Talking in Bed

Rating:
Summary: Surprised to be So Touched and Moved
Review: Antonya Nelson's Talking in Bed is a wonderful book. I became enraptured by the three main characters and fell head long into their lives. The triangle they form changes all their lives forever and even the resolution is equal parts both satisfying and disturbing because these three people will never be the same. That is both good and bad as it is the world outside of fiction. I give the author many points for making me care so much about these people (and even the main couple's children are given marvelous, small places to shine). The book is smart and very touching without becoming sentimental. There are no epiphanies only small decisions and deceits that reverberate. A wonderful read.

Rating:
Summary: Surprised to be So Touched and Moved
Review: Antonya Nelson's Talking in Bed is a wonderful book. I became enraptured by the three main characters and fell head long into their lives. The triangle they form changes all their lives forever and even the resolution is equal parts both satisfying and disturbing because these three people will never be the same. That is both good and bad as it is the world outside of fiction. I give the author many points for making me care so much about these people (and even the main couple's children are given marvelous, small places to shine). The book is smart and very touching without becoming sentimental. There are no epiphanies only small decisions and deceits that reverberate. A wonderful read.

Rating:
Summary: Maybe worth your time
Review: If you're the type of person that analyzes everything, then I think you would like Talking in Bed. If you don't like analyzing and just want to get through your day and life as it hits you, then Talking in Bed will drive you crazy. I'm stuck somewhere in-between these two types of people, so even though I was slightly annoyed by the character's over-analyzing of everything (even having a puppy -- which is just a small paragraph in the book, not even part of the book as a whole), I did finish the book. I think if a good editor came along and stripped out about 100 pages or so of Ms. Nelson's novel, then Talking in Bed would have appealed more to me.

It's just a bit too much for a situation that happens in life (marriage falling apart, death in family, infidelity -- not really new and shocking at this point of my life). I'm not even sure if at the end of the novel that the characters have grown at all or learned anything from their experiences. Only one character seemed to come to terms with something he did (killed his father -- but you have to read the book to understand that's not as mental as it may sound), and once he told his wife about doing it two years later, he was instantly absolved and mentally healthier. I just find that hard to believe.

Talking in Bed has some pretty heavy content but it's not content that I think is necessarily worth the time getting through. Use your best judgment based on your personality, otherwise you may be completely annoyed that you spent the money on the book.

Rating:
Summary: Maybe worth your time
Review: If you're the type of person that analyzes everything, then I think you would like Talking in Bed. If you don't like analyzing and just want to get through your day and life as it hits you, then Talking in Bed will drive you crazy. I'm stuck somewhere in-between these two types of people, so even though I was slightly annoyed by the character's over-analyzing of everything (even having a puppy -- which is just a small paragraph in the book, not even part of the book as a whole), I did finish the book. I think if a good editor came along and stripped out about 100 pages or so of Ms. Nelson's novel, then Talking in Bed would have appealed more to me.

It's just a bit too much for a situation that happens in life (marriage falling apart, death in family, infidelity -- not really new and shocking at this point of my life). I'm not even sure if at the end of the novel that the characters have grown at all or learned anything from their experiences. Only one character seemed to come to terms with something he did (killed his father -- but you have to read the book to understand that's not as mental as it may sound), and once he told his wife about doing it two years later, he was instantly absolved and mentally healthier. I just find that hard to believe.

Talking in Bed has some pretty heavy content but it's not content that I think is necessarily worth the time getting through. Use your best judgment based on your personality, otherwise you may be completely annoyed that you spent the money on the book.

Rating:
Summary: Thought provoking
Review: This book made me question whether a person can be both an intellectual, who is not guided by instinct and a person who can feel unconditional love for another human being. I think that the two personalities are exclusive and that each contributes its abilities to the world.

Rating:
Summary: Thought provoking
Review: This book made me question whether a person can be both an intellectual, who is not guided by instinct and a person who can feel unconditional love for another human being. I think that the two personalities are exclusive and that each contributes its abilities to the world.

Rating:
Summary: Good Story--Expected More
Review: Thoroughly enjoyable relationship story. The line that stuck with me (I quote from memory so excuse any deviation) is: "people are like artichokes, it takes alot of work to get to the heart"...