Helpful Score: 3
I loved this light-hearted book. The title refers to a woman's life as an adopted child, with no real curiosity about her bioliogical mother...and "then she found me."
Helpful Score: 2
I've enjoyed several of Elinor Lipman's books in the past, and picked this one up after seeing a trailer for the Helen Hunt/Bette Midler film. It soon became apparent that, outside of the main characters, the film holds little resemblance to the book. (See Lipman's blog post on Amazon.com for the story of how the film came to be so different.) I enjoyed the book quite a bit, although I must confess that I couldn't get Midler out of my mind as Bernice G! - she really epitomizes the character.
While it's not great literature, I found the book very enjoyable. Lipman writes well, and draws believable characters. It would make a great Summer read, for those who like beach books with some substance.
While it's not great literature, I found the book very enjoyable. Lipman writes well, and draws believable characters. It would make a great Summer read, for those who like beach books with some substance.
Helpful Score: 2
I was surprised that I really enjoyed this book.
"This is a go-for-it-at-1-A.M. novel--one that has you so thoroughly captivated that you'll stay up to finish it no matter how early your alarm clock is set to start beeping . . . warmhearted, witty. . . an affecting, funny novel about how people who are seeking, whether they admit it or not, love and ties that bond . . . " PEOPLE
"This is a go-for-it-at-1-A.M. novel--one that has you so thoroughly captivated that you'll stay up to finish it no matter how early your alarm clock is set to start beeping . . . warmhearted, witty. . . an affecting, funny novel about how people who are seeking, whether they admit it or not, love and ties that bond . . . " PEOPLE
Helpful Score: 2
Humor and unexpected turns make this a fun-to-read story of a flamboyant woman who wants to connect with her now adult daughter that she gave up as an infant. Doesn't sound like a funny premise, but it is a delightful read!
Helpful Score: 2
I thought it was a really good read. Intense story of adopted woman trying to build a relationship with her birth mother. Spoiler: Watching her find love late in life makes for an interesting story. Tried to pick the movie up & it is drastically different from the book - did not even rent it!
Helpful Score: 2
Nothing complicated about this. It's a fast, easy read. Predictable but enjoyable.
Helpful Score: 1
For years, April Epner has taught Latin in a suburban Boston high school, grown used to having her evenings free, and avoided thinking too much about the facts of her adoption thirty-six years earlier. Now Bernice Graverman, the flamboyant, exasperating hostess of a TV talk show - the kind of woman whose wardrobe is dictated by a set designer and whose restaurant conversation is intended for the next table - comes hurtling into April's simple life. And she brings startling news: She is April's natural mother.
Our heroine's life shifts into overdrive as a series of comic misadventures send her reeling into the arms of the compassionate school librarian - Dwight Willamee - and away from Bernice's misguided attempts to make up for over thirty years of missed mothering. And then Aprils natural father appears, quite flustered, on Bernice's show...
Our heroine's life shifts into overdrive as a series of comic misadventures send her reeling into the arms of the compassionate school librarian - Dwight Willamee - and away from Bernice's misguided attempts to make up for over thirty years of missed mothering. And then Aprils natural father appears, quite flustered, on Bernice's show...
Helpful Score: 1
This book was good, but had a really slow start.
i didn't quite "get" this one. bernice, pathological liar and charmer extraordinaire, finds april, the daughter she gave up for adoption 36+ years ago. because of bernice's lieing, i think i had trouble acceepting the story, since i was always expecting the lies, and thus couldn't let myself sit back, relax and enjoy the book.
Very amusing in places.
I love her books. Every one is good. Has some romance, comedy, very uplifting.
Can't put it down!
This was a nice story - funny and enjoyable. Some language. If you have seen the movie, you will picture Bette Midler as Bernice G! but it makes it even more enjoyable. Very different from the movie and I liked it more.
