robinsease's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
pattieod's review against another edition
4.0
Jacquelyn Mitchard is a favorite writer, and I loved 4/5 of this book.
I have to agree with some other reviewers here that the Leo character is just too 100% lousy, and the end is (spoiler) a bit much. Couldn't he have been only moderately successful? Still short? More deeply flawed?
I have to agree with some other reviewers here that the Leo character is just too 100% lousy, and the end is (spoiler) a bit much. Couldn't he have been only moderately successful? Still short? More deeply flawed?
ericaram9's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
carrolk3's review against another edition
5.0
I very much enjoyed "Breakdown Lane". Jacquelyn Mitchard is a local author. I first read her columns in the local papers many years ago and then have read several of her novels. She hit the national spotlight as Oprah's first bookclub choice with her first novel, "Deep End of the Ocean". Over time, some of her books have been very good and some only so-so. I thought this one was one of her best. Her main character, Julieanne, is left with 3 children when her middle age lawyer husband decides he needs to "find himself". She soon discovers that not only is she a single mom of 2 teenagers and a toddler, she also has MS. There is plenty of anger to go around with her situation and that of her teenagers but there is also lots of humor. The story is told from her point of view alternating with her 15 year old son's "journal". I think most of the characters are well developed. I'm sure Mitchard drew from her own experiences. Her first husband died of cancer in his 40's leaving her with several children. She struggled as a single mom, has since re-married and had a couple more kids but has seen highs and lows in her life. I thought the book was a bit slow at the start but by the end, I found myself pulling for most of the characters. Not always an easy book to read but there's enough humor - especially dealing with the teenagers and the runaway "husband" to keep it from being depressing.
knitter22's review against another edition
2.0
This book began as an average, if a bit disjointed and rambling, story, but devolved into a maddening and unrealistic read, due in large part to the ludicrous ending. It was bad enough that I preferred listening to staticky radio on some recent long drives in frustrating traffic rather than plug my ipod in to listen to this.
pepper1133's review against another edition
5.0
Yep, Mitchard is amazing. The descriptions of MS are so detailed that reading this really helped me to better understand one of my friend's own struggles with this condition.
hectaizani's review
4.0
I really enjoyed listening to this book during my daily commute. There are some books that just lend themselves to the audio format, and this was one of those books. I'm sure if I sat down and read the print version I wouldn't have found it nearly as entertaining.
gkaltam's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the different point of views of each. Though the way her crush came back was a bit unrealistic.
bookthia's review against another edition
3.0
Sept 28/05. I loved this book. The story itself was average, but the characters were like real people I know. The main character -- Julianne -- was so worthy of empathy and yet so flawed. Parts of her reminded me of me and shook me up a bit (ok, not the skinny dancer parts...). The son -- Gabe -- I haven't felt that way about a character since Houlden Caulfield. I really wanted to reach in and rescue this kid from the pages of his life. The daughter was also very believable and I know so many young girls like that. My only "problem" was with the husband/ex husband who was, in my humble opinion, just a little too easy to hate. I'd have found it more believable if he'd had maybe one redeeming character trait. That being said it was a lovely story... it broke my heart and then put it all together again. Yeah, it had a bit of a 'fairy tale' ending, but sometimes that's ok. For me, this time, it was ok.