thegeekyblogger's review against another edition
4.0
Bought for Myself
Overall Rating 4.25
Character Rating 4.25
Story Rating 4.25
NOTE: I admit I picked up this book because I met Patti Callahan Henry at a Book Signing. She was funny, genuine, and personable---all attributes that come across in her writing. It was a great venture outside my normal reading comforts!
What I Loved: This book was written for every daughter that isn't/wasn't/can't be sure they have/are/could live up the perceived expectations of their mothers. Even though this book is set in the south, I think everyone who has been a daughter and/or has a daughter could identify with the story. The most wonderful thing in Coming Up for Air is the connection formed through a few journal entries that Ellie finds in a journal that her mother Lillian kept. Even though there is only one entry a year (every New Years Eve), the story that unfolds is richly told and very emotional. Grab a hanky, you will need it at points. I don't want to give away any plot points but there are several interactions that tugged at my heart.
What I Liked: So many of the questions that Coming Up for Air asks are built to make you think! I don't think it was probably done on purpose but the story is a good catalyst for remembering to live your life fully and truly.
Complaints: None
Why I Gave it a 4.25: Contemporary Fiction is not something that general lands on my reading radar. I am glad that this book did because it was fantastically written.
Overall Rating 4.25
Character Rating 4.25
Story Rating 4.25
NOTE: I admit I picked up this book because I met Patti Callahan Henry at a Book Signing. She was funny, genuine, and personable---all attributes that come across in her writing. It was a great venture outside my normal reading comforts!
What I Loved: This book was written for every daughter that isn't/wasn't/can't be sure they have/are/could live up the perceived expectations of their mothers. Even though this book is set in the south, I think everyone who has been a daughter and/or has a daughter could identify with the story. The most wonderful thing in Coming Up for Air is the connection formed through a few journal entries that Ellie finds in a journal that her mother Lillian kept. Even though there is only one entry a year (every New Years Eve), the story that unfolds is richly told and very emotional. Grab a hanky, you will need it at points. I don't want to give away any plot points but there are several interactions that tugged at my heart.
What I Liked: So many of the questions that Coming Up for Air asks are built to make you think! I don't think it was probably done on purpose but the story is a good catalyst for remembering to live your life fully and truly.
Complaints: None
Why I Gave it a 4.25: Contemporary Fiction is not something that general lands on my reading radar. I am glad that this book did because it was fantastically written.
cupcakegirly's review against another edition
4.0
A beautifully written story about love - having it, losing it, rediscovering it and the lengths we'll go to for those we love. The book opens at the funeral of Ellie's mother, Lillian, who we find out was a prominent member of Atlanta society, adored by many but with whom Ellie felt very detached. We also learn that Ellie's marriage to Rusty is a troubled one even though he refuses to acknowledge it (Rusty has him some issues) and that all of the first born women in the family are named "Lillian" (they have a thing for the flower) but go by some variation of Lil, Lillian, Ellie, etc. It's the female version of "This is my brother Larry and my other brother Larry and my other brother Larry." (you get the point)
Ellie's old boyfriend, Hutch shows up at the funeral claiming to have been in the middle of working on an exhibit that involved Lillian and he asks Ellie if she'd be willing to help him finish it. She agrees, much to the chagrin of Rusty but then again, unless it was something Rusty wanted to do he's be chagrinned anyway. Let's talk about our boy Rusty for a minute, shall we? Rusty is a self centered, egotysitcal, controlling ignoramus. He just doesn't have a clue when it comes to anyone but good 'ole Rusty. He has some serious anger management issues too that he uses to control Ellie. ("Hot and Cold" by Katy Perry could be his theme song) His only concern is about whether or not their life "looks" good and whether or not something makes sense to him. And golf. Ellie is an artist and he can't understand why she gets consumed sometimes when she's working on a project. He'd rather she be a good little wifey and make sure the maintenance guy can get in the house while he's playing golf and fix whatever is broken. When she tries to talk to him about what's wrong in their marriage, he thinks buying her jewelry will fix it. This is after he screams at her or throws something at the wall or hangs up on her and then gets all sweet and apologizes. He sounds like a keeper doesn't he?
Enough about Rusty, let's focus on Hutch... Hutch was Ellie's college boyfriend and the guy she thought she'd spend forever with but unfortunately, Lillian didn't think he was good enough for her. He didn't come from "good people" and Lillian tried her best to drive a wedge between Ellie and Hutch. Hutch is kind and caring and he appreciates Ellie and her art. He's just an all around good person. Unfortunately, Ellie learned (too late) that we all make choices and sometimes it isn't just one that changes the direction of our lives forever but a serious of choices. Still after 20 years, and spending time together working on the project together, Ellie realizes that her love for Hutch never died. She gave him up to be with Rusty because Rusty was "safe" but she realizes that living a safe life isn't always the best choice.
Ellie's research takes her to Alabama coast to stay at the Summer House of her mother's best friend, Birdie. Birdie is full of love and grace and opens her home to whoever needs to come and stay. There is a legend about her family's Summer House and that's - when people come and stay, they discover the truth about their lives. It may not always be what they want to learn but it's the truth. Sometimes when a friend asks me a question, before I give them an answer, I'll say to them, "Do you want me to tell you the truth or do you want me to tell you what you want to hear?" This is how it is at Summer House. Birdie is helpful in answering some of Ellie's questions about her mother but she doesn't answer them all because she says sometimes, you have to be okay with "just enough."
Hutch comes to Alabama too (he stays with a friend) and during their research, he and Ellie discover that Lillian played an active role in the Alabama civil rights movements in the 60's, including participating in Freedom bus rides, sit-ins and marches. This is shocking to Ellie because this is not the same woman that she grew up with for a mother. Ellie also discovers that Lillian had a love affair with a man over the course of two years. Lillian recorded all that happened between them and the heartbreaking end to their relationship but she never mentioned him by name. Ellie begins asking around but no one will give her the name of this man. Through her search for more information about who this person was she starts to understand just how devastating this loss was for her mother. She also learns that Lillian was trying to prevent Ellie from experiencing the same kind of loss with Hutch only to be the catalyst for it which is in the end a sad irony.
In the end, Ellie realizes that she's been living a parallel life to her mothers which really isn't living at all. She is faced with making more choices, ones that she didn't plan on having to make but ones that will either bring her closer to the life she wants or continue in the life of false safety she's been living.
If you've ever suffered a major heartbreak, and seriously, if you're past puberty, you probably have, then this book may hit a nerve. One of the major lessons learned is that you can't make someone love you, know matter how hard you try, will it or want them too, you just can't. The other lesson is that your life is your story and you have to live it. If you come to point in your story and it takes a turn you didn't expect, well, then sometimes you need to rewrite the ending. While we all play a part in other people's stories, only our own story is uniquely ours...don't let anyone else tell you how to live it.
Ellie's old boyfriend, Hutch shows up at the funeral claiming to have been in the middle of working on an exhibit that involved Lillian and he asks Ellie if she'd be willing to help him finish it. She agrees, much to the chagrin of Rusty but then again, unless it was something Rusty wanted to do he's be chagrinned anyway. Let's talk about our boy Rusty for a minute, shall we? Rusty is a self centered, egotysitcal, controlling ignoramus. He just doesn't have a clue when it comes to anyone but good 'ole Rusty. He has some serious anger management issues too that he uses to control Ellie. ("Hot and Cold" by Katy Perry could be his theme song) His only concern is about whether or not their life "looks" good and whether or not something makes sense to him. And golf. Ellie is an artist and he can't understand why she gets consumed sometimes when she's working on a project. He'd rather she be a good little wifey and make sure the maintenance guy can get in the house while he's playing golf and fix whatever is broken. When she tries to talk to him about what's wrong in their marriage, he thinks buying her jewelry will fix it. This is after he screams at her or throws something at the wall or hangs up on her and then gets all sweet and apologizes. He sounds like a keeper doesn't he?
Enough about Rusty, let's focus on Hutch... Hutch was Ellie's college boyfriend and the guy she thought she'd spend forever with but unfortunately, Lillian didn't think he was good enough for her. He didn't come from "good people" and Lillian tried her best to drive a wedge between Ellie and Hutch. Hutch is kind and caring and he appreciates Ellie and her art. He's just an all around good person. Unfortunately, Ellie learned (too late) that we all make choices and sometimes it isn't just one that changes the direction of our lives forever but a serious of choices. Still after 20 years, and spending time together working on the project together, Ellie realizes that her love for Hutch never died. She gave him up to be with Rusty because Rusty was "safe" but she realizes that living a safe life isn't always the best choice.
Ellie's research takes her to Alabama coast to stay at the Summer House of her mother's best friend, Birdie. Birdie is full of love and grace and opens her home to whoever needs to come and stay. There is a legend about her family's Summer House and that's - when people come and stay, they discover the truth about their lives. It may not always be what they want to learn but it's the truth. Sometimes when a friend asks me a question, before I give them an answer, I'll say to them, "Do you want me to tell you the truth or do you want me to tell you what you want to hear?" This is how it is at Summer House. Birdie is helpful in answering some of Ellie's questions about her mother but she doesn't answer them all because she says sometimes, you have to be okay with "just enough."
Hutch comes to Alabama too (he stays with a friend) and during their research, he and Ellie discover that Lillian played an active role in the Alabama civil rights movements in the 60's, including participating in Freedom bus rides, sit-ins and marches. This is shocking to Ellie because this is not the same woman that she grew up with for a mother. Ellie also discovers that Lillian had a love affair with a man over the course of two years. Lillian recorded all that happened between them and the heartbreaking end to their relationship but she never mentioned him by name. Ellie begins asking around but no one will give her the name of this man. Through her search for more information about who this person was she starts to understand just how devastating this loss was for her mother. She also learns that Lillian was trying to prevent Ellie from experiencing the same kind of loss with Hutch only to be the catalyst for it which is in the end a sad irony.
In the end, Ellie realizes that she's been living a parallel life to her mothers which really isn't living at all. She is faced with making more choices, ones that she didn't plan on having to make but ones that will either bring her closer to the life she wants or continue in the life of false safety she's been living.
If you've ever suffered a major heartbreak, and seriously, if you're past puberty, you probably have, then this book may hit a nerve. One of the major lessons learned is that you can't make someone love you, know matter how hard you try, will it or want them too, you just can't. The other lesson is that your life is your story and you have to live it. If you come to point in your story and it takes a turn you didn't expect, well, then sometimes you need to rewrite the ending. While we all play a part in other people's stories, only our own story is uniquely ours...don't let anyone else tell you how to live it.
scknitter's review against another edition
4.0
I loved it - and I usually am not a big fan of contemporary fiction.
mrsjkamp's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Ellie mother passes and she finds a journal her mom kept throughout her life. In it are passages from every New Year's Eve since she was young. Ellie, a wife and mother now, reads it and finds that her mom's life wasn't what she thought it was. It sends Ellie on a soul-searching journey to her mother's friend's home and her old college boyfriend Ellie left behind at her mom's insistence. You think you can guess what happens, but you may be wrong!
I liked this one because it reminded me a bit of how strong I was for leaving my bad marriage. It was a great idea since my life could have easily turned out like Ellie's did. Rusty, Ellie's husband, has moods and treats her a bit like garbage when he's mad at how things turn out, usually since they aren't the way he wants them. Ellie makes excuses and brushes it off, but she's slowly realizing that this isn't the life she wants or needs. She can live the life she dreams, thanks to her mom's journal.
Learning about her mom's mystery boyfriend from the past keeps Ellie busy for most of this novel. It's an interesting story that she unfolds. Turns out, her mom was part of the civil rights movement in the 60s. The whole time I thought I was right about the identity of this mystery man, but I was completely wrong. I suppose I should have guessed, but I was so sure I was right that I didn't pick up the clues.
Definitely recommended if you like Patti Callahan Henry's other novels or the likes of Nicholas Sparks.
Ellie mother passes and she finds a journal her mom kept throughout her life. In it are passages from every New Year's Eve since she was young. Ellie, a wife and mother now, reads it and finds that her mom's life wasn't what she thought it was. It sends Ellie on a soul-searching journey to her mother's friend's home and her old college boyfriend Ellie left behind at her mom's insistence. You think you can guess what happens, but you may be wrong!
I liked this one because it reminded me a bit of how strong I was for leaving my bad marriage. It was a great idea since my life could have easily turned out like Ellie's did. Rusty, Ellie's husband, has moods and treats her a bit like garbage when he's mad at how things turn out, usually since they aren't the way he wants them. Ellie makes excuses and brushes it off, but she's slowly realizing that this isn't the life she wants or needs. She can live the life she dreams, thanks to her mom's journal.
Learning about her mom's mystery boyfriend from the past keeps Ellie busy for most of this novel. It's an interesting story that she unfolds. Turns out, her mom was part of the civil rights movement in the 60s. The whole time I thought I was right about the identity of this mystery man, but I was completely wrong. I suppose I should have guessed, but I was so sure I was right that I didn't pick up the clues.
Definitely recommended if you like Patti Callahan Henry's other novels or the likes of Nicholas Sparks.
mazza57's review against another edition
2.0
I listened to this Audio edition which was very well narrated. However for me the book itself fits into a romance genre that is seen in many other books, The characters and story line are interchangeable and it really adds nothing to the romantic or contemporary oeuvre
sb631's review against another edition
4.0
July 12:
Won this book a few weeks ago and just received it in the mail (on my bday too, haha)!! Can't wait to read it!
August 8th:
"We all become the person we are from the person we were"- Uncle Cotton. I thought this quote from the book really fit well with the story!
Coming Up for Air is about a daughter who is determined to figure out her mothers past. Ellie's mother passed away and that is when she finds an old journal that her mother would write in every New Years Eve. After reading the journal, Ellie becomes determined to find out who this 'him' person her mothers mentions. That is when she leaves her home and moves to a Summer House in Alabama. She is in search of Him and answers to questions she has about her mothers past. She is in search for the truth and the past that her mother never mentioned before to anyone.
At times I was not a fan of Ellie. She came off as selfish at times, for leaving her husband and family, but then at times I thought that everyone has a different way of handling their grief. So I was half and half on her character. But putting aside that, I really enjoyed this book. I'm glad I received this through goodreads, because I probably would have never found/read it if I hadn't. I think this book has great meaning and insight in it. There were so many quotes and things that happen that make you think. Overall, great novel!!
Won this book a few weeks ago and just received it in the mail (on my bday too, haha)!! Can't wait to read it!
August 8th:
"We all become the person we are from the person we were"- Uncle Cotton. I thought this quote from the book really fit well with the story!
Coming Up for Air is about a daughter who is determined to figure out her mothers past. Ellie's mother passed away and that is when she finds an old journal that her mother would write in every New Years Eve. After reading the journal, Ellie becomes determined to find out who this 'him' person her mothers mentions. That is when she leaves her home and moves to a Summer House in Alabama. She is in search of Him and answers to questions she has about her mothers past. She is in search for the truth and the past that her mother never mentioned before to anyone.
At times I was not a fan of Ellie. She came off as selfish at times, for leaving her husband and family, but then at times I thought that everyone has a different way of handling their grief. So I was half and half on her character. But putting aside that, I really enjoyed this book. I'm glad I received this through goodreads, because I probably would have never found/read it if I hadn't. I think this book has great meaning and insight in it. There were so many quotes and things that happen that make you think. Overall, great novel!!
supera710's review against another edition
4.0
I won Coming Up for Air as a goodreads ARC giveaway. I wasn't sure how much I'd relate to this book, since I didn't really know much of what it was about. I read it in one day though! I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the connection I felt with the main character, Ellie. When you're younger, you don't really have an interest in your parents past, and I've found that the older I've gotten, the more I'm intrigued with who my parents were before they were parents. As Ellie started learning more about who her mother was, and also looking into her own past, I was finding myself thinking about my own life and the decisions I've made to get where I am now. I like that this book captured my attention and I couldn't put it down! I will definitely add more books by Patti Callahan Henry to my to-read list.
mahonm2's review against another edition
4.0
Great story about finding yourself and finding what love really is. Great summer book.
ayanez427's review against another edition
5.0
While the book was not phenomenal, it got the highest rating because the theme really resonated with me--how when we are broken, the choices we make to recover and save ourselves from the pain can be more damaging by taking over who we are. Ellie (the protagonist) says several things that I understood, but there were 2 that I immediately connected to:
1) "The choices we make when we are broken are sometimes the most awful of our choices."
2) "I would have never believed I could say this, but in saving myself, you know what's the biggest temptation?...To just not love at all."
1) "The choices we make when we are broken are sometimes the most awful of our choices."
2) "I would have never believed I could say this, but in saving myself, you know what's the biggest temptation?...To just not love at all."
cocktailsandbooks1's review against another edition
3.0
When Maggie Dawson was left at the altar by Kevin Walker, she thought her heart would never mend. She moved on, with some semblance of a life, but she never truly recovered to the point where she could have a relationship with a man.
Just when she thinks she might be able to dip her toe back into those dating waters, Kevin Walker come back to town with his fiancee in tow. Just like that, Maggie thrown back eighteen years and the hurt splits her wide open again.
A lot happens in these 45 pages and Maggie's emotional distress leaps off the pages at you. As a reader, you felt as if you were in the room with her for every heartbreaking minute. That said, while you were in the room with Maggie you wanted to shake her and tell her to get over it. It's been eighteen years.
Sure being left at the altar by a man you thought was the love of your life would be devastating (especially since you had no idea why he left), but at some point you would have thought her friends would have pushed her to move on, instead of that push coming two seconds before Kevin showed up back in town.
The author tied the story up nicely (with Maggie and Kevin falling back in love, fighting and then getting married), but their reuniting was a little less emotionally charged than Maggie's initial heartbreak at Kevin being back.
If you only have a half an hour to spare for a book, this would be a good one for you.
Just when she thinks she might be able to dip her toe back into those dating waters, Kevin Walker come back to town with his fiancee in tow. Just like that, Maggie thrown back eighteen years and the hurt splits her wide open again.
A lot happens in these 45 pages and Maggie's emotional distress leaps off the pages at you. As a reader, you felt as if you were in the room with her for every heartbreaking minute. That said, while you were in the room with Maggie you wanted to shake her and tell her to get over it. It's been eighteen years.
Sure being left at the altar by a man you thought was the love of your life would be devastating (especially since you had no idea why he left), but at some point you would have thought her friends would have pushed her to move on, instead of that push coming two seconds before Kevin showed up back in town.
The author tied the story up nicely (with Maggie and Kevin falling back in love, fighting and then getting married), but their reuniting was a little less emotionally charged than Maggie's initial heartbreak at Kevin being back.
If you only have a half an hour to spare for a book, this would be a good one for you.