Rating: 
Summary: Godd book, but not the kind you read over and over
Review: Vinegar Hill has to be one of the most aptly-named books I've ever read. In considering the words in the title, vinegar refers to things sour and acidic with a bite; a hill has only two directions: up or down. That's exactly what you'll get from this book--a very clear image of some of the most hateful literary characters, and and the action moves from slow to slower and back again with each page. Not only does Ellen have to deal with the indignity of being forced to move in with her awful in-laws, but she also has to deal with the fact that her husband has turned his back on her. These in-laws refer to Ellen as "Jimmy's mistake" and ultimately find fault with every move she makes. James is stuck in a time warp loaded with unshakeable misery--or is he? His character is drawn so that you wonder if he's not one of those people who's only happy when he's miserable. Fritz (the father-in-law) is the most repulsive man Ellen has ever known, but even she doesn't know the full reason why he is. Fritz thinks Jimmy is just like his mother, frail and useless, and still moans the loss of his "good son" Mitch, dead many years when the story opens. In spite of the fact that Jimmy is still being demeaned by his father both physically and verbally, he doesn't want to leave the familiar surroundings of his parents' home--economy has nothing to do with it, and as a reader, you'll be wondering exactly why he feels this way. Jimmy's want to stay isn't fully explained. As for Fritz, there is nothing redeeming about him--he makes no apologies for being hideous, and he is actually the best drawn character in the book. It isn't until Ellen discovers that Jimmy isn't putting his paycheck into their account that she really decides to do anything to change this terrible situation. When she discusses leaving her husband to one of her sisters, her whole family rails at her for even thinking of divorce or leaving Jimmy, and they even give her the ridiculous advice of having another baby to patch the marriage. Truth is, Fritz is right: Jimmy is a weak, spineless imitation of a man, and it's only after Ellen faces this realization that she begins to carve out a new plan of action for herself. In light of some family history that surfaces, you pity MaryAnn (Ellen's mother-in-law) for having had to marry and live with Fritz. She's not much better than he is, but her methods of shutting Ellen down are much different. Even after Ellen cares for her after her stroke, she is still "Jimmy's mistake." The book doesn't move very fast, simply because there's more wording given to Ellen's thought patterns and feelings. There's several strange departures from the main story that explore pieces of Ellen's childhood, early relationship with Jimmy, etc. Some of the asides come across as page filler, while others contribute to the overall action of the story. I really enjoyed the characterizations more than anything else about this book. The story was good, but I feel that there were many places that just didn't flow. Ansay can certainly make you see a character and hear the voice, but the characters in this book needed to have more movement. Overall, not a bad read.
Rating: 
Summary: What happens when loyalty and devotion are not enough...
Review: A. Manette Ansay has penned a dark, tragic look at the lives of Ellen Grier and her family. Her husband James, an unemployed, depressed man-child has brought Ellen and their two children to live with his parents in Wisconsin. This story is not as much about James as it is about the determination and hope that live in his gritty wife Ellen. It is also about the inevitable bond forged when two women of differing generations and experience must live under the same roof. Ellen is a woman in a no-win situation who keeps herself sane by finding the small joys in her otherwise hellish life. A devoted mother and wife, she reaches new levels of understanding about what extremes a woman may go to in order to protect the ones she loves. Although a fast read, Vinegar Hill is rich with Ansay's prose describing the smells, sounds, tastes and emotions contained within the walls of the seemingly mild-mannered midwestern home that is the address referred to in the title. Ellen Grier is not a glamorous heroine. Although her life may not mirror our own, I believe the reader will find some piece of Ellen to identify with. I read this book in the span of four hours while waiting in an airport and then on the plane. It is disturbing, emotional, yet very satisfying.
Rating:
Summary: Better than expected
Review: The writing was excellent in this book, but at times I found the story a little unbelievable. Still, I would highly recommend this book, if for nothing else the fact that it was so different. Also recommended: The Color Purple and Bark of the Dogwood
Rating: 
Summary: A strong start, but lacked closure
Review: After hearing many positive things about Vinegar Hill via Oprah and other reviews I decided to purchase the book. I completed the book yesterday and I can't help but feel a sense disappointment at being left without an adequate ending. I have not read any previous works by this author and I don't feel I'll read anymore. Vinegar Hill was very well written, the author has a wonderful 'story' telling ability, the language used was perfectly crafted and the character development was wonderful. Ms Ansay has a definite gift for writing but I was disappointed with the ending. I felt the author conjured a great visualisation of the characters but the ending seemed hasty and lacked closure. All in all a wonderful character portrayl, the author draws you in to really feel the characters pain, the story line is poignant but tragic, I feel Ms Ansay could have done more with the ending.
Rating: 
Summary: Loved It!
Review: The extremely normal and familiar sirtuations that the main character in this novel faces are portrayed fabulously by the author. Although this a debut novel, the language is wonderful, with the author uses many poetic devices and visulozation techniques to get her point across. Very well crafted .. a real winner that every married woman can relate to!
Rating:
Summary: Bitter to the end
Review: What a boring, depressing novel! It's an easy read, but I personally didn't get anything from it. The story does have some interesting characters but not much happens to them. Most of the characters aren't really likeable either. I have read and enjoyed novels with sad subject matter, but this one is so bitter it grows tiresome. Stick to books like White Oleander, and She's Come Undone, those were better Oprah selections that are more interesting.
Rating:
Summary: A Decent Book--------
Review: This author has the potential of writing well & has previously. Perhaps it was simply the plot (or lack of) that just couldn't keep me captivated.
She's good with her characters & you really "see" them, but this story just did not do much for me.
I think it might be worth it to others to try though, as I definitely do not regret reading it & will read more of her.
Rating:
Summary: A promising debut novel
Review: A. Manette Ansay is one of my favorite authors. She struggles with two powerful forces in her personal life: an upbringing deeply rooted in Catholicism and a mysterious debilitating disease that saps her strength and endurance.
In Vinegar Hill, Ansay's debut novel, Ellen Grier, too, is struggling against two forces: she's trapped in a difficult marriage that comes with some pretty sanctimonious in-laws and by, guess what? the demands of her Roman Catholic religion. Because of financial problems, Ellen, her husband, and their 2 children have returned to small-town Wisconsin to live with his stolid and alienated/alienating parents. Everyone is this little microcosm is suffering, a theme that Ansay has carried through all her subsequent books.
This isn't Ansay's best book, but it was a good start to what followed. Don't miss her memoir, Limbo. When you read that, you'll recognize details from her life in her fiction.
Rating:
Summary: vinegar is right
Review: I read this book as part of a book club. We were trying to get away from depressing books, to those with a bit of happiness. Well, we were dead wrong! It was grueling to get through this book, let alone actually discuss it. To the author's credit, the book is well written, the characters are beleivable, and the title is truly a fabulous description of the contents. BUT if you are looking for a bit of happiness in what you read...this book is not it! A. Manette Ansay allows us only a brief glimpse of happiness and this only towards the bitter end...if you don't like to feel good at the end of a book, pick this one.
Rating:
Summary: Very detailed
Review: If you like books with a lot of detail, this is it.Besides from being a very nice person, Ms. Ansay writes beautifully and keeps you guessing, very nice book, I recamend it
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