Off Season by Anne Rivers Siddons Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Off Season
Book Review: A good read, but ...
Summary: 4 Stars
the ending doesn't quite work for me.
Off Season is a return to the Anne Rivers Siddons' style I fell in love with when I discovered Colony. I loved the book - the rich descriptions, the character development, the careful choosing of a few key events over a 53-year lifetime.
The ending did seem "off" to me, though.
Even so, I recommend this book, especially to readers who loved Siddons' earlier works.
Book Review: A tale of many loves...
Summary: 4 Stars
Ms. River Siddons's new tale is an extraordinary song of love and loss, reinvention and perseveance with a dash or two of well, magic. Set initially on one of Maine's less wellknown sections of coast in the early 60's, you are introduced to a shabby genteel family with academic father, painter mother, introverted son and gang leader daughter who "summer" in their slightly down-at-the-heels wooden house. That fateful summer of 1962 leads to many changes in the protangist daughter's life which echo through her life and the novel. Lilly retraces those early years at Edgewater, the Maine cottage, when she unexpectantly loses her beloved huband Cam and goes to scatter his ashes in the place he felt most at home. Loss of parents, a first love and the changes one makes to keep going on are revealed in flashbacks. Coastal Maine is as much a character in this book as any of the humans named and it's evident that the author holds the magic of the place as precious as any gem. An engaging read to share with friends...Book Review: All over the place...
Summary: 3 Stars
I liked this story, but did not think it was as fully developed as some of the author's other novels.
I did enjoy the writing style and was enthralled with the middle sections of the book- basically the parts that take place in the past. I did not however enjoy the whole *possible spoiler* communing with her dead husband plot line. I also thought that the revelation at the end was a little skimpy and not worth the build up of the rest of the novel. Yes, I was surprised by the "revelation" but was that because Anne Rivers Siddons wove a great story, or because she just threw it out there? Yes, we get bits and pieces in the last couple of chapters and I realize that Lilly was suppose to be super surprised, but I don't think it was properly built up. A little more was needed I think. And I also thought that the relationship between Lilly and Peaches needed a little more fleshing out.
I'm a romantic, but I think that Lilly and Jon needed to be a couple of years older to really believe their storyline. Even 13 or 14 would have worked better for me. But perhaps I'm not allowing for the differences in the generation, and having trouble believing that present day 11 and 12 year old could have and recognize that depth of feeling.
Book Review: Alls Not Well That Ends Not Well
Summary: 2 Stars
The ending ruined this book for me. It was implausible and seemed such an incredible violation of the protagonist. I also was quite annoyed with the conversations with the cat. What is the point? Not an engaging way to start a story. I kept hoping it would pick up and it finally did -- but I'd have recommended getting to the meat of the story a lot sooner.
Book Review: Altogether worth waiting for...
Summary: 4 Stars
I've read all of Siddon's novels, and this was one of the best. For anyone who spent summers in a special place, this story will cause all the best memories to come flooding back. If you cared about your summer place as much as I did, when Siddons writes "where we lived was just a place to wait for summer" or something to that effect, you'll get gooseebumps,too. The descriptions of that special place not only illicit visions, but aromas, and you'll find yourself straining to breathe the salt sea air - and yearn to rock on Lilly's porch, snuggled up with a cat that speaks a language only Lilly can hear. Lilly takes us through her growing up years - all the wonder of them and all the pain. In many ways, Lilly's innermost feelings and concerns are so like every woman's - although, thank goodness, we have not all experienced her painful times.
I was in tune with this story right up to several pages from the end, and there, I could not understand why it had to become "twisty". I, like another reviewer, found myself going back and re-reading the last third of the book to see if I had just missed the clues that would have made the ending more acceptable. As it was, I was mouthing, "Oh, no...." and wishing I could feel better about it all.
The ending is the reason to take off that fifth star, but should not deter you from taking the time to read this book. I guarantee total immersion in Lilly's world, which is so beautifully described that you can't help but feel you are standing beside her, gazing far out to sea, and breathing cool, salty air! For those of us who couldn't make it to the beach this year, this book offered a marvelous trip without tracking in any sand at all!