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Summary: Fielding's Bittersweet Story of Life and Love Is Awesome
Review: Having enjoyed Joy Fielding's GRAND AVENUE so much, I was anxious to read another by this author. I secretly doubted she could duplicate the magic of the aforementioned book, but she did! The story is completely different, but the same compelling style of writing reels you in and makes you never want to put the book down.You will be completely involved in Mattie Hart's life from the opening line when she is thinking of ways to kill her philandering husband to the unthinkable request she makes of her mother. You will be struck by the inner strength this woman brings to her life as well as to that of her family and deeply touched by the graphic description of a terminal illness. Jake Hart, her husband, is an interesting creation. He doesn't love his wife, never has. He only married her because she was pregnant and Jake always likes to do the right thing. He constantly cheats on Mattie throughout their sixteen years of marriage and has never said "I love you" to her. So what's to like about a man like this? Amazingly, Fielding is able to present a side of Jake that touches every emotional note and leaves you rooting for this multi-faceted character. From a comical steak-throwing spree in a Chicago grocery store to a wildly romantic chase through a Paris airport, Mattie and Jake's story will leave you breathless. Add to the mix their daughter Kim who is experiencing her first sexual misadventure and Mattie's mother who could never love her daughter like she needed to be loved. THE FIRST TIME explores the ties that bind and the power of love to overcome the deepest wounds people can inflict upon one another. Inspiring and highly emotional, this book is one that touches the heart with its realism and poignant moments.
Rating: 
Summary: Heartfelt and Realistic
Review: The First Time is a novel that was read over the course of a weekend. When I was not actively reading, the characters and the story line occupied many of my thoughts. Mattie, who has pretended to be oblivious to Jake's regular infidelity, discovers that she has ALS - Lou Gehrig's Disease and has only a short time to live. Jake, who has recently moved out of the home, returns with a guilty conscience and feels that he must take care of Mattie and their daughter, Kim. Family members are dealing with their own turmoil. Kim is experiencing great difficulties in school. Jake, the ever-strong successful lawyer is struggling with Mattie's illness and a childhood that continues to haunt. Joy Fielding was able to take the troubled marriage between Mattie and Jake Hart and explore how their union was forged, what factors kept them together, and what was tearing them apart. The Hart family is on the edge; Fielding explores the feelings in a realistic and heartfelt manner. Characters that are alive and realistic occupy space in The First Time. The novel is engrossing and realistic throughout. Keep a few Kleenex's handy; you will likely shed a tear before the final page is turned! The First Time was my first experience with Joy Fielding; I will definitely be back for more!
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Summary: Not quite a winner, but close....-
Review: THE FIRST TIME by Joy Fielding For those who enjoy a novel full of emotional plot twists, THE FIRST TIME by Joy Fielding is the book of choice. It is a story of a family that is about to be torn apart by infidelity, but brought back together through illness. Mattie Hart is a successful art dealer with the so-called perfect family: she has a successful husband, a darling teenage daughter, and a beautiful home. But this family's foundations are not made of strong stuff. Mattie and Jake married for one reason only: Mattie was pregnant. And although they had fun times together and enjoyed each other's company, they would never have married if it were not for their soon-to-be born daughter, Kim. The book opens with Mattie being angry once again because she's found evidence that Jake is having yet another affair. She is tired of being in a loveless marriage. Her husband Jake eventually moves out, but Mattie's troubles are not over. She finds that she is having some physical problems, namely walking and using her hands. It at first seems to be nothing, but her best friend convinces Mattie to be checked out at the hospital. What Mattie finds out is devastating and if her world wasn't already falling apart because of Jake, this news changes everything. For the most part, I enjoyed reading THE FIRST TIME. There were a few issues I had with the book, mainly finding that I could not feel much sympathy for the main character Mattie. She rubbed me the wrong way, as did her daughter Kim. The story and the writing I was able to enjoy, and if it weren't for that, I would not have finished reading the book. Although I didn't buy into how these characters behaved in some situations in the story, I found Joy Fielding's writing made it more believable for me. I know, however, that if this were a real life story, the story of Mattie and Jake would have been a totally different book with a different ending. I'm giving THE FIRST TIME 3.5 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: The Fight of Her Life
Review: In "The First Time", the main character, Mattie, has many battles on her hands: she must try to save her marriage, she must face the fact that she will die very soon from recently diagnosed ALS, and she must deal with all of the problems associated with having a 15-year-old daughter. Mattie, Jake, and Kim must all come to terms with the way their lives are changing and this change is the main theme of the book. Fielding adeptly takes the reader into their heads and hearts as each of them struggles with the knowledge of what is ahead and how they will handle it. This author is able to give the reader a good interior view of all the characters and what motivates them to act the way they do, especially their childhoods. The secondary characters are not as well fleshed out, in my opinion-- Mattie's mother and Honey Novak, in particular. Somehow this book did not have the flow that her previous works have had, but it was still a good read. Having had a friend who died from ALS, I would say that her research on this awful disease was fairly good. One thing that bothered me was the use of expensive brand names (this is a particular sore spot for me).Do we really need to know that Mattie's sofa was Ultrasuede or that she drank Evian water? On the whole, however, this was a fairly good read, but not nearly as affirming a book about a disease as was "Traveling Light" by Katrina Kittle.
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Summary: Pretend to Love Me!
Review: The inside flap claims this is a page-turner, it doesn't disappoint. It is the story of a woman and her relationships. Mattie Hart is a beautiful woman living the American Dream. She has a fulfilling career, successful Husband, and a beautiful child but her life is a series of lets play pretend. Pretend to be the all American family, pretend your husband isn't having affairs, and pretend everything is perfect. The truth is her 16-year marriage is a sham; her husband never loved her and only married her because she was pregnant. His string of adulterous relationships is now part of their everyday life. At 36, Mattie Hart is thinking instead of just going with the flow things are getting ready to change. She loves her husband even with his infidelities, she loves her life, but she wants to be loved, needs to be loved. After a short series of life altering events she demands: Loyalty, Passion, and Love from her husband. Through out this book you discover childhood secrets that alter how you see a relationship, a marriage, and a person. The book does an excellent job depicting how your childhood past really is carried with you in life and how strong those feelings haunt us in adulthood. To say some of the realizations of Mattie's and Jakes life are powerful is an understatement. Both Mattie and Jake struggle with their childhood past to cope with the demons they carry. This book was an emotional journey of Love and Loyalty amongst a family. Truly Joy Fielding is a wonderful author and I will read more of her work. girldiver:)
Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL
Review: After trying to get into a few crime/suspense novels, I picked up 'The First Time' just for something different and was blown away as to what an excellent book this was. Mattie Hart has spent her entire marriage turning a blind eye to her husbands unfaithfulness and is slowly falling apart. After a few strange happenings and feelings, she is diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, a crippling disease that eventually is fatal. Her husband, feeling guilty, returns home to help her and look after his teenage daughter. Basically, this book is very thin on plot, but it isn;t the plot that makes this story interesting, it is the three main characters, that make this book unforgettable and un-put-down-able! Even though the story rushes toward a tragic ending, it is the emotion, psychology and dialogue that will have the reader glued to the book. I definately recommend this book if you are after something that will stay with you and is superbly written. Well done, Ms Fielding!
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Summary: The First Time
Review: Had foul language, some sexual situations.. Other than those things the story itself kept me hanging there, it kept me on a roller coaster of emotions..... I liked it though.
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Summary: Sickness Pulls The Family Together-A Great Read!
Review: In the beginning of the book, Mattie, the main character was getting ready to kill her husband for his betrayals. He was involved in yet another love affair, and Mattie was at her wits end. Within the beginning of the story, Mattie was having odd symptoms, and until she caused a car accident that was very serious, didn't realize why. Once she finds out, the news is very devastating. Jake, feeling terribly guilty, needs to come back home. Their daughter Kim, resents Jake for his betrayal toward her mother, and can hardly stand his presence in the house. As the story moves forward though, Mattie continues in a downward spiral, and Kim will have to come to grips with the circumstances that are hard to accept. Joy Fielding's best book yet-very worthwhile reading!
Rating:
Summary: Great Read!!
Review: I could't put it down, I wanted to know what would happen to Mattie next. Joy Fielding has me hooked and I want to read all her books if they are as good as this one. Be prepared and get a box of kleenex for this one.........
Rating:
Summary: Made my list of top 10 faves...
Review: Wow. You know how sometimes you read a book..and when youre finished..you actually hesitate to read another because you still feel so moved??? Well.."The First Time" is one of those books. It is absolutely heartwrenching. Romantic..sooo romantic..soo real. The characters of Jake and Mattie were wonderfully developed. I highly recommend sinking your teeth into this fantastically romantic and well written story.
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