Good Harbor

Rating:
Summary: A small, compelling story well- and lovingly-crafted...
Review: As a huge fan of The Red Tent, Diamant's previous work, I was eager to read Good Harbor. What I found was a novel as concentrated in focus as The Red Tent is epic in scale yet that was written with as much care and creativity. Good Harbor is a warm, thoughtful exploration of the lives and friendship between two seemingly disparate women.

The name of the book comes from a location in the coastal New England town where the characters reside. Kathleen, a life-long resident and children's librarian recently diagnosed with breast cancer, which killed her beloved sister, meets Joyce, a younger woman living out her dream - sort of - of a second home near the coast in the same town. The two strike up a friendship as Kathleen deals with her recovery from her illness and past tragedies and Joyce tries to find the self that she feels has been lost.

There is genuine caring and empathy between the women, and the instant bond that is formed seems completely realistic and understandable. And while events do not take place on a grand scale, the women change, grow and make mistakes throughout the course of the novel, emerging at the end the same yet different. It's a marvelous story, very well-written, detailed, interesting and enjoyable, sustained by the warmth and strength of the friendship.

While Good Harbor is incredibly different from The Red Tent, that is not a handicap in anyway, just a testament to Diamant's strength as a writer. And despite the shift in scale - a much smaller span of time, locale, etc. - many of the same themes emerge. It's not a sweeping epic in traditional terms, but in a way, it focuses on a similarly dramatic time in the lives of the central characters and is treated with the depth and breadth necessary. Diamant has again lovingly created a tale of dynamic women and a compelling, worth-while novel.

Rating:
Summary: Unfortunately A Ho Hum Read ...
Review: I always look forward to a good book about female friendships and when I read that Anita Diamant had a new book out on the subject I was so excited -- I really enjoyed "The Red Tent" and recommended it to friends and family. Unfortunately, I will not be doing the same for "Good Harbor: A Novel."

Unlike "The Red Tent" this book is not well-written. The dialogue was terrible (especially painful during Joyce and Kathleen's "peeing contest") and the pace of the book was sometimes tedious. Also, as the two women shared their personal histories with one another I was often uninterested -- even though the topics were important ones: faith, death, illness, parenthood, guilt, and marriage problems.

Part of "The Red Tent's" success was its ability to make us all want more out of our friendships with women -- it made us all long for the community, support, help, and kinship Dinah was surrounded by. And while "Good Harbor: A Novel" is a completely different read and set in different times, it fails to make me feel much of anything -- except disappointment.

Rating:
Summary: Uneven Second Novel from Talented Author
Review: I loved Diamant's first novel, THE RED TENT, more than any book I've read in the last ten years. So I it was with great anticipation that I bought GOOD HARBOR. Diamant wisely chooses a topic as far from Biblical times as possible, and the two novels couldn't be more different. Two women at a crossroads in their lives and marriages meet in the small town of Gloucester, Massachusetts, and become fast friends. The setting is rich with possibilities, but Diamant's intentions are more successful than her execution. The simplicity of style which worked so well and powerfully in RED TENT here seems to undermine the emotional arc of the two women, Joyce and Kathleen, and we never care for them as deeply as we could. Kathleen's battle with breast cancer, and her attempt to make peace with her son's death 25 years earlier just doesn't move us as it should. And when a lonely Joyce drifts farther and farther from her husband and teenaged daughter into an affair with a handsome Irish fisherman, who will never fully consummate their physical relationship, we, too, feel unfulfilled. Diamant is a hugely talented author, but GOOD HARBOR just isn't in the same class as THE RED TENT. Let's hope her next effort proves more worthy, since she obviously has the talent and the vision to write brilliantly when the topic moves her.

Rating:
Summary: Pleasing Read
Review: I thought this was a well written book with nicely developed characters. I appreciated the back story on the people in the novel and their seeming realism. I think this is an excellent followup to The Red Tent... Diamant is also known for her non-fiction. With Good Harbor, I believe she has proven herself to be a well-rounded author, with a variety of talents. Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: A Novel With Its Own Merit
Review: When you are the renowned author of "The Red Tent," how do you top yourself? Unfortunately, "Good Harbor" was not able to do that. However, "Good Harbor" captured my attention and I was taken in about the story of a friendship.

Kathleen, recently diagnosed with breast cancer, meets Joyce, a romance writer. The friendship flourishes immediately as they enjoy walks together on Good Harbor. Through the walks, each woman feels safe in confiding with the other. There are many issues that "Good Harbor" addresses: cancer, religion, parenting, death, infidelity, and relationships.

Diamant is a master at setting the scene. She describes the beauty of Good Harbor and Kathleen's garden so precisely that the reader is able to create a mental image. This was the strongest feature in the novel.

"Good Harbor" is a novel with its own merit, however many will find it difficult not to compare it with "The Red Tent." I encourage readers to try "Good Harbor" and see a different side of Anita Diamant. I eagerly anticipate Diamant's future work.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect for an easy yet touching read
Review: While I did not like the Red Tent due to a personal conflict with subject matter, I adored Diamant's writing style. I was excited to give her another try. This was a complete opposite of Red Tent, in that I adored the story, but found the writing very mediocre. It is not a bad read, in fact I enjoyed this story so much I read it quickly and intensely, but it is very light in lyrics and dialogue, much un-like her previous novel.

Joyce and Kathleen meet by chance and hit it off immeadiately. You as a reader are so excited for their friendship and honesty in such matters as marriage, breast cancer, raising children and religion. While the dialogue wasn't earth shattering, certain lines were poignant and honest and as a women reader I so appreciated that.

I recommend this book to anyone who would like a quick but good story, and if you know anyone or you yourself are dealing with breast cancer this book sheds a great light on the sympathy card that society often plays. I gave it four stars just because it was a fun book, easy to follow, and nice story line. If you enjoy women's lit much like Elizabeth Berg this is perfect for you.