Joy School

Rating:
Summary: Can't get enough
Review: Too short would be my only criticism of Joy School, but then, again, how much can a 13-year-old experience, and who can ever get enough Elizabeth Berg? Each of her words is worth 100 of just about anyone else's. I am always disappointed when I realized I've finished a Berg book, even though I usually do it in one sitting and desperately need to eat, work, pee or do something else by then! With this book, I had the same experience I did with Pull of the Moon: I drew a hot bath, poured a glass of wine and didn't notice until I'd read the last page that I was shivering in a tub of ice cold water....with nothing warm but the untouched glass of wine beside me. Elizabeth, you're mesmerizing.

Rating:
Summary: Good read, wasn't what I expected
Review: After reading the synopsis of the book, I wanted to read it right away. When I was done, I said to myself, "that was it? " Yup, that was it. Berg did a wonderful job of expressing an adolescent's true feelings, but a lot of the actions and expressions felt didn't feel "complete." I felt that there was something missing from the novel...Berg wonderfully interpreted a young woman's feelings on love, but like one other person said, "It was good, but not one of her best."

Rating:
Summary: Good, but not one of her best
Review: I had not realized when I began this book that it is a sequel to Durable Goods, which I read a month or two ago; for some reason, it is not being advertised as such. I enjoyed the books, and feel that Ms. Berg does a good job of capturing the feelings of an adolescent. What is missing in this and Durable Goods is a lot of the sharing and the thoughts of women found in her other books about adults. Of course, it would be inappropriate to include them in this book, but she captures those so incredibly well that this book just can't live up to Range of Motion, Talk Before Sleep, and Pull of the Moon. So I found this book very readable and engrossing, but I did not cling to it the way I did with the others. Worth reading, if you like her work. If this is the first one of hers that you have read, try one--or better, all--of her others, too! Melissa Lenihan

Rating:
Summary: Joy School, a joyous read!
Review: A wonderful book I think 10's should be saved for only very special books and this is one. You learn much about where joy comes from. I read it in the best possible way immediately after finishing "Durable Goods" Berg's earlier novel which first introduced the characters in "Joy School"

Rating:
Summary: High Hopes For This One
Review: I've been wanting to read this for over a year now. Not sure what I was expecting, but it just wasn't "there". I read others by Berg & sadly, this is last on the list. I did get a few laughs out of it though. Berg does a great job in making us feel 13 again. Katie was an obviously likeable character with all her female pre-teen drama & you just couldn't help but smile.

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as I hoped
Review: I absolutely love Elizabeth Berg and started to fall in love when I first read her novel "Open House". I was soooo excited to finally read "joy school". Well, it did not add up to Berg's other books at all, and I was very disappointed. Since I am in my early 20s, I found the character Katie to be nothing like a 13 year old. Her character was very unbelieveable. I constantly felt like I was rolling my eyes at Katie while I was reading. In Berg's other books, the characters are dynamic and interesting and believeable. This book was not all I hoped!

Rating:
Summary: A Complete Joy!
Review: What a delight reliving age 13 again!

I was like yea, I remember being like that. I remember feeling those unbelievably deep emotions. I remember loving an older boy who did not love me back. And yea, I knew beautiful girls like Taylor and hated their guts!

Katie's voice is delicious. She is trying to come to terms with moving to a new state, changes taking place in her body and mind, her own individuality, her first crush...

'He is the most beautiful boy, a Paul Newman look-a-like. I will NEVER love anybody like him as long as I live!' (been there)

Berg gives Katie insight. We hear her 13 year old thoughts, dreams, and her hilarious observations.

She says about one of her teachers...

"He gives some idiotic assignment,which he probably doesn't even know, then sits there reading a newspaper for the entire hour. He gets paid for this?!"

Berg, once again, captures the 13 year old voice we remember.
(Been there, done that!) We adore her for taking us back in time.

The only thing that makes this book better is the Reader, Jen Talor. She is simply superb and Elizabeth should have her read all of her books!

Rating:
Summary: Lovely Reading
Review: After reading this book, I was hoping that there would be another book written about Katie. I am so glad to find out that there is! I really enjoy reading about her since she reminds me so much of myself growing up living in daydreams...saying one thing while meaning another. I have quickly become an Elizabeth Berg fan and it's too bad that I didn't discover her sooner!

Rating:
Summary: Themes that apply to everyone. love. death. friends. family.
Review: Underneath actions and feeling, there is a truth which Elizabeth Berg seems to grasp so easily. It's so honest. If I were in Katie's place, I know I would have done the same things she did.
The characters are so familiar, and there's one of them in every town. I know I can name a person with the same personality as the characters in this book. Can you?
-Katie, the heroine. No, she does not go arund saving people and being Wonderwoman, but she does save herself from some dangerous situations, which to me makes her a heroine. She the type of person we all hope we are.
- Cherylanne was Katie's best friend before she moved. Cherylanne is 2 years older then Katie (who's 12)and is the popular girl who we all secretly envy. You can sense Cherylanne's character easily even though their only communication is through letters.
-Jimmy is Katie's dream man. Yes, man, not boy. Katie is ice skating one day and she slips through thin ice, and this man named Jimmy who is the manager of a garage station saves her. She falls instantly in love with him. He's handsome, and is so friendly to her. The problem is: he's 23, she's 12, almost 13 (she tells him she's 15, though)and he happens to be married and have a 5 year old son. They're not a perfect couple.
-Cynthia, Katie's first friend in her new town. She's one of those people that you are only friends with because you don't have anyone else. She's 12 also, but acts way younger. On their first playdate, they play the Barbie game. She's temporary, Katie hopes.
-Katie's mom is... dead.
-Katie's dad isn't all that friendly. He never talks, is very distant, and has been since her mom's death. The relationship between them is disturbing.
-One last character. Taylor Sinn. They say no one's perfect. Now that Taylor's in the world, they are going to have to make an exception. She's gorgeous, she models, she's brilliant, she's popular, she's funny, she also shoplifts. Katie is honored to be her friend. Did I mention she's also not that trustworthy?
The interesting characters keep on coming. You will be sorry if you miss out on this book!

Rating:
Summary: Another great read
Review: This is the fourth Elizabeth Berg book I've read, and it has cemented my admiration for this writer. "Joy School" is actually a follow-up to "Durable Goods", but I wasn't aware of this when I commenced this book. You don't need to have read the first book to enjoy this one. Ms Berg has a real gift for creating wonderfully three-dimensional characters. In this case she's writing in the first person as a teenage girl (often a curly one for some writers) and she pulls it off beautifully. There are funny moments, sad moments, and moments so poignant you feel as though you're the main character yourself. I've just started another of Elizabeth Berg's books, "Range of Motion" and so far, so good. I'll certainly keep buying books by this author - long may she write!