Rating: 
Summary: An excellent read .......................
Review: Jo Becker has a loving husband, three adult daughters and a couple of dogs - an enviable lifestyle - if perhaps not idyllic. The appearance of an acquaintance, Eli Mayhew, reawakens memories from her past with startling revelations. This is a tension-filled, easily readable book that races towards an anti-climatic conclusion. I would have preferred a suitable explanation to Dana's murder. It just happened and then - voila - 30 years down the line, the murderer confesses. I did enjoy reading this well-written book, especially the beautiful sermon by Daniel which was so inspiring. However, I found the ending rather unsatisfactory, particularly the outcome of the murder of Dana. Some minor flaws were evident which did not deter from my enjoyment of the book. All in all - a very good book.
Rating: 
Summary: Come On...
Review: This was definately an interesting novel. It was real which meant I could relate to a lot of the emotions being protrayed. It didn't have a quick and happy ending which i enjoyed. It's not always easy to get over someone contemplating the idea of infedelity and this book certainly did justice to that. I felt however that this book was a bit long at times. But overall it was a fun read. A taste of the real "love" life.
Rating:
Summary: While I Was Gone
Review: I loved the plot in this book, but found the narrative too slow. I did like the details given in the book about the people around the narrator. It made you think that these are real people doing real things.
Rating:
Summary: While I Was Gone, While I Was There ...
Review: At times I couldn't put this book down; at other times I skimmed, hoping to skate ahead of certain passages. I liked Dana and wanted to know more about her. I was also intrigued by Duncan, but felt shortchanged that he didn't re-enter the picture. The mystery angle hooked me, though I, too, found her interest in Eli a little hard to understand. He didn't sound like the most attractive guy, whereas her husband's gentleness was extremely seductive. The part with her kids bored me because I didn't like them all that much. The protagonist's journey back to the 60s resonated, but I couldn't grasp her elusiveness. Why all the secrets? In the end, she was a mixed bag, not someone you hated, but surely not a character you loved. Her husband, on the other hand, was someone you could marry.
Rating: 
Summary: She should have stayed gone!
Review: This story has more holes than a daytime soap. A woman meets a man from the past and wants to have an affair with him. Then she finds out he killed her friend. That being the basic storyline, there were too many unanswered questions. Why did Jo care about Eli? Why did she want to cheat on Daniel? Why did she decide to lie about her name when she moved in with Dana and the rest? And last but not the least, why did Eli tell her the truth about Dana? The book was a fast read and was over before I got too bored with the defective storyline. I suggest if this book must be read, it must be checked out of the library, bought at a used bookstore, or borrowed from someone like me.
Rating:
Summary: Misleading
Review: I enjoyed the book, but at times I felt as if it was the mystery novel to who killed Dana. I didn't see why the book was about or intended to be about infidelity. I understand the question to be "when is it cheating". That was interesting how Jo and Daniel handled the situation, but I felt that it had more to do with Eli and Dana and who done it. There were a lot of unnecessary strings attached to the book that made it kind of confusing. I really didn't see how the dogs, Jo's daughters, Sara and John's relationship or some of the other extraneous stories contributed to infideltity. Needless to say, it was well written and it was interesting, but it just had too many loopholes. I found it even more interesting that Daniel, the husband, was a minister and him having to deal with infidelity. He probably had to preach the subject matter to his parishoners and never thought he would have to deal with it. Oh well, I think Sue Miller is a good writer, this book just didn't do it for me.
Rating:
Summary: Didn't live up to my expectations
Review: I fell in love with Sue Miller's writing when I read "The Distinguished Guest," which is a fabulous, gripping novel. So I know Miller is an excellent writer. That said, this book was uneven, at best. Some of the passages were breathtaking. There were times when I couldn't put the book down. I was really interested in the relationship between Dana and Jo, yet it needed more development. I found Jo's relationships with her kids, husband, and coworkers had potential, but could've been fleshed out more. The fascination with Eli didn't fit, though what happened between them was simplistic and predictable. Check it out of the library if you really want to read it.
Rating:
Summary: I loved it!
Review: I bought this book simply beacuse it was part of Oprah's book club, and I enjoy most of her picks. I must say that this was one of the few books I simply couldn't put down. It was like reading the story of the people next door or something. The characters were believable, interesting, and soulful. Although some of it was predictable, I still found myself totally engaged in the story. I would recommend this book to a reader of any age.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent character drama
Review: I've enjoyed Sue Miller's work before, but I found that "While I Was Gone" actually managed to surprise me -- the story reached out and grabbed me in a way that most books just can't manage. Not only are the characters rich and alternately likeable and disdainful, but the story takes realistic (yet riveting) turns that force the reader to examine their own deeply held beliefs. I found myself thinking hard about who we believe we are, and how that colors the way we see the others around us. When are we being ourselves, and when have we taken leave in favor of safer facades and defenses? And what will we find when we return?
Rating:
Summary: To the anonymous reviewer from Washington
Review: Thank you so much for naming the murderer. I really appreciate reading a review - note it's not a book club discussion, but rather a review -- that gives away one of the primary elements of suspense in the book. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Next time, please just state generalities instead of telling people who have not read the book what is going to happen.
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