The Beach House: A Novel
by Jane Green
|
List Price: Our Price: $2.35 You Save: $12.65 (84%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Beach House: A Novel
Book Review: Book Review: The Beach House
Summary: 4 Stars
The Review
Before I became a book review blogger, I absolutely loved (and was lost in) the simplest of fiction. I knew that I loved to read and I adored visiting book stores to pick out the hidden gems. Over the past year, my reading has evolved. What I mean by this is that I've read a number of really wonderful literary works that much of the fun/light reading has paled in comparison. On the flip side of this is the fact that I've also been feeling weighted by heavy reads. There has to be a perfect medium... a balance, of sorts, where the novel is well written and yet absorbs my heart into a story. Guess what? The Beach House was just that for me! This story of romance, family, tragedy, and redemption just kept my mind busy during a couple of dark days which would have normally sent me into a long nap or a television craze. I wanted to read this book... so much so that I kept my eyes open when I got sleepy just to find out what happened next.
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
I needed this book to revive my lust for reading and it did just that.
The Beach House was a very well-written piece of fiction that just gave me pure pleasure. Some readers like romance or mystery... or even the classics. Those books are what they crave. I think that Women's Fiction, Romance, and ChickLit are just my favorite genres to dive into. And, I need more of them in my reading diet to keep me a happy reader. The Beach House reminded me of that part of myself that I've been ignoring.
So, what else can I share about what I liked about Jane Green's novel? She does a great job at character development, story lines, multiple characters, and keeping the reader's attention for the duration of the book. Albeit a tad predictable, it was a very enjoyable read. This is THE PERFECT SUMMER poolside, airplane, or beach read for a gal who is ready to lose herself in a good story. There is enough here to make you both sad and happy for the characters in the novel. Jane Green writes good fiction and I'm looking forward to reading another!
I'd love to hear about your opinions of this book, Second Chance or Dune Road if you've read them...
The Rating
On Sher's "Out of Ten Scale," I would rate this book an 8.5 out of 10. Why? Because I just flew through it. I was emotionally involved in the storyline and just plainly felt excited about reading what was coming up next. What would I have done to make this a 10? Well, I think that the story summary on the back of the book gives away too much of what will happen. I always had a feeling about a "surprise visitor," however I would have preferred it truly being a surprise without knowing that one was coming. Also, if the author/editor made minor edits to the paragraphs the novel that would indicate whose storyline you were shifting to, that would have made the read more seamless. Other than that, I just relaxed and went for the ride. It was pleasure book that I sorely needed and craved. Kudos to Jane Green... I want to read more!
Book Review: Something so engagin turns into something that Lifetime and Hallmark threw up
Summary: 3 Stars
I was hooked from the beginning. The stories of the main players are told in little scenes. I was most interested in Richard and Daff's crumbling marriage, followed by Richard's relationship with Carrie and his daughter's dysfunction. Jessica, who is going through puberty, can't seem to get a grip on her hormones, which greatly influence her reaction to her parents' divorce.
Michael and Ainsley, Michael and Jordana, Michael and his mother- all interesting stories. I was especially appreciating the dynamic between Michael and his married boss, Jordana.
Daniel's problem in his marriage with Bee was very, very predictable. I couldn't stand reading through his cliched situations. Simply awful, nothing profound or surprising.
Nan and her deification of deceased husband, Everett, was pretty good at first. She tried to forgive his issues- the alcoholism, the suicide, the abandonment. Her grief becomes part of her eccentricity. And she's got a whole lot of that "National Public Radio upper echelon of society" thing going on. It's a relief to see Nantucket-ians get annoyed with her, going os far as to think she's crazy.
Okay, so I'm enjoying many of these scenes, even when Michael, Daff, and Daniel all come to Nan's house for the summer. Then, there comes the unexpected guest. Actually, there are a few of them. The last guest is the worst- so farfetched. I didn't even want to finish this book- it was ruined!! I skimmed through to the end, in agony until the very end.
The problem with this book is that it is FLUFF. Enjoyable fluff at first, but fluff nonetheless. The characters supposed insights and epiphanies are completely hackneyed. "OOOO, she's trying to find herself." "OOOO, he hasn't been true to himself." "OOOO, she's going to have more time for herself and create art." And then there is "Awwww, she's so bored." "Awww, she just doesn't understand how hard it is." GIMME A BREAK!!! What the author claims is so insightful and profound is just a bunch of cliches for the women who cling to Oprah Winfrey's every word and rush to buy the latest Eckert Tolle work. Read a real spiritual work by real spiritual people ( The Church Fathers, Maimonides, Saint Teresa of Avila, Harold Kushner, etc.) Read fiction by authors who can present real problems in a moving way- the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen, etc.
Book Review: Beach House is a Beach Read
Summary: 3 Stars
Nan is an eccentric old woman who lives in Nantucket in huge rambling home. When her investments tank and she is in need of money, she decides to rent out rooms in her home over the summer. Between her two boarders and her son Michael who moves back home she brings together a motley group of people - all of whom are facing major transitions of one kind or another in their lives.
Although this was overall a good story, I had a few issues with it. First of all, Jane Green's editor still doesn't think it's important to check that the American dialogue is authentic. Just like in Swapping Lives, the characters talked using British phrasing and slang. It was worse this time and very distracting. A thirteen year old girl, after getting a babysitting gig exclaims, "I've never had a proper job before!" The characters all said proper all the time actually. And one character who was arguing with another said they were having a "row". It took me out of the story almost every time.
Another problem I had was that when one of the characters ends up being gay, everyone comments that they were not surprised; they always knew that character was gay. But no one ever says why or how they knew that character was gay. The character doesn't act stereotypically gay so I felt like Green should have delved more into why no one was surprised.
I listened to The Beach House in the car. The book is structured so that it switches among the different characters perspectives every few paragraphs. The narrator wouldn't pause at all between paragraphs where the character changed and that could get confusing. Other than that I thought the narration was good.
There was a lot of serendipity in the way that everything that happened throughout the book ended up intertwining and it all came together and wrapped up in a neat package at the end. I actually like that sometimes so I was okay with it - especially for a car book, I don't want to get too upset while I'm driving over a sad ending!
Book Review: New author for me ......
Summary: 4 Stars
This is the first time I have ever read this author. I have been aware of her and she kept popping up on my "recommended" list from Amazon but I didn't read anything by her until now.
For its genre, this is definitely a 4 star book for me. I put this is the category of light and fluffy reading but its largely good, light and fluffy reading. Multiple characters are experiencing events in their lives that all propel them to Nantucket for the summer months. The reader is introduced to them in their home setting and learns about them and their family situation and then follows their story after the arrival on Nantucket. Holding all if this together at the core is the character of Nan who owns a big, old, rambling house on the island and decides to open the home to boarders to ease her financial situation.
While this is a very enjoyable beach read, the reasons it didn't get a 5 star rating are twofold. The setting of Nantucket is not utilized as well as it could be. The author keeps telling the reader how wonderful the island is and how it has this magical, healing property to it. Unfortunately, the reader isn't really shown, just told over and over. Also, the character of Nan (while I largely loved her and she is who I want to be when I grow up) seemed to be a bit off for me. We are told she is 65 years old, but much of the story treats her as if she is closer to 80 - lots of discussion about how her health in such a way that you think she must be much older than she is.
One word of caution: There is a major gay story line. While I did not find it bothersome and thought it was written well, for someone who is more conservative will probably find it offensive. For this reason, I will not be recommending it to my 83-year-old mother.
With that being said, I will definitely be seeking out this author when looking for lighter, feel-good reading. More along the lines of Emilie Richards rather than Elizabeth Berg.
Book Review: Less than inspiring beach read
Summary: 3 Stars
Where has the Jane Green who wrote Bookends, Mr. Maybe, Babyville and The Other Woman gone? After reading all of the less than favorable reviews about Dune Road, I was hesitant to pick up any of her latest titles. Seeing that The Beach House got fairly good reviews, I decided to give it a try, but was sorely disappointed. I gave this three stars because it isn't totally awful, but parts of it are just not good. Case in point, the vapid relationship between Michael and Jordana...The relationships in this novel all seem rather thin, from Daff and Richard's relationship that crumbles upon a single affair, to Daniel and Bee's struggle (which I won't reveal the cause for those who haven't read it yet)...it's almost too much sadness to take, and offers little inspiration to the reader.
I feel like I "grew up" on Jane Green, in my 20s, Bookends and Mr. Maybe were spot-on and enjoyable to read. Babyville was excellent when I was getting ready to start a family with my husband, but The Beach House leaves me little to identify with in my own life, and is actually quite depressing if these are examples of what's to come as we get older.
Perhaps Green is trailing off into more serious topics, and yes, as we get older life does take on a different dimension, but one of the things I love most about reading her books, as well as those of Sophie Kinsella, Madeleine Wickham, Beth Harbison and others is the ability to escape into another world where people have interesting and fun lives. Not to say that the other authors don't present challenges, its just that they tend to do it in a more inspirational manner than Green has achieved in The Beach House.