The Deep End of the Ocean

Rating:
Summary: a must read!
Review: I, too, am somewhat surprised by the number of less thanpositive comments. Deep End of the Ocean was one of the best booksive read in a long time. Mitchard did such a fine job of developing the characters that i felt as if i truly understood them, even if i didnt agree with everything they did. It was a complex tale and she colored each layer vividly. I enjoyed every page and cannot wait to read her second novel!

Rating:
Summary: Book makes you THINK--and not everyone IS likable.
Review: Although Beth indeed doesn't act as I think I would, I think it is easy to imagine a mother just retreating into herself. None of these on-line reviews mention WHY she retreat for nine years--She's afraid to love Vincent/Kerry. They too could just be gone one day...so it is easier to look through the children then to love them. She does the minimum possible for their existence.

The analysis by Pat at the end, that Beth likes to be miserable is true of SO many people. Although I couldn't identify with her, I am sure at least 5 out of 10 readers COULD. We live in a selfish world, where we have children to "show-off." That so many children survive this type of parenting is incredible--but this BOOK tells what happens when something supremely tragic happens to this type of family. Pat tries to be self righteous--but he too is self centered--only caring about the restaurant.

The idea that both boys are lost is an intricately woven tale...but how did Kerry fit! in? Especially at the end, when Beth was going to leave Pat and he was willing to let her take Kerry but not Vincent--he didn't want to let Vincent go but Kerry was ok?? There's no rationale behind that.

I also thought the book could have used a few more chapters on Ben's reassimilation into the family-and I wish someone would have asked him if he ever would get used to the name Ben??

There also had to be some kind of analogy concerning how both of the lost sons have "reinvented' themselves with new names--Reese and Sam...but that storyline wasn't explored in conjunction with BOTH names, only Reese's by Dr. Tom.

A book that makes you think, give me that any day of the week!

I am recommending this book.

Rating:
Summary: A heart-wrenching story of a family in the throes of crisis
Review: I picked up this book hot off the press and for three days my family did not "see" me. As a Mom with a built-in alarm system concerning my own children, and as one who endured incredible pain when my 13 year-old-daughter was sexually ravaged by three total strangers, I totally identified with the heartbeat of this story. Upon completion, I stated two things about Mitchard: she must have endured catastrophic pain herself to write such a book and that the story would make a great movie. I was proved right on both counts. If she never writes another book, Mitchard has already hit the top, but I hope she can write again - this time a story of joy and victory. I'll be one of the first in line to read it.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic book, but too long!
Review: I thought this was a good book, and did a wonderous job ofexploring the psychological aspect of losing a child. However, I thought this could have been achieved in a lot fewer pages. This book was too long and I thought she could have gotten to the point alot faster

Rating:
Summary: Difficult but powerful
Review: I found this book to be a tough read. Nonetheless, I'm glad I made it through. True, Beth is largely unlikeable. But that doesn't make her uninteresting or unreal. I think the weaknesses of this book lie in the unexplored characters and in the lack of resolution regarding the kidnapper. However, the book is far from a failure. If you're willing to take on a novel that requires some thought, you might enjoy The Deep End of the Ocean.

Rating:
Summary: I DONT READ MANY BOOKS BUT THIS IS A BOOK U NEED TO READ.
Review: Its Pretty Sad How A Mother And Father(Beth And Pat) Dont Show Any Involvement Towards There Son Ben That Has Been Missing For 9 Years, But This Book Makes U Really Think How Sick This World Is. And I Know Am Only 17, but it doent take intelligience to know when u read a good but when u read one. Hey It Can Happen To U.

Rating:
Summary: it was okay...
Review: What were the book reviewers thinking when they said that this was the best novel they had ever read. Ya... right! It was good, but it took a lot of effort on my part to keep turning the pages. Sorry, defintely not a winner.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderfully crafted novel
Review: I am amazed at all the negative comments. I could not put this book down and read it in four days. People react to tradgedy in different ways, and I thought Bethie's reaction could be seen as a realistic response to someone going through that much guilt as well as hopelessness. Hopefully, we would not behave the same way she did, but I did not think she was boring or a horrible person. I loved Mitchard's writing style, and the way the dynamics between the characters evolved. This book will get you emotionally involved but will not leave you depressed when you finish it. I really enjoyed this haunting novel.

Rating:
Summary: THIS WAS SO GOOD I READ IT ON SPRING BREAK
Review: I read this book in two days,started it on the plane on my vacation and sat on the beach the whole second day..CANCUN COULD WAIT

Rating:
Summary: Let's throw Beth into the deep end and hope she can't swim
Review: I am also one of the many that bought this book because of Oprah. Was it just me, or was this book bogged down by too many commas? I had to read and reread sentences and was very annoyed by that. I was so distracted, that I noticed a big mathematical error that truly bugged me: If Kerry was a baby in June 1985 when the kidnapping occurred, how was it that she was "going to be two" as stated in Chapter 12 which occured in October 1987? Wouldn't she almost be 3? Same kind of error in Chapter 13! Also, I felt cheated by the underdevelopment of Cecil, the kidnapper. I felt that it was a copout that she had mental problems and we didn't get to hear her side of the story. Finally-Beth- couldn't stand her!! I am the mother of a three year old, and I couldn't imagine acting such as she did.