Big City Eyes

Rating:
Summary: A good idea - but...
Review: I'm afraid that this is a very silly book. The idea is a good one - Lily Davis, of New York City, wants her teen-age son to leave "bad influences" behind, so the two move to a small town on Long Island for the "good life." After this interesting beginning, the book deteriorates rapidly. It becomes an inane, boring narrative by Lily, who becomes not ditsy (that's at least amusing) but downright idiotic. The situations in which she finds herself, and with whom, form the basis of an increasingly dull book. The title, which is the most perceptive part of the book, refers to the column the protagonist writes for the local paper. I loved HANGING UP, Ephron's other novel - a witty, sharp sensitive work. Because of it, I looked forward to BIG CITY EYES. Sad to say, I was sorely disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: A good idea - but...
Review: I'm afraid that this is a very silly book. The idea is a good one - Lily Davis, of New York City, wants her teen-age son to leave "bad influences" behind, so the two move to a small town on Long Island for the "good life." After this interesting beginning, the book deteriorates rapidly. It becomes an inane, boring narrative by Lily, who becomes not ditsy (that's at least amusing) but downright idiotic. The situations in which she finds herself, and with whom, form the basis of an increasingly dull book. The title, which is the most perceptive part of the book, refers to the column the protagonist writes for the local paper. I loved HANGING UP, Ephron's other novel - a witty, sharp sensitive work. Because of it, I looked forward to BIG CITY EYES. Sad to say, I was sorely disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Ephron shows off her talent here!
Review: I'm surprised there are a number of negative comments about this book -- I almost didn't read it because of them, but now I'm sure glad I did. I really thought the author did an exceptional job on the narrative -- fresh, creative descriptions and a protagonist with interesting and clever thoughts! It amazed me how Ephron can draw for us a seemingly ordinary day in the protagonist's life -- and turn it into a plot that keeps you there. She also uses dialogue creatively to reveal characters' personalities. Ending was thoughtful and real. Thanks, Delia!

Rating:
Summary: I'm a guy, OK?!
Review: Ok, I'm a guy that picks up a western or a Hamish McBeth book to take up my time when it comes to reading..what little there is. I happen across this title, for some reason, bought it. I really liked it. I had to say I drew some looks from family and friends when they heard me chucking and laughing. A joy to read from beginning to end. I could see this as a moviefor some reason with Meg Ryan and Damian Lewis as Lily Davis and Tom McKee.

Rating:
Summary: A fun beach book!
Review: Okay. So this book is not high art, but I loved it. Spending a little time in Sakonnet Bay was just the break I needed. The main character --Lily-- seemed so familiar, like an old friend, and then it struck me: I think Harriet the Spy grew up to be Lily Davis. The story is a lightweight mystery--very funny, sweet and bittersweet and Eprhron,as ususual, has given us a bunch of wacky ancillary characters that are written with a great deal of affection. I hope that she'll use Lily and Sam,Deidre and Jane in another book, because I hated to lose them at the close of this one.

Rating:
Summary: Overly analytical
Review: This book wasn't good at all. It took me several times of picking it up and putting it back down for a few weeks to finally get through most of it. The author goes through a situation too many times. She is overly analytical of everything happening instead of just telling a story.

Rating:
Summary: Very funny book
Review: This is a truly funny look at the world of a single parent and her small town life as viewed through the eyes of a slightly neurotic newspaper columnist raising her teenage son in rural Long Island. I thorougly enjoyed reading this book. It's witty and fun!

Rating:
Summary: My all time favorite book
Review: This is a wobderfull book. The plot has been done before but not this well. Delia Ephron is a very down to earth author and no matter what situation her characters are in I can alaways relate somehow. What a depressing ending.

Rating:
Summary: My all time favorite book
Review: This is a wobderfull book. The plot has been done before but not this well. Delia Ephron is a very down to earth author and no matter what situation her characters are in I can alaways relate somehow. What a depressing ending.

Rating:
Summary: Touching...as a parent, I was moved by it.
Review: We all come to a novel with our particular bias; mine is as a parent. I loved Ephron's non-stop rating of her son (normal range, not normal range, etc.)and found it both touching and funny. The book has a winsome quality and rather than see it as Lily Davis growth as a woman, I chose to view the novel as her growth as a parent. At the beginning, I would rate her in the normal range but just barely but as the story plows ahead, she makes it to the very normal range. I also enjoyed the fact that Lily Davis does not give in to her own desires but rather to her son's, at least at the end of the book. Aside from everything else, the columns by Lily Davis were quite well written...if only writing like that appeared in every small town weekly. That's another thing...the book is about a Manhattan woman's radical move to a small town and small town life, aside from "Gilmore Girls," was never more charming. Loved it, recommend it.