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Title: Say When : A Novel by Elizabeth Berg ISBN: 0-7434-1136-6 Publisher: Atria Books Pub. Date: 03 June, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.88 (34 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Marital struggles seen through the husband's eyes
Comment: Elizabeth Berg is a master at telling stories of family drama, and Say When is one of her best books. At the start of the novel, Griffin suspects that something is going on with his wife, Ellen, a sometimes odd woman with a tendency towards sadness. However, he is stunned when she informs him that she his having an affair and wants a divorce. When Griffin refuses to leave the house, they suddenly find themselves negotiating the care of their 8-year old daughter, Zoe, while living as merely roommates.
The fact that the story is told from the husband's point of view is refreshing, as is the fact that there are no bad guys here--both Griffin and Ellen are nice people who have made some mistakes. Furthermore, both are good parents to Zoe, and their interactions with their child are completely realistic as well as touching. In the midst of his domestic turmoil, Griffin gets a job as a mall Santa during the Christmas season, and his conversations with his many young visitors also ring true. The plot is simple yet never predictable, easily engaging the reader in a comfortable way. Overall, this is a delightful little book about marriage, family life, and second chances.
Rating: 4
Summary: a very realistic book
Comment: _Say When_ is prolific Elizabeth Berg's first attempt at the male point of view, and she does not let the reader down. Because she has so successfully written from the perspectives of women and children I was unsure whether the character of Frank Griffin would be believable. He is, in fact, painfully believable in his reactions to his wife's announcement that she is in love with someone else and wants a divorce. Griffin, who goes by his last name, has been inadvertantly ignoring Ellen for a very long time. Now he has to wake up.
Throughout the novel, the reader gets to know the two main characters and to learn with them what their mistakes were. Griffin, almost immediately after learning about the imminent separation, impulsively gets a job as a mall Santa Claus. It is that job, as much as his wife's infidelity, that changes him. Griffin and Ellen's daughter, Zoe, adds another dimension of sadness to the story, and also helps the reader to get to know her parents better. She's a sweet addition to the novel, bringing out their different techniques with her, and also their tenderness and love for their daughter. However, as one of my only criticisms of the book, I think that Zoe's actions and habits didn't completely ring true for the 8 year old she is in this story. She also seemed merely incidental to the dramas playing out in both of her parents' heads, which may have actually been Berg's intention.
Ultimately, this novel was a simple, interesting read with great characters and almost palpaple emotion. By the end, the reader feels that the conclusion is right and makes sense for the characters, producing a wonderful sense of completion. Elizabeth Berg's books almost always grab you. With this one, she has us in the palm of her hand.
Rating: 4
Summary: Great read
Comment: If you think you've read all the novels you can about family and divorce, think again. Ms. Berg manages to tell the unfolding story of a couple dealing with separation, and does so with her usual talent. I especially liked their daughter Zoe's part in the story, I loved their conversations and her reactions. This was definitely a refreshing perspective on the topic and a great read.
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Title: The Art of Mending : A Novel by ELIZABETH BERG ISBN: 1400061598 Publisher: Random House Pub. Date: 13 April, 2004 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: True to Form : A Novel by Elizabeth Berg ISBN: 0743411358 Publisher: Washington Square Press Pub. Date: 13 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: Ordinary Life : Stories by ELIZABETH BERG ISBN: 0812968131 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 13 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: Joy School by ELIZABETH BERG ISBN: 0345423097 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 24 March, 1998 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: The Amateur Marriage: A Novel by ANNE TYLER ISBN: 1400042070 Publisher: Knopf Pub. Date: 06 January, 2004 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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