Rating: 
Summary: Would give it zero stars if I could
Review: This book was horrible. I couldn't finish reading it, which is saying a lot because I hate to waste my hard earned money on a book that I can't read. I can't believe this was an Oprah choice. Not that I read books or do anything else because Oprah suggests it. I read another one of her book choices and found it to be an entertaining read. But not this one.The characters in this book seemed shallow. Sam seemed to be more of a ditz than a woman crushed by an estranged husband. The son seemed very immature for his age. Maybe this was just from the way he was written. OK, I can't say much more because I didn't read the whole book. I will say I tried though, it just wasn't worth my time. The only reason I'm writing the review is to advise others to not even waste their time on this poorly written book.
Rating: 
Summary: A Discouraging Look at Life After Divorce
Review: If you are recently divorced, and even slightly depressed about it, you may want to wait awhile before reading Berg's saga of how one woman "rebuilds" her life after divorce. Berg chose to handle her subject in a rather discouraging manner (at least it seemed that way to this reader), and I believe she failed to show any real growth in Samantha, David, Travis, or even King. (Her main characters.) As for Samantha's "rebuilding" of her life, it seemed unfortuante that Berg chose to illustrate this by having Samantha find a new relationship at the book's end. To me, this novel was a chronicle of the daily (escapist) activities of the newly divorced Samantha. Frankly, I thought her activities and coping strategies were depressing! I often found myself agreeing with Samantha's (sometimes insensitive) friend Rita, who (at least) encouraged Sam to pick herself UP already and get on with her life! If you want to read about a woman who truly "makes it on her own" after divorce, I don't think you will find what you're looking for in this book. However, if you like a "typical" happy ending, you might enjoy the read.
Rating: 
Summary: I LOVED this book!
Review: Yes, it can be said that this book is "escape fiction" and that it's not a story full of the power of a woman as she rebounds. It is a story with wit and charm and lessons and I loved it. Granted, I'm recently divorced and I do feel that those who have not been through divorce would not enjoy it as much. It is full of trivial details and desperation for the man who left her and though these things are not exciting they are very real for many who have been through this process and the way Berg writes allows us to laugh at ourselves and the things we've done.
Rating:
Summary: (2.5) Trouble in paradise
Review:
Open House is categorized as "women's fiction" because it is written for a niche audience, life-lite for those who want to read a sad story, but not too sad. One with a happy ending: woman loses self, finds self, meets man, lives happily ever after.
When Sam's husband tells her he wants a divorce, she is devastated and runs out to spend her rich husband's money as a panacea. Then she takes in boarders without checking their references, accepts a series of temporary jobs that pay minimum wage (she has a college degree) and meets lots of nice, friendly folks she never knew existed. On her agonizing journey towards self-discovery, Sam sheds a lot of tears, all for herself, her financial issues apparently addressed by the boarders. If this is a forty one-year old woman, she is living in the wrong century.
I have no real issue with this book except that there is no challenge here for the reader and I believe that readers like to stretch their imaginations and broaden their horizons. My real concern is that the plot perpetuates the stereotype of the helpless damsel in distress, her husband the sole breadwinner (in this case some significant bread) and she just can't get her silly head around the issues she has to face. Of course, the heroine finds a man to save her, a kindly, gentle man to whom she turns for help constantly. A college degree is useless, apparently, for this woman is only willing to entertain temporary employment (giving change at a laundromat, wielding a hammer at a construction site, passing out samples at the supermarket) and rents rooms to strangers.
If this is women's fiction, I'll eat my fairy tales. Most divorced women don't enjoy any of the luxuries of this lady. Most divorced women care for their children and hold fulltime jobs. This helpless victim serves no one's interests and doesn't reflect reality (except in those happily-ever-after fairy tales). I have nothing against escape fiction, but why not offer a protagonist with some guts, instead of this insipid, helpless female? No wonder women aren't taken seriously. What is Rapunzel to do? Luan Gaines/ 2005.
Rating:
Summary: Waited for something to happen; it didn't.
Review: I am not a committed Oprah reader but I have read a few of her suggestions which I have always found thought-provoking. This opinion does not extend to 'Open House'. Some of the reviews describe a novel about a 'women taking control of her life'. I would agree if this school of emotional recovery majors in pathetic self indulgence with a minor in food/meal description. I thought the characters were very shallow and there were just too many holes in the narrative. What was supposed to be funny, wasn't. What was supposed to be poignant, failed. I will leave it at that.
CC, Seattle
PS-Favorite quote - "Lasagna, we'll have tonight."
Rating: 
Summary: Too Much Tell!
Review: This is a sad story of a woman trying to start life anew after her husband's abandonment. The author is successful in demonstrating how one can become [almost] insane from a broken heart. However, the author told us most of the story instead of showing us what happened. It would have been nice to know the events that lead up to the divorce, at least. Too much space was wasted on trivial things, like: what she and Travis ate, the jobs she worked, etc. so that near the story's end, everything just seemed to fly by in paragraphs without much explanation.
(...)
Rating:
Summary: Sorry, Elizabeth
Review: I think Elizabeth Berg is a brilliant writer, but this one is a snorer. One reviewer says "Berg didn't make the character feel sorry for herself . . ." Excuse me? Are we reading the same book? Perhaps it's because I couldn't finish it, but during my reading ALL Sam did was feel sorry for herself! She was pathetic, no personality, no pride. She begged David to come back, for chrissake! I wanted to slap her. But I didn't want it enough to finish the book.
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Discovery Novel
Review: This was an enjoyable story about a woman who discovers herself and life in the face of divorce. Very thought provoking and well written. The writer did an excellent job at making me feel the characters feelings. Enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Would give it zero stars if I could
Review: This book was horrible. I couldn't finish reading it, which is saying a lot because I hate to waste my hard earned money on a book that I can't read. I can't believe this was an Oprah choice. Not that I read books or do anything else because Oprah suggests it. I read another one of her book choices and found it to be an entertaining read. But not this one. The characters in this book seemed shallow. Sam seemed to be more of a ditz than a woman crushed by an estranged husband. The son seemed very immature for his age. Maybe this was just from the way he was written. OK, I can't say much more because I didn't read the whole book. I will say I tried though, it just wasn't worth my time. The only reason I'm writing the review is to advise others to not even waste their time on this poorly written book.
Rating:
Summary: Just OK
Review: Expected more from this book than what I got. It's a quick read, and Berg's style is brilliant, but the storyline leaves something to be desired.
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