The Deep End of the Ocean

Rating:
Summary: Compelling, but the ending was a let-down.
Review: I bought this book because Dick Estell, the Radio Reader had been reading it on NPR. I heard one bit of the first chapter on the radio and said to myself "I must read this book!" So I did, in four hours. I couldn't put it down, and I find myself thinking about it over and over even though I finished it a week ago. Like many of the other people here, I was a little put off by Beth's self-centeredness, but I found myself sympathizing with her nonetheless. It seems like it would be so easy to slip into that kind of no-man's-land of depression in a situation like hers. I must confess though, while I enjoyed most of the book, I can only give it a "7" because the ending was so hokey. I felt like Mitchard was dealing with the family's problems honestly until the end, when I expected to hear birds singing and see little cherubs descending from heaven. Bleah. Despite the cornball ending , I have certainly recommended this to several people. All in all, its strengths outweigh its weaknesses

Rating:
Summary: A powerful portrayel of the impact of a childs dissaperence.
Review: Jacquelyn Mitchard's The Deep End of The Ocean portays the tragic impact of the dissapearence of a child on its family and community. Her account is a resolutely honest and uncompromisingly intimate exploration that acknowledges the true complexity of familial reactions and interactions, the earthy humanity that wars with social convention. We feel the initial shock of the loss itself through the charector of Beth, the mother. Beth is no marbel saint, but flesh and blood, like most mothers, and has before approached her task as mother with the easy, relaxed manner of long experience. This often works well in the absence of malice and bad luck. Her luck changes, hitting her with the force of a lightening bolt while even in the midst of mundane activity, seeing old friends in her home town at a high school reunion. We feel the impact and every excruciating moment afterwards as she sits and waits, help scurrying all around her, for Ben's reimergence into her world, her growing horror as he never shows up. Thereafter, we watch a strong family crumble. We are told that 80% of the couples who experience this type of disaster eventually divorce. Mitchard shows us why and yet eventually gives us hope. In addition to Beth, we look through the eyes of her oldest son Vincent, and we learn how the weight of this tragic event shapes his growth, distorts his self image and impacts his relationship with his parents. His voice, as revealed through conversations with his therapist, proves to be a nice balence to Beth's. Realistically, Vincent's breakthrough revelations dead end in his therapist's office. No dialogue with his parents results and the principles continue on their isolated paths. Mitchard could have strengthened her novel by covering the father's point of view. Through Beth's eyes we see that he is warm and saintlike but how does he see himself? He is importent enough to warrent a deeper, more intimate portrayel and the reader is left a little dissatisfied with his remaining at a distance. Instead of seeing more of him, we are given a minor story line on the main cop involved with the investigation, a gay women, who inexplicably becomes very involved in Beth's life. The two spend much time together hanging out in fern bars and emotionally connecting like the oldest of friends. The relationship seems contrived and the story line contributes little to the punch of the book. Would a proffesional cop fall so easily into a close relationship with one of her clients? In covering the family dynamics, Mitchard echews easy answers in favor of a refreshing realism that pulls the reader in deep and defenseless. The issues she raises are hard to wrestle with and importent to acknowledge. She handles this emotionally charged issue with compassion, grace and keen insight.

Rating:
Summary: You don't have to like HER to like IT
Review: Until I gingerly picked up The Deep End of the Ocean, which had threatened me from the nightstand for weeks, the most impenetrable phobia I had was the abduction of one of my children. Now it's: What if they'd be better off? This book is pretty hard on mothers -- the most insecure species in the world -- but of whom we expect nothing short of perfection anyway.Even Super-Moms will experience uncomfortable moments empathizing and understanding this woman who is too human to be a lovable heroine. But there is much to be learned here about what kids really need -- and it ain't Nintendo and Barbie. All in all, it's a mixed blessing -- just like life.

Rating:
Summary: Uneven rhythm, drawn out prose with letdown ending.
Review: Tough to get immersed into the storyline, then events get drawn out. I really had to work at finishing the book and the ending was a total letdown. Definitely wouldn't read anything more by Mitchard

Rating:
Summary: Not so great!
Review: This was the first book from Oprah's club that I read and I have to say that I was a bit disappointed. Beth was an awful person and I felt nothing but heartache for Vincent, Kerry and Pat. I also agree with the other reviews - the ending was contrived

Rating:
Summary: A horrifying look at pseudo-motherhood
Review: The only thing good about this story was Ben's abduction; at least he found love and warmth in the family with whom he was raised. I can not enjoy a novel if I can't relate to the characters, and I could not relate to Beth. I never thought I would feel that someone deserved to lose her child, but Ben was better off without her. I was saddened more by the fact that the other two children weren't spared her selfish, egotistical facade of motherhood

Rating:
Summary: A good way to get some sleep in the hospital
Review: I had been on a waiting list at the library for months to get this book. Lo and behold! I came upon an audio cassette I could check out, and thought it would be great to take to the hospital to listen to while recuperating from major surgery. Wrong. I quit after the second cassette, and when I finally got the hardcover read the last few chapters to see what happened. The whole thing from literary style to character development was unbelievable. I could not develop any sympathy with any character, especially the hysterical, obsessed mother who showed no genuine affection for any of her children

Rating:
Summary: BORING
Review: I was so glad to read the reviews of other people that didn't like this book. I thought I was the only one. Beth was so self centered and self absorbed that she couldn't see that anyone else was suffering. I decided I really didn't like her when she was so cold toward her only son Vincent. He wanted her attention so much. She wasn't a good mother and she was also a lousy wife. I had a very hard time getting through this book and at the end I wondered why I bothered

Rating:
Summary: The ending could happen, but rarely does
Review: The story started out strong and it was all I could do to keepfrom crying, myself, when the family suffered through their pain andguilt at the loss of a child and brother. The story lost points when the author tried to make the mother a more sympathetic character, when in fact, she was a selfish, self-centered woman who shouldn't have had children to begin with. The second half of the book, particulary the ending, was too pat for the intensity of the beginning. This is not a fairytale world we live in, and it might have been better to have gone with a more believable ending.

Rating:
Summary: This book is a must read!
Review: Just pages into this book you'll see why Oprah chose The Deep End of the Ocean for her book club's first. Mitchard has a remarkable ability to translate from every characters point of view. In fact, the way she changes points of view on a chapter basis is both unique and refreshing. This story will take you into the depths of a nightmare that could happen to anyone, with perspectives that will surprise everyone. The Deep End of the Ocean is a must read, and I sincerely hope Jacquelyn writes another book very soon!!!