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Summary: Just Wanting to Share My Thoughts....
Review: This is the second Berg novel that I have read. The first one, "What We Keep" did not appeal to me at all, and it took me awhile before I picked up another novel by her.
I was thrilled by this piece of writing! I think that in many ways, Patty relates to the average woman. I think that many of us ache to be mothers when we are pursuing a career, and many of us also lust after the wrong guys (even the gay ones). I thought that the writing was very light-hearted, and I loved the smart-mouthed Patty. I think that Berg writes her characters as "real" people, and found myself amazed that some of the things going through Patty's head, actually had gone through mine many many times.
I recommend this novel. It was interesting, and I thought that the subject matter contained was interesting as well. I related to her main character, and I cried quite a bit at the end. It's funny to think this, but perhaps I had found someone whom I related to, and it was sad to let her go.
It's amazing to think of the compromises that we make in order to make others dreams come true.
Anyhow, get this book and read it. If you are disappointed, at least the novel is short enough where you don't feel that you wasted too much time. I don't think you'll be disappointed though. It's a page-turner.
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Summary: SUCH a good book!
Review: This story is touching and funny - I laughed out loud at some points and had to cry at others.
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Summary: A Fun read
Review: A good story about real feelings done in a sometimes funny way.
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Summary: A touching, magic, lyrical story
Review: Patty is in love with a gay man and wants a child -- dilemmas one might not be able to relate to, but such is Elizabeth Berg's magic that she draws readers into this particular story as strongly as if it were reality. She makes the difficult and complex choices of Patty and the object of her affection, Ethan, seem natural -- the initial decision to conceive a baby, then a move to Minneapolis where Ethan feels he might better simulate heterosexuality, Patty's everyday irritation with the tumults of pregnancy, and finally, welcoming a child against the backdrop of Patty's mother's recent diagnosis of Alzheimer's. One life is ushered in as another is slowly but surely escorted out; the smooth ebb and flow of being continues, and Berg, as always, renders every moment lyric and wonderful.
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Summary: This was a fun book
Review: As my title says...fun. It's a quick read. I enjoyed it, read it in one day. I was hooked. I love Berg's writing. Purely for women. I've read all of hers, Open House was probably my favorite. I'd recommend her.
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Summary: I really enjoyed this book!
Review: Have you ever wanted a relationship to work so bad you talked yourself out of all the rational reasons to leave it??? Enter Patty. Wow! I'm baffled to hear some readers say how dissapointed they were with this book due to Patty's weak character. First of all, I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed it so much I read it in less than 3 days, and for me, that's rare. Not all made up characters, like real people in this world, have to be heroines who are strong, outgoing, go for the gusto kind of people. Patty is a real woman in my eyes. She knows what she wants and she's willing to ask for it (a baby), yet is vulnerable because she is so much in love with her ex-boyfriend that she's having a seriously hard time moving on to a new relationship. What woman hasn't had a hard time moving on from a previous relationship, wishing and hoping that "he" will just instantly "change" one day. Okay, maybe the marajuana experience seemed a little out of character for Patty given the fact that she won't even drink coffee while she's pregnant, but other than that, I found it touching and sad, but realistic.
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Summary: Don't Bother especially if you've already read Open House
Review: After reading Open House which I enjoyed, I immediately got several of Berg's other books. This book is a disappointment. The main character is weak and stuck feeling sorry for herself, and many of the other characters (Elaine and Mark) are not well developed. This book feels like it's from another era where women didn't know how to deal with their problems and get what they really wanted in life. Yes, Patty gets her baby, but what about dealing with all the relationship and career issues in her life?? While Berg generally promotes close female friendships, I had problems with Elaine's lack of loyalty. Aren't some bonds more sacred than getting the man? Skip this one.
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Summary: Frustrating!
Review: This is the second Elizabeth Berg novel I've read. I decided to try it after being disappointed by "Open House". This book sure did not make up for "Open House". I found the same problems with this book. Why does Berg insist on her lead female characters being so stupid? It is very frustrating for me. They appear to be very helpless, no self-esteem and are waiting for the man to save them. What kind of crap is this?! It drives me crazy because parts of the book caused me to say, "That's just how I feel", and then turn around and have the character say and do the most stupid things. This is a fast and easy read, and there are some thought-provoking ideas in the book, but I must warn you that you may end up very frustrated!
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Summary: A Quick Read
Review: This was my second book by Elizabeth Berg. I had read 'Pull Of The Moon' and loved it plus I had heard so much about other books by Berg.Until The Real Thing Comes Along is about a 37 year old woman, Patty, who is afraid that she will never get married and have children. Her character basically is dull. She works at a job in which she has no skill and is making no money. She is in love with someone who can't love her because he has come out of the closet. Patty doesn't deal in reality, she deals in dreams and wishes. While reading this book I couldn't believe this was a story that Berg made up. You have heard the saying, "Truth is stranger than fiction?" I wonder if this is a real life story written in the form of fiction? Because although the writing is great and is what keeps you reading, the story and characters are a little hard to believe. I gave it a 3 because of Berg's writing ability.
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Summary: I've seen better from Ms. Berg
Review: I was rather disappointed with this effort from the usually interesting and insighful Elizabeth Berg. While still moderately enjoyable, she managed to irritate me with the heroine of this tale. While she seems to be a rather intelligent woman, the main character comes across more often than not as blind, deaf and dumb. In love with a man who will never love her the way she wants in return, she refuses to see it, hear it or believe that she has no chance with him, even to the point where she convinces him to conceive a child with her, hoping it will make him see what he is missing. Instead of feeling sorry for her, I wound up wanting to scream "Wake up and smell the rejection, honey!" I found this to be more frustrating than any other Berg book.
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