Rating: 
Summary: "P.S."... what?
Review: "P.S." raises an interesting question: what if you had a second chance with someone who is -- or is very like -- your first and only real love? Helen Schulman makes a real effort to delve into the questions about love, lust, memories, and reincarnation... but she never quite figures out how to answer those questions.
Years ago, Louisa was in love with Scott Feinstadt, a sexy charmer who died abruptly, leaving her teenage emotions up in the air. Now she is thirty-eight, divorced from a sex-addicted husband, and living a dull life as a college admissions administrator. Enter F. Scott Feinstadt, a hunky young student who is the spitting image of her dead lover.
Soon Louisa has taken up with F. Scott again, feeling as if she's been given a second chance with the man she loved -- their age differences and different lives make no difference. But what does make a difference is Louisa's ex-husband and her catty best friend. And when her friend spills the beans about Louisa's two Scott Feinstadts, it may destroy her new relationship.
As an idea, "P.S." can't be matched. Schulman dives headfirst into a sort of metaphysical (and VERY physical) tale that just avoids being a Mrs. Robinson story. Is F. Scott a reincarnation, a son, or a cosmic sign? It's also a very compelling story of a woman approaching middle-age, who is looking back on a life devoid of passion and happiness.
What it lacks is a real answer to its own questions. Okay, the ending decides what F. Scott isn't -- but it never tells us what he is either. The similarities between him and his predecessor never quite get explained, but there are too many of them for it to be a coincidence. It sort of putters slowly to a stop, and Schulman's glossy writing can't hide its problems.
Louisa may also annoy readers, since she's a bit of a doormat -- she married a guy she didn't love and stays vaguely interested even though he's a louse. And she remains friends with a woman who seems determined to wreck her life. Why does she have anything to do with these losers? The confused F. Scott is a more likable guy, especially since he's definitely an upgrade from the original model -- he's sweeter, more sensitive, and more monogamous.
"P.S." has some good idea lurking behind the story, but Helen Schulman seems to have written it without a clear idea of how to explain it. An interesting yet very confusing read.
Rating: 
Summary: More Praise for Schulman
Review: Funny and smart characters. Wonderful plot. I enjoyed this book immensely and read it in a day! Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Startling, Sensuous . . . Superb
Review: Helen Schulman, in her short stories and wondrous book "The Revisionist", has delt with romance ending, romance that never happened, romance that caused everlasting pain. This is the first of her works to deal with a romance that ends in death, and yet doesn't quite. There are small and troubling and lovely moments in this book. But much more.
Someone innocently asked me this morning, What is the sexiest book you've ever read? This was the easiest question I've ever been asked, perhaps even easier that my own name. "P.S." is the sexiest book I have ever read. It ranks a notch above "Lolita" and "Lady Chatterly's Lover" in the sensuous sex department because a) there is no guilt nor wheelchaired husbands around and b) an intelligent, ready-for-passion woman is in control. This book is devilish fun! Who wouldn't want to go back to their sexy first lover and woo them all over, this time with wisdom, intellect and wit. "P.S." is a perfect novel for any season but it is especially wonderful for hot, sticky days on the beach. If this book doesn't get you in the mood for summer lovin', you need to have your battery checked.
Rating: 
Summary: Swept me off my feet
Review: I bought this book because I like reading books before seeing the movie and I thought it looked good. I was not disappointed. The beginning of the book is a little slow - it does fill you in on histories and such, but it's almost tempting to put down because it's not the best opening. Keep reading, and it'll suck you in. It truly was written beautifully. A quick read - barely 200 pages - but you'll be thinking about it afterwards, wondering what all happens next. My only complaint (besides the slow beginning, that is) is that I wish we could have seen what happens next, after the book ends. I wondered what happened between all the different friendships and such. Overall, very good, very sensual. I'l recommend it for some nice winer reading, curled up in front of a fire! :)
Rating: 
Summary: Major disappointment
Review: I heard about this book because of the movie coming out and it sounded like an interesting premise. A middle aged woman still has a longing for a high school boyfriend who died tragically just when he went off to college. Twenty years later, when she works in the admissions office of Columbia University, she comes across an applicant with the same name as her former flame, Scott Feinstadt. When she meets him, she's startled to find that not only does he share the same name as her former flame, but he even looks like him, talks like him, appears to be an exact clone of him. How can this be?
Well, with a premise like that...I was expecting this novel to be about reincarnation or cloning. I read it, hoping to see where the author leads the reader on this intriguing premise. Maybe its the fault of my expectations, for I was looking forward to metaphysical insight and a deeply spiritual book or an interesting look at the ultimate meaning of cloning...but the author leads the reader no where. It's inconclusive just who the new Scott Feinstadt really is. One clue that he's probably not the reincarnation of her former flame is that he was born before the other died. That's either an author error or a well hidden clue that this novel isn't about reincarnation.
Some of the writing is good and funny, but the overall style is annoying to read as the author gives many segues into the past that interrupt the flow of the novel for me. The novel is written in third person, but it mainly focuses on Louise Harrington, so perhaps it should have been first person, because the novel offers little insight into what the other characters are thinking. We see everything from Louise's point of view, and if its going to be that way, then why not make it first person? If one is going to use third person POV, then take advantage of it by showing us what Scott Feinstadt was thinking or the other people in the novel.
Disappointing read. Here's hoping the movie will be a vast improvement. I think the reincarnation angle is intriguing and should be developed more. It would have made for a vastly superior story.
Rating:
Summary: R-rated
Review: I rate this book a 3 because Schulman is an amazing writer and this is a great concept and a well-written story, but I couldn't get through it. If you would rather not read bad language and sex scenes, as I would rather not, I just write this review as a warning so you'll know what to expect. It would have been a fun book to read.
Rating:
Summary: More praise for P.S.
Review: I thought this book was fabulous. I read it in two days. P.S. is both funny and touching-the writing is often so beautiful that I turned down the pages to read them again. Schulman really understands relationships and the complexities of loss and fulfillment. In her main character, Louise, she has created a woman who is filled with her mother's nagging and her own doubts. But Louise is also a strong character, smart and looking for the right kind of love. Not only is the writing wonderful, but the plot is beautifully orchestrated. I cannot say enough about this book.
Rating:
Summary: Save your money
Review: I'm glad the library bought a copy of this book. I usually read more than one book at a time and Schulman doesn't fare well compared to Roth or Hamilton. I was intrigued at first, thinking here was a female answer to some of Updike's recent over the hill (and oversexed) male characters. Alas, the book disappointed me. It needed more careful editing, among other things. It could have been one-third shorter if some of the padded writing had been tightened. It was funny in spots, but the book is an example of a good premise spoiled.
Rating:
Summary: Save your money
Review: Louise Harrington ended her 10-year marriage to her former astronomy professor Peter, and now, four years later, she's still lonely and no happier than she was during their marriage. At age 37, she fears she is facing a lonesome spinsterhood. Louise and Peter are still very much involved in each other's lives and see each other several times a week. Their marriage seemed to end because of apathy and neglect. Louise's best friend since high school, Missy, lives across the country in Hollywood , but they talk to each other regularly. Louise's recent promotion in the admission department at Columbia University involves her in reviewing all applications, and she comes across an application from a student bearing the same name as her high school flame, Scott Feinstadt, who had died suddenly in a car accident on his way to college nearly 20 years ago. Out of curiousity, Louise calls F. Scott, ostensibly to review his application, but they immediately end up as lovers. In some weird time-warp, Louise believes that he is her first lover from so many years ago, the one she never got over. Missy, who had stolen Scott from her years ago, somehow finds out about this new relationship, and gets involved. Although they're supposedly best friends, it seems her life-long goal has been to interfere in Louise's affairs. Through some improbable plot twists and turns, Louise explores her relationships with Peter, Missy, the deceased Scott, her brother and her mother, eventually arriving at a better understanding of herself. P.S. is an interesting, quirky, humorous exploration of a woman looking for love and meaning in her life. At just over 200 pages, it's an entertaining way to spend a few hours.
Rating:
Summary: F. Scott = Topher Grace = Amazing
Review: They just made a movie based on this book and Laura Linney will be playing Louise, Topher Grace (Eric Foreman from That 70's Show) will be playing F. Scott, and Marcia Gay Harden will be Missy. I got excited, bought the book, and read it in a record 3 hours, while imagining these characters like they were in a movie with those stars playing them. It was great. I'm glad Topher Grace will be in the movie version, but after reading this book, I think Toby Maguire could have probably played a nice F. Scott also. This book had so many twists and was delicious from beginning to end. I couldn't put it down. I kept thinking, Helen Schulman, don't let me down now and let this be juicy from start to finish and she sure didn't let me down. It only dragged on a little cuz all I really cared about reading was the romance between Louise and her 24 year old look-a-like-returned-from-the-dead guy. I didn't care about what the ex-husband had to say or what her brother did that was so bad..yada yada...but I guess the author had to include some extra stuff to make it a complete book. Missy the bitchy bestfriend is exactly how a bitchy bestfriend should be, harsh but gives it to you real and straight. This book is definitely worth it so buy it.
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