Rating: 
Summary: Still waters run deep
Review: I loved "Evensong", "The Good Husband" and Godwin's "Father Melancholy's Daughter" but before I bought this book I read the introduction just to be sure I'd enjoy the topic. I was drawn in immediately by her initial descriptions of her mindset for the book because she almost desribes it as autobiographical fiction. Robert Starer, the author's companion of nearly 30 years passed away not long ago so the tone of this book is a reflective, fictional celebration of their cocktail hour "Evenings at Five". (The title and tenor is almost too reminiscent of "Tuesdays with Morrie" but inspiration is inpiration.) The characters, Christina and Rudy, are both creative minds who debrief their days together between themselves and among those they loved in their life together. Rudy becomes ill and their lives are altered but they continue to enjoy moments of humor and company. Christina's reflections of grief afterward are so dignified and genuine. Godwin's use of sentence structure is appealing to me and her books are always a gentle read. Given the topic of the book you might think it melancholy but it isn't really to me. I would call it poignantly reflective. Her books are some of my favorites. I hope you enjoy it too.
Rating: 
Summary: Evenings at Five
Review: I was caught by the cover and pencil drawings, but once inside, I felt trapped. I've been that route of grieving myself, and it didn't ring true. It had an elitist, and narcisstic tone to it.
And why did the author bother to disguise it as fiction, and touch so lightly on the alchoholism?
I found the rememdy for grief was to turn outward, not inward.
Rating:
Summary: Evenings at Five
Review: It doesn't take readers of Evenings at Five too long before they realize that this book was written as an homage and in memory of the author's recently deceased partner. Gail Godwin in her secretly veiled memoir has crafted a fine novel about love, compassion, loss and the human spirit to move on.The title of the book Evenings at Five refers to that time of day when Christina, an author and Rudy a composer would meet for drinks. Cocktails for this twosome are a ritual each evening at five, they even have special names for the knives they use to cut the lemons and limes. This special hour at their home includes lively conversations about how that spent their days on their individual projects, their plans for trips and their futures together. They never anticipated Rudy's premature death and now Christina spends her evenings at five thinking about her time spent with Rudy and her future alone. While this book is poignant and very sad at times, the reader finishes the last pages content that Christina as well as Gail Godwin has had a fulfilling relationship and an amazing love. And because of this she will be able to move on, perhaps a bit sadder,but complete in the knowledge of what they have had. And as the author intended it is a fitting book to be written by an excellent author about the man she dearly loved who did die two years ago. I do recommend this book to those who love,to those who have loved and those who hope to love. As the saying goes,"'Tis better to have loved and lost, then never to have loved at all." Evening at Five certainly proves this adage to be true.
Rating: 
Summary: Cocktail Hours Remembered
Review: It doesn't take readers of Evenings at Five too long before they realize that this book was written as an homage and in memory of the author's recently deceased partner. Gail Godwin in her secretly veiled memoir has crafted a fine novel about love, compassion, loss and the human spirit to move on. The title of the book Evenings at Five refers to that time of day when Christina, an author and Rudy a composer would meet for drinks. Cocktails for this twosome are a ritual each evening at five, they even have special names for the knives they use to cut the lemons and limes. This special hour at their home includes lively conversations about how that spent their days on their individual projects, their plans for trips and their futures together. They never anticipated Rudy's premature death and now Christina spends her evenings at five thinking about her time spent with Rudy and her future alone. While this book is poignant and very sad at times, the reader finishes the last pages content that Christina as well as Gail Godwin has had a fulfilling relationship and an amazing love. And because of this she will be able to move on, perhaps a bit sadder,but complete in the knowledge of what they have had. And as the author intended it is a fitting book to be written by an excellent author about the man she dearly loved who did die two years ago. I do recommend this book to those who love,to those who have loved and those who hope to love. As the saying goes,"'Tis better to have loved and lost, then never to have loved at all." Evening at Five certainly proves this adage to be true.
Rating:
Summary: So lovely and so sad
Review: This is one of the sweetest love story I have ever read. It is sad, and poignant, and funny, and sweet. Listening to the tape in Gail Godwin's beautiful voice is an experience I won't soon forget.
Rating:
Summary: Midwest Book Review
Review: What do Pope John Paul, a serrated knife fondly known as Ralph, and a bottle of gin have in common? Artfully, with humor and tenderness, Gail Godwin weaves the Pope, Ralph, and Bombay Sapphire gin into a loving testament.
Every evening at five, Rudy builds his wife a drink with loving precision. and announces that "the Pope has called." Rudy is a composer and hears music; Christina is a writer lost in a world of words. But somehow, despite their differences, for 28 years their marriage works. When Rudy dies, his formidable presence no longer holds center stage in Christina's life. The gifted linguist and world traveller with a mellifluous voice "one octave below God's" is gone. Stripped of his presence, Christina is reduced to drinking her gin alone and conversing with Rudy's chair every evening at five.
It's Christina's recollections of Rudy that makes Evenings at Five a standout. She reads his appointment diaries, kept through their years together, reliving the chronicle of his life. She listens to his music, composed one note on top of another until he reached a glorious symmetry - much like their life together. His is a powerful and lingering presence that defies death.
Christina's memories are a delightful read, despite the sobering subject. Ms. Godwin's skill as best selling wordsmith proves itself once again in this latest book. Evenings at Five transcends death and loss, guiding each reader to an individual finale.
Rating:
Summary: Midwest Book Review
Review: What do Pope John Paul, a serrated knife fondly known as Ralph, and a bottle of gin have in common? Artfully, with humor and tenderness, Gail Godwin weaves the Pope, Ralph, and Bombay Sapphire gin into a loving testament.
Every evening at five, Rudy builds his wife a drink with loving precision. and announces that "the Pope has called." Rudy is a composer and hears music; Christina is a writer lost in a world of words. But somehow, despite their differences, for 28 years their marriage works. When Rudy dies, his formidable presence no longer holds center stage in Christina's life. The gifted linguist and world traveller with a mellifluous voice "one octave below God's" is gone. Stripped of his presence, Christina is reduced to drinking her gin alone and conversing with Rudy's chair every evening at five.
It's Christina's recollections of Rudy that makes Evenings at Five a standout. She reads his appointment diaries, kept through their years together, reliving the chronicle of his life. She listens to his music, composed one note on top of another until he reached a glorious symmetry - much like their life together. His is a powerful and lingering presence that defies death.
Christina's memories are a delightful read, despite the sobering subject. Ms. Godwin's skill as best selling wordsmith proves itself once again in this latest book. Evenings at Five transcends death and loss, guiding each reader to an individual finale.
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