Off Season
by Anne Rivers Siddons
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Book Reviews of Off Season
Book Review: Disappointing end is just a guessing game
Summary: 3 Stars
I have read all of ARS's novels and have liked most of them, loved some. Interestingly, COLONY, which has a tie to this novel, is one of my favorites. I had my doubts about this book when it began with her hearing her cat talk to her, but dug in anyway. Her stories are usually good, as was this one. I read the entire book, was engrossed by the story, despite the cat business, but was so disappointed in the ambiguous ending that I wanted to return the book. Not to give away the end to those who will still buy it, I think ARS let down her devoted fans by writing an end that was not an end. I don't agree that it was "mystical", as other reviewers have described it. I think she tried to enter a genre that isn't her specialty and she failed abysmally. By the time this goes to paperback, I hope she comes forward to explain what happened because I sure as heck don't have a clue. There must be something in the air because all of my favorite authors' 2008 novels have been disappointing. My favorite reads this year have all been by authors new to me. This was the worst disappointment. The excellent plot deserved a straight forward finish; not a "spiritual" guessing game.Book Review: lost....
Summary: 3 Stars
I like so many other's had to re-read the last part of the book. When I finished reading it late last night I thought to myself what did I miss??? I just could not understand the ending. The last name of the boy was a mystery to me. I finally found the last name of Peaches "second" husband and then put the names together. I still don't know why the letters that they gave Lilly at the post office were from New Mexico. There were so many lose threads in this book that I was beginning to question my reading ability. I guess Lilly trusted her husband so much that she had no reason to question when she was told that he came back there in the winter. I guess Peaches finally got back at Lilly from what she did that first summer that they met. When I got up this morning I opened the book again and started looking through it again to see if I could figure out what exactly had happened. I loved the book but the ending just kind of left you hanging. I wish it would have been made more clear. The boy must have known that he was Cams child if they looked so much alike so why did he sign the letters with just the "D"?? So many unanswered questions.......Book Review: Anne Rivers Siddons doesn't disappoint!
Summary: 4 Stars
I am a fan. Anne Rivers Siddons always creates a world to escape to, not always pleasant, but usually addicting. If I am going to read one of her books, I have to do it when I don't have a lot on my docket because I often want to read it straight through.
There is usually a sense of menace hovering over even the most pleasant and pastoral scenes in her books, and this one is no exception. Meet Peaches, one of the most purely evil characters I have recently come across - all the more so because her character is not very well fleshed out.
The protagonist, Lilly, is somewhat flawed but lives in a universe where most of the people around her are more flawed. I agree somewhat with the poster who pointed out that the romance with Jon would have been more believable if they had been older. On the other hand, it was probably hero-worship as much as romance so I didn't object too much.
Anne Rivers Siddons is nothing if not consistent. This book is haunting me a week after I read it. The ending was painful but definitely consistent with the plot and tone of the book. Recommended.
Book Review: Riveting Story of First Love, Marriage, and Secrets of the Heart
Summary: 5 Stars
Anne Rivers Siddons, famous for her tales of the South, strikes gold when she switches locations to coastal Maine. Newly widowed Lilly Constable seeks solace in the vacation home of her youth and discovers secrets long hidden. How will a startling revelation upend the world Lilly knew?
While Lilly's widowhood is achingly portrayed and beautifully described for the reader, it is her return to her childhood that I found to be the most fascinating part of the book. Lilly as the wild and free spirit, the leader of her pack, the tomboy who discovers first love and sees it end with tragic results, touched my heart and had me so involved with her and her parents, that I stayed up all night reading, reluctant to close the covers of the book.
From the author's superb descriptions of the vacation paradise, to the excitement of her young romance with Jon, her married life with Cam, and the horror that was Peaches Davenport, Siddons has woven a remarkable story from endearing start to shocking finish.
Book Review: Editor? There was an editor?
Summary: 3 Stars
Two points:
If Mrs. Siddons had taken the time to develop the storyline and the rest of the characters as much as she did Lilly's in childhood, the book would have been excellent. Almost as though the author was rushed to print rather than finish the book properly.
Editing was abysmal! There are lots and lots and lots of mistakes. "She puts the cat and his sweater on the sofa. Then only 2 or 3 sentences later, the cat glares at her until she puts the sweater on the sofa. The urn looks well on the mantle. That urn should be looking good...All this on the first couple of pages - very distracting. Plot mistakes and character errors very evident throughout the book. Intro to Jon has him older than 12, but the ending has him 12.
Even through all that, my reaction to the book as a whole was the same as when I read As I Lay Dying at the age of 15. WHAT??? They went through all that for this ending??? Siddens is still a great read. And I am still thinking and talking about this book.