Reviews

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee: A Novel by Rebecca Miller

wizi's review against another edition

4.0

Ok so this book has so many ups and downs my god.. it had me at the edge of my seat.. to be able to fit so many twists and turns in a comparatively small book of 200 something book... The drama and the feelings of this book felt very real to me for some reason

sheila_p's review

3.0

it was okay, nothing special

esther1987's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

smbla's review against another edition

3.0

The book started out and I loved it...the love affair waned near the end. The main character lost my interest and I was disappointed in how the writer chose to describe Pippa's journey. I also couldn't help but wonder how much of the author's father was in fact embodied in Herb. I would say that I would definitely read another work by the author since I think she has a lot of talent.

udu_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

sawyerbell's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars. Very enjoyable story. Miller does an excellent job of reminding us that our identities, which seem so solid and real, are in fact paper-thin and can be blown away like dandelion fluff in the face of life's storms.

karasmichelle's review against another edition

5.0

When I finish a good book - one that takes me out of my life, away from the droning of a plane's engine, a cold doctor's office, a mediocre day, and into a story - I go through a little mourning period. Now I have to find another book, and will it be as good?

That's how I felt after finishing Rebecca Miller's "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee," (2008, Canongate Books, 231 pp.).

Read more of my review on my blog at:

http://www3.allaroundphilly.com/blogs/pottstown/balancingthebooks/2010/01/youll-want-to-be-privy-to-these-private.html

missymouse's review against another edition

2.0

I really enjoyed this story of a youngish woman who moves to a retirement village with her much older husband. Whilst there she begins to have a nervous breakdown, and the memories of how she became to be the person she is today are noted through the book. It was well written, she has a lovely way of turning a phrase. However, the last 20 pages left me absolutely speechless. The ending was shockingly bad, and so unlike the rest of the book that i had just written, that i began to wonder if i had dreamed it all. It was as if the author wanted to make things work out, that or she just wanted to finish the story. It ultimately left me loathing the book, i dont think ive felt this disappointed in something since The Time Traveller's Wife. 2/5 stars for me.

nocto's review against another edition

2.0

This sounded like a good book and though the reviews were very mixed I went ahead and read it. At the beginning of the book we have Pippa Lee, aged about 50, perfect wife of a much older publisher, perfect mother of grown-up twin children. Then the story goes back to show Pippa's childhood and what she got up to before her marriage. Nothing wrong with that. The idea of showing the flaws of the woman who became the model wife and mother is nothing new but could make a perfectly good story. My problem here was that I just felt there was no substance to the book. Yes, Pippa wasn't perfect to start with. I was expecting that. But I guess I was expecting something else too.

janinasheart's review against another edition

3.0

I *need* this adapted into a movie starring Julianne Moore