Grand Avenue

Rating:
Summary: Another winner!
Review: Joy Fielding is one of the few authors I always buy in hardcover, and she never disappoints. I don't agree with the reader who said they hated the foreshadowing technique she used in telling us that in the end, two of the four women would be dead, one by violent means. That clue heightened the suspense for me and kept me guessing throughout. I also thought Fielding handled the relationships between the women with a sure, honest hand. This was a great read with a completely satisfying ending. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Fielding at her finest
Review: This book captivates you from the very first page, drawing you into the lives of four women. The characters are very real, and you find yourselves "living" with them, experiencing their laughter, their triumphs, their tears and at times, their despair. These women are our friends, neighbors, sisters, or perhaps even us. Once again, Joy Fielding gives us her best. A "must read"!

Rating:
Summary: MUST READ!
Review: What a GREAT book! I could not put it down. I also read "The First Time"- but this was much better.

Rating:
Summary: poochiboop
Review: This is the first Joy Fielding book I've read and I couldn't put it down! I am now looking for other books written by her because I've just discovered a new favorite author! She will keep you so engrossed in this story. You feel like you know all of these women personally. The story was so good and convincing that I brought this book everywhere I went until I finished it. Not easy with 5 year old twins but I couldn't help it! It was hard to stop reading after each chapter. I had to keep knowing what happened next. Read this book!

Rating:
Summary: Tear Jerker
Review: I read and love all of Joy Fieldings Books. This has to be one of my favorites. I cried at the ending and it is not often a book evokes that in me. I could just feel the fear Chris felt in her marriage. It was overwhelming. A true testament to friendship and motherhood. Have your hankies ready when you read this one!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: A Grand Read!
Review: I enjoyed visiting "Grand Avenue" and highly recommend it. It's a truly 'Grand book' that held my interest from the first to the last page. The story is about four friends, Chris, Barbara, Vicki and Susan. It follows their lives over the 20 year span from 1972-1992. It's an emotionally packed roller-coaster ride of friendships, relationships, families, suspense and murder leading to a powerful conclusion. The four friends who live on Grand Avenue and call themselves the 'Grand Dames' first meet at a playground where they bring their young children. Barbara is a vain woman obsessed with plastic surgery, Chris is an abused housewife, Vicki's a career bent lawyer married to a wealthy older man, and Susan's a Doctor's wife and homemaker determined to get her college degree.
Ms. Fielding is a gifted writer and she's very effectively brought these four friends to life in this emotional and intense page-turner. It's definitely a 'Grand Read'!!

Rating:
Summary: A Joy Fielding Must Read
Review: I have to say I thought it was worth the wait. I have read every one of her books, and this was the best. She just keeps getting better. Keep up the good work!

Rating:
Summary: Great Characters....
Review: From the first chapter, I felt like I personally knew the characters. But I also agree, I'm not sure I liked the foreshadowing device used....I prefer to be surprised. Although, I was quite surprised with the very clever twist at the end and felt the author did a superb job taking the reader along. I'm still a bit confused as to Tracey's real motive. Over all, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.....I love Fielding's style of writing and her in-depth character development. I also hated to see the story end and look forward to her next novel.

Rating:
Summary: Fielding strikes again!!
Review: IT IS NOT EASY TO CREATE A NOVEL IN WHICH THE CHARACTERS ARE CLEARLY DEVELOPED, THE STORY BELIEVABLE, AND THE ISSUES (SPOUSAL ABUSE, HOMOSEXUALITY, SEXUAL HARASSMENT TO NAME A FEW) ARE TOPICAL. JOY FIELDING TAKES THE READER TO THE WORLD OF HER 4 CHARACTERS QUITE ABLY. THE BOOK WAS TOTALLY ENJOYABLE; I WAS SORRY TO SEE IT END. WHEREAS SOME BOOKS ARE DISAPPOINTING IN THE END, FIELDING HOLDS THE READER'S INTEREST ALL THE WAY WITH ONE SURPRISE AFTER THE OTHER. THERE ARE FEW FAULTS WITH THIS BOOK: ALTHOUGH SOME CHARACTERS ARE TRULY BEAUTIFULLY DEVELOPED,
THE HUSBANDS OF THE 4 BECOME MUDDLED. ALSO CHRIS'S DEMISE IS COVERED IN ABOUT 2 SENTENCES--THE CHARACTER DESERVED MORE THAN THAT. THAT SAID, FIELDING MAKES US TRULY "FEEL" THE PAIN, AS WELL AS THE JOY OF HER CHARACTERS. THE STORY SUCKS THE READER IN FROM THE BEGINNING AND JUST DOESN'T LET GO. IF YOU ARE SENSITIVE AND LOVE RELATIONSHIP STORIES WITH COMPLICATED CHARACTERS...THIS ONE IS FOR YOU. I EAGERLY AWAIT FIELDING'S NEXT EFFORT!!

Rating:
Summary: Not So Grand
Review: This book is about friendships,marriage,divorce and children. It starts when the four women meet on a playground early in their marriages, following them thru twenty three years with the death of two of them, plus assorted events and other tragedies. The premise is excellent,however the story seems to jump from one year to a year or more later,leaving you feeling that perhaps a lot was left out that should have been included. None of the characters were developed enough to give a real sense of them as people. They come across as missing something essential to their whole. The various children played a vital role in this story,perhaps more interesting than their mothers. They,too, lacked full develpoment. The husbands,other than Tony,were almost shadow figures,there,but not yet there.This book had all the potential to be a wonderful story,but too many people,too many crises in such a long period of time,with a vapid ending,it ended up being a disappointment. It's a pleasamt read,but not equal to Joy Fielding's previous books.