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While I Was Gone

While I Was Gone

List Price: $12.95
Your Price: $12.95
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Whether or not you'll like this book depends on who you are
Review: Im not going to tell you whether this book is good or bad because it is different for everyone After reading others reviews I realized that this book is not for every personality. If your the type of fast paced person that likes to get to the point you probually wont enjoy this style of book, but if you are the analetical type that reads between the lines and stares off into space then this book is for you. Normally I would not like a book with these types of wordy passages but they did not bug me in this book because there always seemed to be a theme or a message behind them that was never too hard to find, there was almost always a reason for everything. This book is better looked at as a bunch of really good peices rather than as a whole book. If your going to read this book don't read it to get to the end because you will be let down, read it to enjoy the the content because if you do you will find the passages to be amazing. Also read this when you have patience and dont feel rushed, like I said bad for people who like things fast and literal and good for people who like things slow and symbolic, If your not sure which you are start reading the first chapter, if it captures you keep reading, if it doesnt don't read it just to find out what happens next, its not that kind of book.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A very good read -- well worth your time!
Review: I thought this was a very well-written and intriguing book. I personally have found most of Oprah's other book choices to be very depressing. This one was not. It was more thought provoking. I enjoyed it so much I am thinking of getting it as gifts for others.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: disturbing, but interesting read
Review: The book started out as a very quick read, then gets a little slow and muddled in the middle, then leaves you with a disturbing and somewhat unsatisfactory ending. Being a petsitter, I loved the descriptions of her being a vet, but being a married woman, it made me depressed that she would risk everything for a possible fling with a questionable character. Like the other reviews have stated, it is a hard one to get out of your mind when you've finished it.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Realistic Story
Review: A frank realistic reflection of days gone by that reinstates the opinion that one can't go back.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great reading.
Review: While I Was Gone was a little slow and too detailed at parts, but the imperfect and real characters stay with you and engross you in their story. It's realistic, yet also depressing, but a great story

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Terrific Book
Review: This book, by the author of The Good Mother, another excellent study of a woman torn between her family and herself, delves into the conflicts between a married woman and her own sense of adventure and identity. It's a great book, I had difficulty putting it down. I would highly recommend either book to anyone, especially women readers at mid-life.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Stick to animals
Review: I loved hating Jo, the main character in this book. I kept hoping that at some point she would pay for being so self serving, but of course she never does- she is even forgiven for essentially committing adultery. Her mother had it exactly right when she told Jo, "there's needing things and there's wanting things, and you're mixing up the two." Jo's way is to do just what she needs/wants to do, regardless of how it effects the lives of those who love her. For example: (there are more!) she leaves Daniel with the crying twins, she leaves her first husband, she plans to commit adultery, and then to add insult to injury, after she tells Daniel of this plan, she actually expects his support on the Eli/Dana issue. Ugh! Jo should stick to animals, because she cares too much about herself to treat her family in the manner that they deserve. Even worse, it's oh so easy for Jo to dismiss what she does- she says that her work "made me feel I'd earned my way back to a normal life." Even a little guilt would be nice here. She just doesn't feel bad enough for how deeply she hurts others.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good until the end
Review: This is one of those books that I could not put down, but when I reached the end I was completely disappointed. I liked the characters throughout, and particularly liked the flashbacks to this woman's college days. The character development was incredible and it built me up for this huge climax -- if it weren't for the letdown I'd have given it five stars. I recommend it because it is well written, entertaining, fast paced, and gripping until the last few pages.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: didn't add up for me
Review: The book started off strongly, and it was interesting to look at the main character's offbeat past in light of her now-mainstream life. Her memories of living in a bohemian household that ended tragically are the best part of the book.

However, events and characters in her current life ultimately struck me as unbelievable. Her minister husband is deeply offended by a conversation with a nonbeliever... and yet she and her children are not religious either? She suddenly decides on a course of action that could destroy her marriage, which is still fun and sexy after 20+ years? Plot points like this rang false for me, and ultimately I found the book just so-so.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Very well written
Review: I really enjoyed this book. There is a part in it where the main character's husband, a minister, does a sermon on pain and memories. It was so moving that I called my mom up and read this section to her. It's also a good book to read when you feel that you're bored with your life and want to relive the excitement of your younger days. It shows just how fast you can screw up the peacefulness of your "boring" life and lose everything that matters. Excellent book.


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