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Summary: A Sentimental Novel!
Review: This was my first novel by Ms. Berg & I found it to be pretty good.It certainly wasn't the type of a novel that you couldn't put down but it was very sentimental & brought on tears. It was once called "the love story of the year" & in a way I agree because it was out of the ordinary--the characters husband was in a coma after they had had 2 children & a majority of the book was her describing the little things he did that made him so special to her & her memories of them together.That made it romantic & touching & not like some where guy meets girl & they have sex that first night! I did enjoy it & would say it was a good choice to read .
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Summary: Range of Motion
Review: While Range of Motion was emotional, I didn't find it mawkish or sappy. The book effectively explored the power and depth of love and hope. I found the main character's devotion to her husband inspiring and realistic -- after being married 25 years, I could easily relate to her feelings and actions. It was a very dear book and I loved every page of it!
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Summary: A New Elizabeth Berg Fan
Review: This is the 3rd Berg book I've read and I have loved them all. This one is probably my favorite as of yet. I love her wit and the way I can laugh suddenly and then cry with the turn of the page. This is a very sad story, yet very realistic. Somehow she (Berg) manages to create every emotion in her stories, yet they are very smooth reads. I'll definitely keep reading.
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Summary: An unforgettable story.
Review: Elizabeth Berg is amazing! Since reading "Open House," I've been devouring all of her works--each of them wonderful. But "Range of Motion" particularly has stuck in my mind. Ms. Berg offers a story of pure and true love--minus the usual corniness. The bond shared by Lainey and Jay is rare in the real world. It is even rarer to find a novel that describes that kind of bond with such believable clarity. The characters are authentic and the dialog realistic. Lainey's devotion and persistence were truly inspiring. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever been in love. It will remind you of what's really important.
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Summary: any Elizabeth Berg book is worth reading
Review: Lainey and Jay and their two daughters are just cruising along in life until a freak accident puts Jay in hospital in a coma. Lainey is so real, alternating between hope and despair, trying anything and everything to get Jay to open his eyes, so they can resume their life, whilst trying to be strong for their daughters.This is a simple yet though provoking story, one that could even be extended to two stories, one of their life before the accident and one after. Still enjoyed it as a stand alone book however.
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Summary: When Weird Things Happen to Good People
Review: In a short period of time, I happened to read three books with women protagonists who found themselves in dire circumstances: THE PILOT'S WIFE, WHILE YOU WERE GONE, and RANGE OF MOTION. Luckily, the last book I read--RANGE OF MOTION--was also the best of the three. I wanted to slap the main characters of the first two books because they a)made stupid decisions, and b)wallowed in their problems. But Lainie, in RANGE OF MOTION, is cut from a different cloth. She has a positive attitude, she is not self-defeating or whiny, she does not allow herself to become embittered. Her husband is in a coma after a chunk of ice falls on his head. He ends up in a nursing home, with no realistic hope for recovery. Lainie soldiers on, caring for her children, maintaining as much of a normal life as she can, while visiting her husband daily. She puts him through "range of motion" exercises, a probably futile effort to preserve muscle tone in the belief that one day he will wake from his coma and resume a normal life. She's lucky to have a best friend who is truly there for her every step of the way (despite her own problems) and a mysterious "houseguest" who offers an odd sort of inspiration to keep hope alive. This book is sad and funny and, also, uplifting. It isn't full of complex, dark undercurrents and disturbing implications about man's nature. There is no villain in this book, because it's Lainie's story, and Lainie has an unshakable faith in humanity. She is a good soul, and the reader roots for her, and her family, all the way.
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Summary: Didn't live up to it's reputation
Review: I've been hearing about Range of Motion for several years now and finally got around to reading it. For no particular reason, I expected a meaty, challenging read - something along the lines of Smiley or Hamilton. What I found was a much more simple book that left me unsatisfied. The writing is correct and the fundamental story is one worth telling. Still, there are lots of loose ends in the story. The most frustrating part is the end where it seems to me the story is just starting. What was life like with Jay back in their lives? What could they resume and what was irrevocably changed? Bottom line -- an easy read with some thought provoking elements. Still, it is so straight forward that my book group ran out of things to talk about in the book after only 30 minutes.
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Summary: Audio Review ONLY!
Review: I absolutely adore Elizabeth Berg. Her novels are wonderful snapshots of not-so-everyday life. "Range of Motion" is no exception. Nearly every page is home to a phrase or metaphor or simile that is just so perfect. I purchased the audio version recently, and was heartbreakingly disappointed. I expected it to be as well done as "Talk Before Sleep" audio version. But no. The reading seemed forced, unnatural. Megan Gallagher's voice.... well, I just didn't picture Lainey sounding like that, but maybe it's my own fault for having high expectations. (Then again, I wasn't necessarily overjoyed at the made-for-tv movie based on the book either, but I think it faired better than the audio production.) Perhaps my biggest gripe is the annoying and insulting tinkling music they play when the narration switches from Lainey to Jay. I respect the need to illustrate the switch of characters, and since the use of italics isn't possible when doing an audio version, music is a perfectly acceptable solution. But please, pick something else next time! The abridgement of the text is acceptable, although not perfect. If you have to choose between the book and the audio production, defintely go with the book. You'll appreciate the writing so much more.
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Summary: Devotion
Review: Lainey Berman's husband Jay is in a coma due to a chunk of ice falling from a building onto him. Lainey is raising two young daughters and trying to help them understand the situation while her friend and neighbor Alice helps her by babysitting. Berg in the book Range of Motion deftly examines the range of love and devotion necessary to ensure success of a marriage. Her language is beautiful and poetic. Berg endows her characters with strength and depth rare in fiction today. We feel for Lainey as she tries to cope with the difficulties of her situation. You root for Lainey's positive outlook and her denial that her husband Jay will die or continue in a coma. This is a very well written book and stirring story. It may not go over with people who are opposed to somewhat sentimental fiction.
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Summary: Highly Recommend
Review: In this book the main character Lainey Berman has to deal with life after her husband was in a freak accident that has left him in a coma. I was able to feel the devotion that she had towards her Husband with all of her attemps to have him come out of it. I didn't feel Alice's marital problems or the "Ghost Woman" was a necessary part of the story. I would have much rather have Alice help Lainey through her problems instead of the hallucination. Even though I disagree with these parts of the story, I would highly recommend reading this book.
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