While I Was Gone by Sue Miller Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of While I Was Gone
Book Review: An interesting story that keeps you guessing
Summary: 4 Stars
The main character seems to be one that at times you can relate to, and at others, your questioning her thoughts and actions. All in all it's a good book that has some shocking twists to it. The only thing I didn't like about the book was the ending, I felt that it was untrue to the character and left open.In the end,it's a good book worth reading.
Book Review: Moving book, but no conclusion
Summary: 4 Stars
I liked the book, but a little dissapointed with the conclusion. To be exact, the wasn't much of a conclusion to the main problem Jo faces. She is an established vet in a small Massachusetts town when somebody from her past returns. She is then faced with a major decision that could change her marriage and her life altogether. In "While I Was Gone" Jo has a "good life" one would say, a nice husband, 3 daughters, but she often reflects back to her college years. When reading, I might be interested to hear her talk about her life in college, then the chapter ends. Leaving me back to the present day, life with her husband and so on. Overall, the book was moving and I had sympathy for what the characters had to go through.
Book Review: Patience Will Pay Off
Summary: 4 Stars
On the surface, Jo Becker seems like any normal, middle-aged woman. She has three grown daughters, a successful veterinary practice, and a longstanding marriage that appears unshakable. But underneath this almost boring exterior, Jo's mind is restless. She's remembering her unconventional life and friends as a young woman in the 60s and is continually haunted by the bizarre, unsolved murder of a friend during that period. Then one of these old friends, Eli Mayhew, comes back into Jo's life. Jo finds that her restlessness increases, and feels how she is becoming dangerously drawn to Eli and distant from her husband. How can she reconcile her past and deal with the complex relationships that surround her?Before anyone pictures a fast-paced thriller, it must be said that this book is anything but the above adjective. Above all, author Sue Miller seems supremely unconcerned with writing anything fast-paced. Her book lingers in its decscriptions and spends much of its time on long and subtle psychological "profiles" of characters. Her first person narrative feels leisurely, and we come to know all of the everyday intricacies of Jo's life.
Admittedly, the details become dull at times. It was sometimes tempting to skip a page, look ahead, or "speed read" during a particularly long-winded passage. Due to this fault, I can't give the book five stars. But that's no reason to avoid the book-it still has its admirably strong points.
I was first struck by this book's beginning. Miller does an amazing job portraying Jo's quietly disconcerting restlessness with her life. I really did "feel" Jo's thoughts as I read the first chapter. This trend continues throughout the book and it's always apparent that Sue Miller can create the mood she wants. The emotional tones of the book flow almost seamlessly from restless to peacefulness to despair and it is a marvel to "watch" them change so expertly. Also, the dialogue was continually strong. Miller seems to have the gift of making her characters eloquently express feelings that the average person has, yet the characters never sound too phony or lofty. And last, the intricate characterizations and descriptions can get slightly tedious, yet some are beautiful and piercingly insightful.
Be patient with this novel. Find a comfy chair on a quiet afternoon and slowly savor each word. Put yourself in the characters' shoes and don't rush. In the end, you'll find that despite a little boredom, this elegantly realistic story about an everyday person was worth it.
Book Review: not what i was hoping for
Summary: 2 Stars
While reading this book, the only reason I continued was the feeling that it was just about to get interesting. I was truly disappointed because it never did. I felt like I flew 10 hours in an airplane, 50 feet off the ground and when I landed, realized I hadn't gone anywhere.Book Review: Fair Book
Summary: 3 Stars
This story was interesting but just not what I thought it would be. The ending was not what it could have been. Miller gave an ending you typically do not see. Most books leave the best for last but she just tapers at the end. The book was not bad or I would not have finished it. Read it if you please you will find parts interesting.