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Barbara, Brevard, NC
Between the Tides by Susannah Marren
A sometimes interesting but extremely sad look at the frailty of the bonds of marriage and how a change in environment can cause them to fray and fall apart and how that may impact family and even friends. This was not a book that I couldn't put down. None of the main characters were people I would like to know and there was no indication of hoped for resolution as the story
rather abruptly ends.
Would I recommend it to my book club? Definitely not.
Rebecca J. (Knoxville, TN)
Between the tides
Between the tides is a contemporary novel about a married couple and their girlfriend, who is also sleeping with the husband. I really disliked this book. The characters were very one-dimensional. I was in a state of disbelief the whole book that this married couple ever got married and had 4 children! I couldn't stand anybody in the book. I did finish and was semi-interested in how it ended. That's the best I can say. I'll be interested in what other readers think.
Sue P. (Richardson, TX)
Between the Tides
I enjoy well-written books about the relationships between women; however, it helps if the women characterized have a sympathetic persona. I didn't care for either of the two main characters; they were vain and self-serving. The book was well written, and the story interesting, even if the ending was a bit ...false and reaching.
Donna W. (Wauwatosa, WI)
Between the Tides
This is basically a sad story of two dysfunctional families. The two main character's Lainie and Jess, were so unsympathetic and self-centered that I couldn't relate to them. In fact, all the adult characters were so superficial and shallow that it left me wondering the fate of their poor children. Even the surprise ending really didn't come as much of a shock. I really can't recommend this book.
Leslie G. (Peabody, MA)
Interesting Despite Flawed Characters
The novel was fast-paced and kept my interest. However, one problem with the book is that, for the most part, the two main characters, Lainie and Jess, come across as unsympathetic because of their self-centeredness. Some of their upper-middle-class problems seem petty and foolish compared to problems faced by ordinary people. This aspect of their characterization makes it hard to identify with them or root for them. The conclusion was somewhat shocking, but it was not too much a stretch of credibility. I would have liked to have seen a few of the issues left up in the air at the end of the novel resolved to a greater degree, however.
Sue J. (Wauwatosa, WI)
Disappointing
I was really looking forward to a "page-turning" novel, as described on the back cover - I was disappointed. The main characters were self centered and annoying. The ending had an interesting twist though, which I didn't see coming. I would not recommend this book to a friend.
Cam G. (Murrells Inlet, SC)
Not a feel good novel
It took me until the climax of Between the Tides to really "get into" this novel. I did not care for any of the main characters: Charles, the ambitious and very arrogant husband of Lainie , an artist, who is consumed with her talent, Jess, Lainie's old friend, who is filled with envy of her, and will ultimately betray Lainie, and Jess' husband who is a wife abuser. This is not a "feel good" story, but one that is about arrogance, ambition and betrayal.
Jina H.-F. Normandy Park
I wanted to like someone
I like the genre of this book. Some people dislike books that change point of view or time period, but I didn't find that to be an issue. The author writes well. Vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, all that is good. On the face of it, looking at the synopsis, I should have liked it. I kept reading hoping it would improve. The problem was, I didn't like any of the characters. I thought everyone was making poor decisions and it felt like no one had any moral base. So in the end, I couldn't care less what happened. That makes a book about as unsatisfying as they come.
