Rating: 
Summary: great character study
Review: This is the first Elizabeth Berg book I've read & only because it was on the Oprah list. Most of her books I've really liked. Since I've never been divorced I can't say Sam thought & did some whacky things. Maybe I would too in her situation. I totally related to her relationship with her son. I think she was terrified of losing him too even though at age 11, he was totally normal. I think Ms. Berg did a terrific job with Sam, in that by the end of the book, I wanted to be her neighbor. I felt I knew her pretty well. I would have liked to know David & the room mates better though. She just skimmed over their characters. It sounds like her husband had a pretty good job, even though we don't know what that was, because he didn't react too badly when he got her Tiffany's bill. So why did she have to take in room mates to keep the house? Wasn't he paying the mortgage anyway? They weren't divorced yet. She seemed too trusting & naive when she didn't even check references, especially with her son in the house. I would recommend this book but prepared to be depressed for the first half of it. The ending was great but predictable.
Rating: 
Summary: MIXED FEELINGS
Review: I had mixed feelings about this book. I picked it up on the seven-day list at the library because it was on Oprah's list and read it one night after work. I was interested in the topic, since I am imminently contemplating my second divorce. The first part of the book is SOOOOO depressing, and a part of my real experience. The second part of the book was much more upbeat. Berg's writing is so easy, simple, and she makes everything flow with such truth. Sam is pretty pathetic, but she sure seemed to capture the thoughts that have gone through my mind. I wanted the book to last longer. It just didn't seem to get very deep. I look forward to reading more of Elizabeth Berg's writing!
Rating: 
Summary: I Really Wanted to Like this Book
Review: What could be better? A favorite author and a subject matter close to my heart. I opened the pages of "Open House" all set for an emotional ride that I have experienced through Ms. Berg's other work. I was sadly disappointed.There simply wasn't anything to hang onto in this book. I found the characters fragmented and fractured. I wanted to like Sam. I wanted to take her into my heart as kin. But the harder I tried the more she annoyed me. From beginning to end I saw someone who was clueless, selfish and immature. It was especially difficult having been in a simular situation myself. If Sam had been reading this book she would have given up half-way through. I stuck it out to the end...hoping for some glimmer of reality...emotion or attachment to something or someone. It never showed up. Skip this one inspite of it being an Oprah selection. And if you do read it, don't judge all of Elizabeth Berg's work by this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Read this book now!
Review: I was amazed to see the lukewarm reviews given this book. I thought the story of 40s something Sam being dumped by her cold, jerky husband, of course for the obligatory younger female, was fabulous. And you don't have to be a divorcee to enjoy this book. It's more about being a woman and how we react to life and situations. I thought every word was beautifully written and just SO TRUE! There is so much humor in this book, I laughed out loud and cried at the end. This is my first book by Ms. Berg, but will definitely be picking up her others.
Rating:
Summary: Open Mind
Review: I read mostly female authors simply because there are so many of them and they are so good. The guys aren't bad, but the women I read (Jane Hamilton, Beth Gutcheon, Anne Tyler, Ann Hood, Elinor Lipman, Carolyn Chute, Alice Hoffman, Connie May Fowler, Cathie Pelletier---well, I could go on and on but I only get 1,000 words) are just so much more in touch with feelings and the value of those feelings. Sure, Samantha goes off the deep end when her husband leaves, going to Tiffany's and spending thousands of dollars on things she doesn't need. But she soon realizes that this isn't the answer. This is a woman who didn't know what made her happy because she thought her happiness resided inside her marriage. We've read that hope floats, well so does the travesty of a marriage built on one-sided giving. At least until reality sets in. Elizabeth Berg's story ends in a way that leaves you feeling good. A success instead of a failure. Joy instead of sorrow. Fulfillment instead of hope. Bottom line: I liked this story. A lot.
Rating:
Summary: I'm movin' in!
Review: "Sam, I want to be your roommate." Couldn't help thinking that the whole time I was reading Open House. And how bizarre that Sam ran the gamut of emotions and actions--the same ones I did when I was in her place. Elizabeth Berg is a genius. She got right down to the very essence of a divorced woman. All the stages of love and loss were there, peeled away layer by layer. I laughed at the uncanny resemblance between Sam and me, saying to myself, "I did that! Oh, and I did that, too!" And most of all, I understood her. I knew exactly what Sam meant when she said pain had walked right into her and had a seat. Elizabeth Berg has done an excellent job with this one. I have now been inspired to read more.
Rating:
Summary: What a Book.
Review: Open House is a lovely story about that woman (Sam) who's just simple, with her son (Travis) and her open house. How her life changes after her divorce, and how she's gonna survive it with her nerviness. I felt like I was one of her roommates, I can describe her house, I can imagine how she looks like. The story makes Sam a real person. It's written to be a movie, I hope they don't ruin the image in my mind. I recommend it for every reader. Good job Elizabeth Berg.
Rating:
Summary: I could relate to Open House well.
Review: This is the first book that I have read from Oprah's book club. I found that almost any woman could understand the emotions that Samantha was feeling after her husband decided things were not going to workout for the both of them. She had to discover herself after realizing that she didn't really her own identity. After a wild spending spree her husband decides that he needs to change the account. Sam wants to keep the house and the only way of doing this is by having room-mates. Then she needs to find a job and she has no experience. Plus... her Mom thinks she need to get out right away and start dating again. On top of that her son thinks that she has gone crazy and he decides that he wants to live with his Dad. There is so much she goes through that this is the only way that she will learn about herself. In this book I found myself sad and I had moments of laughter. Elizabeth Berg knows how the emotions of a woman works when going through a divorce. Great book. Thumps up for Oprah's pick.
Rating:
Summary: What was Oprah thinking?
Review: How many dumped women do you know who can run out and write a $12000.00 cheque to Tiffany's, meet the next love interest as he moves out her ex's clothes, has a girlfriend who calls every night across the country to check on her state of mind, a mother at her beck and call? I thought so! It was highly insensitive of Oprah to select this as her featured book, when the sad reality is most single mothers struggle to put food on the table and pay very basic bills. Even more of a boo-boo when we consider the depth and sesitivity of the previous selection, "The Poisonwood Bible" Sam quickly trades in one man for another, and in the end is still relying on the good graces of others . I really don't know the point of introducing the 3 boarders, since we really did not learn much about them, nor were their characters adequately developed.Snivelling, whiny,dependant, navel-gazing Sam irked me from beginning to end;if I were a man , I'd dump her too. People, save your money, its just a Harlequin romance with a fancy cover. I'm sorry I bought it, its going out in the next garage sale.
Rating:
Summary: Thank you, Elizabeth Berg!
Review: I was flabbergasted with how easy Berg makes writing seem. Her words flowed out beautifully, simply, and true. I couldn't have loved her characters more..and was disappointed to come to the last page...poring over "about the author" and "about the print". This is a tender, funny, heartbreaking story about a 40ish woman trying to carry on after her husband leaves her. This is great reading folks...what a wonderful time spent with a book is all about. Do yourself a huge favor and read it!
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