Helpful Score: 5
Since I'm not a romance or chick lit reader, I doubt I would've picked up this novel based on the premise alone. But after reading Lionel Shrivers' excellent "We Need to Talk About Kevin," I knew Ms. Shriver had a gift for prose, for character development - and especially for twists in the story that you might not have seen coming otherwise.
I was not disappointed. This is a very absorbing tale of the big "What If?" of adultery, and how your life's trajectory immediately changes based on that. With revolving chapters, you see the main character Irina experience the affair and its aftermath, and then also her not acting on the attraction, and staying with her current partner.
It's a very clever way to tell a story, and I really enjoyed it. I'll be reading Shriver's other books very soon.
I was not disappointed. This is a very absorbing tale of the big "What If?" of adultery, and how your life's trajectory immediately changes based on that. With revolving chapters, you see the main character Irina experience the affair and its aftermath, and then also her not acting on the attraction, and staying with her current partner.
It's a very clever way to tell a story, and I really enjoyed it. I'll be reading Shriver's other books very soon.
Helpful Score: 3
i could not get into this book i did not like any of the people in it, nor did i find myself caring what happened to them. i found the book a very slow read, and was quite disapointed by it, based on all the rave reviews i had expected a fantastic read. nice premise, but poor execution.
Helpful Score: 2
Beautifully written, well-drawn characters, and a thoroughly engaging story. I found myself amazed chapter after chapter at the way the author captures moments and emotions. My "like it" review is not higher only because I found parts of the book depressing.
Helpful Score: 2
Extraordinary novel of what if we pursued that once-in-a-lifetime promise of a fulfilled life, and what if we didn't? Took me a few chapters to catch-on to the author's style and intent, but once I did, I could not, absolutely could not, take a minute off from reading this book. Character development is unparallelled; you will envision yourself in the room with them. The details, the familiar feelings, the unexpected turn of events --- all will have you searching for more books by this author.
Helpful Score: 1
Enjoyed it. Good original story. Only downside was that I felt like I needed a dictionary at times!
