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Summary: Like TALK BEFORE SLEEP, Berg knows her subjects!
Review: "You know before you know, of course. You are bending over the dryer, pulling out the still-warm sheets, and the knowledge walks up your backbone. You stare at the man you love and you are staring at nothing: he is gone before he is gone." So begins the first paragraph of Elizabeth Berg's new novel, OPEN HOUSE. OPEN HOUSE tells the story of a marriage breaking up, a heart splitting in two, and of finding one's self again. Samantha and her 11-year-old Travis are sent reeling when Sam's husband and Travis' father leaves. Even though he was not a particulary good mate to Sam or attentive parent to Travis, there was a type of security in their routines. After Sam realizes David is leaving, she spends an obscene amount of money at Tiffany's in a scene that was hilarious and quite sad at the same time. After the shopping spree, David limits Sam's access to his finanaces. In order to make ends meet and to stay in their home, Sam rents out rooms and takes on temporary jobs. Her world begins to expand as she not only opens her house, but her heart to new experiences. If you've ever lost a love, dealt with a teen-ager, entered the dating game after 30, reconciled with a prickly parent, or devoured an entire box of chocolates at one sitting, then you'll relate to Sam and her story. Berg is a particulary gifted writer with an almost uncanny ability to see into the very core of her characters and bring that center to the surface. She has been a favorite since her wonderful TALK BEFORE SLEEP. She did not disappoint this time, either. I read the book in one sitting and was never bored nor did I feel manipulated for even one paragraph. I found myself rooting for Sam, Travis, Lydia, Edward and King...they are people I'd like to know. Enjoy!
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Summary: Try another
Review: Before I read this book I read Berg's "Until the Real Thing Comes Along." It is laugh-out-loud funny. Much better than "Open House."
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Summary: This book was too cute!
Review: This book is a great bubble bath read....Where is my King??? :) I have never been through a divorce, just a very messy break up, but I could really relate to this lady! This book had me doing everything from crying to hysterically laughing outloud. I would recommend it to anyone!!
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Summary: Pathetic is right...
Review: There have been some real winners on Oprah's list but this one definately wasn't one of them. I agree with a reviewer who said that Sam was pretty pathetic and they were right, 100%. The fact that Sam IS so pathetic leads me to say that when David tries to come back to her and she doesn't take him - well, that's just plain unbelievable considering what we already know about her. And that 'seduction' scene. Awful - I don't know if it was in fact terrible, or if the whole thought of that happening was so horrible to even imagine. I hate to think there are women as simple and limp as her out there. How sad. I give this book 2 stars because I couldn't relate and because I thought the main character was so...so...well, stupid.
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Summary: No stabbing of the heart, here...
Review: When I saw this book being discussed on Oprah, I was convinced that I should run to the bookstore and read away. Well, I did. I was disappointed because recently being "dumped" myself, I related to some of the issues she touched on, but it seemed to me that she wasn't going for the jugular. My heart was ripped out of me, pureed in a blender and then flushed down the toilet. Somehow, Sam just seemed stronger and a lot better than what was expected. I was looking for tears and they were there, but they just weren't forced out and I thought that this story would do that. Oh well...
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Summary: Fantasy
Review: I found many insights in this book, but overall what happens to Samantha is what we WISH would happen: she doesn't lose her house or her son. She makes great new friends, becomes empowered, and even meets a great new guy who loves her for who she really is. Her husband even tries to come back! All within, what, six months? Right. Well, in real life pretty much the opposite happens, but that's what makes this a decent working man's fantasy.
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Summary: Open House equals Open Heart
Review: If you're having difficulties facing new challenges and obstacles that life often throws our way, read this book. It shows you how someone who is complacent must all of a sudden begin to move into who she really is as a person and a mother. Always providing for her child and never scared of a little hard work. The character is everything we want to be or rather should be. She adapts to any situation with poise and ease. Never losing her temper, dignity, or love for life!
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Summary: OH PLEASE!
Review: I was really into enjoying this book and i must say that the author has a way of conveying PAIN. But despite the fact that her main heroine was to be strong and a role model ... she failed miserably. i read through the entire book awaiting a wonderful ending only to be COMPLETELY DISAPPOINTED.
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Summary: Simple can be beautiful
Review: This book got some mixed reviews and I can see why. From a literary point of view, the book is not a masterpiece by any definitions. However this is a book about feelings. I read it as a diary of a woman finding herself and dealing with the loss after being dumped by her husband. The descriptions (especially the ones in italics, thoughts) are so easy to relate to, intermixed with author's unique sense of humor clearly make this book a winner. I haven't read any of Berg's other books, judging from the reviews, her other works might supercede this one with more writing elegance and better plot developments, but this is not what "Open House" is about. Open House is about opening your heart, letting someone in, and no fancy words are required when doing so. Light the fireplace, grab the warm apple cider and enjoy this one, sometimes simple is beautiful.
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Summary: GREAT IDEA, NOT LONG ENOUGH
Review: As a recent divorcee, I was really looking forward to this book as a way to relate to someone else that has had my recent experience. The book started off great, good description of feelings, emotions, situations, but it began to "speed up" toward the middle, as soon as you were beginning to feel comfortable with the characters. It ended too quickly, with her issues being resolved before it seemed possible. Also, the time frame in which these events occured seemed sketchy. I didn't know if she had resolved herself in 6 months or 2 years. I think I was just disappointed because I had watched Oprah's show when the book was reviewed, and was looking forward to some personal closure in this area.
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