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Title: Good Harbor: A Novel by Anita Diamant ISBN: 0-7432-2572-4 Publisher: Scribner Pub. Date: 17 September, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.38 (72 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: A Novel With Its Own Merit
Comment: When you are the renowned author of "The Red Tent," how do you top yourself? Unfortunately, "Good Harbor" was not able to do that. However, "Good Harbor" captured my attention and I was taken in about the story of a friendship.
Kathleen, recently diagnosed with breast cancer, meets Joyce, a romance writer. The friendship flourishes immediately as they enjoy walks together on Good Harbor. Through the walks, each woman feels safe in confiding with the other. There are many issues that "Good Harbor" addresses: cancer, religion, parenting, death, infidelity, and relationships.
Diamant is a master at setting the scene. She describes the beauty of Good Harbor and Kathleen's garden so precisely that the reader is able to create a mental image. This was the strongest feature in the novel.
"Good Harbor" is a novel with its own merit, however many will find it difficult not to compare it with "The Red Tent." I encourage readers to try "Good Harbor" and see a different side of Anita Diamant. I eagerly anticipate Diamant's future work.
Rating: 3
Summary: A dimmed Diamant
Comment: I came fresh to this novelist. That is to say, I read Good Harbor without having read Diamant's first historical fiction book, The Red Tent.
Though Good Harbor also focuses on women, it is a contemporary novel set in the seaside town of Gloucester in Massachusetts. The story involves two characters. Kathleen, a librarian in her late fifties, recently diagnosed with breast cancer, and Joyce, a fortyish romance novelist who wants to break out of that genre and write mainstream fiction. Both women are in their words, "lapsed Jews," who ironically meet at synagogue. Along Good Harbor's beach their friendship takes off as they walk off the stress and woes of their lives. Joyce's husband is career- absorbed and her teenage daughter now sports her "'tude" whenever possible. Also, in her just-bought home, there is a statue of the virgin, Mary, in her garden and as a Jew, she is not sure what to do to get "rid of Her Holiness." Kathleen, on the other hand, has a concerned husband, who at every turn to take Kathleen to her radiation treatments. Still, Kathleen ruminates about her deceased sister and her little boy, Danny, who, like a dead dog in the room, everyone steps around but no one ever talks about.
Though the book does deal with women's issues, I wondered what to make of Joyce and if felt like Diamant didn't wonder what to do with her too. I also took issue with some of the lines delivered about the mother of Jesus - some of them were just a little too cavalier for my taste. At times Diamant was disrespectful of Christianity - something that would not be tolerated were the plot lines reversed.
If you're looking for a fast read, you'll be pleased - there's lots of "white space" between the lines and the front cover of the book is lovely to look at, but I came away from the book not nearly as satisfied as I thought conversations between two women could be.
Rating: 5
Summary: Pleasing Read
Comment: I thought this was a well written book with nicely developed characters. I appreciated the back story on the people in the novel and their seeming realism. I think this is an excellent followup to The Red Tent... Diamant is also known for her non-fiction. With Good Harbor, I believe she has proven herself to be a well-rounded author, with a variety of talents. Enjoy.
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Title: The Red Tent by Anita Diamant ISBN: 0312195516 Publisher: Picador USA Pub. Date: 15 September, 1998 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Pitching My Tent : On Marriage, Motherhood, Friendship, and Other Leaps of Faith by Anita Diamant ISBN: 0743246160 Publisher: Scribner Pub. Date: 02 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.00 |
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Title: Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier ISBN: 0452283205 Publisher: Plume Pub. Date: 24 September, 2002 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: The Wholeness of a Broken Heart by Katie Singer ISBN: 1573228311 Publisher: Riverhead Books Pub. Date: 12 September, 2000 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland ISBN: 014029628X Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: 03 October, 2000 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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