mary412's review against another edition
4.0
I went to a book discussion at a Chicago Bookstore, Women and Children First. Afterwards my friend and I decided that we could do that ourselves and so formed a book group. I believe that was around the mid-80s. Several charter members of that group are still meeting and discussing in 2019.
veronicairis's review against another edition
4.0
Not particularly my cup of tea, but I understand the message and purpose of the book to be important and well said.
rachelp's review against another edition
2.0
The "good" mother in this book infuriated me. That is really all I can say.
vanessakm's review against another edition
3.0
This book seems like it's going to be some kind of banal divorced woman with child finds love again type of story, only to go off in a different direction about halfway through. It's thoughtful and disturbing enough that the story has stayed with me for years.
Anna Dunlap is divorced and making a living teaching piano in Massachusetts with her young daughter Molly, who is not only the best thing in her life, but one of the few good things. Then she meets an artist named Leo at the laundromat and although they fight over a washer, sparks fly (as an aside that needs to be stated, I was totally on Anna's side in this dispute because we aren't animals! The laundromat has rules, man!) Soon they are dating and Anna is really living for the first time, since childhood at least or maybe ever. The sex is great, the pseudo-Bohemian lifestyle is great, Leo loves her kid, her kid loves Leo. Then Anna's ex-husband accuses Leo of sexually molesting their daughter, and things really go to shit.
I like that Miller is clearly smarter than her protagonists here. She writes with compassion, but clearly she thinks both Anna and Leo made some poor decisions. She's also pretty bold in her narrative choices. I think a parent might find this borderline too painful to read, regardless of who they sympathized with. Is Anna a good mother? Each reader has to answer that question for themselves.
This was turned into a fairly decent movie with Diane Keaton and Liam Neeson. It skipped some of the material near the end which was some of the best writing in the book, but I can also see why they didn't want the movie to drag on after the denouement.
Anna Dunlap is divorced and making a living teaching piano in Massachusetts with her young daughter Molly, who is not only the best thing in her life, but one of the few good things. Then she meets an artist named Leo at the laundromat and although they fight over a washer, sparks fly (as an aside that needs to be stated, I was totally on Anna's side in this dispute because we aren't animals! The laundromat has rules, man!) Soon they are dating and Anna is really living for the first time, since childhood at least or maybe ever. The sex is great, the pseudo-Bohemian lifestyle is great, Leo loves her kid, her kid loves Leo. Then Anna's ex-husband accuses Leo of sexually molesting their daughter, and things really go to shit.
I like that Miller is clearly smarter than her protagonists here. She writes with compassion, but clearly she thinks both Anna and Leo made some poor decisions. She's also pretty bold in her narrative choices. I think a parent might find this borderline too painful to read, regardless of who they sympathized with. Is Anna a good mother? Each reader has to answer that question for themselves.
This was turned into a fairly decent movie with Diane Keaton and Liam Neeson. It skipped some of the material near the end which was some of the best writing in the book, but I can also see why they didn't want the movie to drag on after the denouement.
jennyexiled's review against another edition
3.0
I think I'm an emotional masochist.
That's the only explanation I can find for why I would read this book now, as my own divorce and worries about child custody consume my life.
It's a good book. But it wasn't the right time for me to read it.
While the specifics certainly don't apply in my case (I would never behave the way the protagonist does), the feelings connected with turning your life over to the courts to decide hit very close to home at the moment. And of course the crushing fear of losing your child - regardless of its rationality - is enough to break my spirit into a hundred brittle pieces.
That's the only explanation I can find for why I would read this book now, as my own divorce and worries about child custody consume my life.
It's a good book. But it wasn't the right time for me to read it.
While the specifics certainly don't apply in my case (I would never behave the way the protagonist does), the feelings connected with turning your life over to the courts to decide hit very close to home at the moment. And of course the crushing fear of losing your child - regardless of its rationality - is enough to break my spirit into a hundred brittle pieces.
kajosa's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
faydrastratton's review against another edition
3.0
wow - life sure can change in an instant. Powerful book - really gets you thinking but I have to say, I never really empathized with the main character, from my perspective there were just so many things she did wrong...
grandbarda's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5