the time the book ended, I was bored again and the messages of the plot seemed trite and a little stale. F. Scott Fitzgerald did it better in The Great Gatsby.

More Information

Read-Alikes

Top Picks

  • Book Jacket: The Capital of Dreams
    The Capital of Dreams
    by Heather O'Neill
    "Sometimes war can set a woman free," declares Sofia Bottom's larger-than-life intelligentsia mother...
  • Book Jacket: The Lion Women of Tehran
    The Lion Women of Tehran
    by Marjan Kamali
    Seven-year-old Ellie, living in Tehran in the 1950s, has just lost her father. She and her single ...
  • Book Jacket: Clear
    Clear
    by Carys Davies
    John Ferguson is a principled man. But when, in 1843, those principles drive him to break from the ...
  • Book Jacket: The Mighty Red
    The Mighty Red
    by Louise Erdrich
    Permit me to break the fourth wall. Like any good reviewer, I aim to analyze a book dispassionately,...

BookBrowse Book Club

Book Jacket
The Memory Library
by Kate Storey
Journey through the pages of this heartwarming novel, where hope, friendship and second chances are written in the margins.
Book Jacket
Babylonia
by Costanza Casati
From the author of the bestselling Clytemnestra comes another intoxicating excursion into ancient history. When kings fall, queens rise.

Members Recommend

  • Book Jacket

    Going Home
    by Tom Lamont

    Going Home is a sparkling, funny, bighearted story of family and what happens when three men take charge of a toddler following an unexpected loss.

  • Book Jacket

    The Secret History of the Rape Kit
    by Pagan Kennedy

    The story of the woman who kicked off a feminist revolution in forensics, and then vanished into obscurity.

Book Club Giveaway!
Win My Darling Boy

My Darling Boy by John Dufresne

The story of of a man whose son collapses into addiction and vanishes into the chaotic netherworld of southern Florida.

Enter

Wordplay

Solve this clue:

Y C L a H T W but Y C M H D

and be entered to win..

Your guide toexceptional          books

BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.