Rating: 
Summary: A real page turner
Review: I started this book on Thursday night and just finished it today (Saturday). I really enjoyed the suspense and the underlying idea that you can't ever truly know another person. Although some people didn't enjoy the book as much, I found it to be great.
Rating: 
Summary: Diverting if a bit predictable
Review: I was given this book by my mother who knows I love books written by Anita Shreve. However, this one really disappointed me. I am surprised because I think it was this book that was picked for Oprah's Book Club. I have to say that in my view, this is one of the weaker novels by Shreve that I have read. Books like Fortune's Rocks, The Weight of Water and, my personal favourite, The Last Time They Met, are far superior in style and content.That said, Shreve is head and shoulders above most writers and I still enjoyed this book immensely. This is a story about a widow who discovers her husband's secret life after he dies at the helm of the plane he was flying, killing nearly 200 passengers along with him. Although the plot is not hard to predict, it is nevertheless a very engrossing story. Those readers who have not yet discovered the marvellous Anita Shreve will be sucked in!
Rating: 
Summary: boring, contrived, absurd
Review: I'd like to know what publishers (and Oprah) are smoking when they applaud something like this. As a daughter of a commercial airline pilot, I found the majority of Shreve's assumptions almost rude. "A pilot's wife is taught to be prepared for the late night knock at the door." ?! Is Kathryn's supposed "preparation" for this the reason her "grief" is more appropriate for the death of a beloved goldfish? WARNING, MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW Furthermore we're supposed to believe that: 1) An American (as in US-born) pilot (99% of which are trained by the US military) would be involved even remotely in anything related to organized terrorism. And one with children? Even before 9/11, this just stinks. Oh yeah, he was DRAFTED and came out of Vietnam a pilot. Did he just skip stringent military flight training? They just pushed him into the cockpit during combat, I guess. He's got expensive taste in antique checkerboards, terrible fashion sense when it comes to his own wardrobe, but Bergdorf-lavish when it comes to gifts for the wife. 2) Aforementioned pilot seems to feel that his mother, in a nursing home with Alzheimer's, is just better off "dead" in the minds of his wife and child. 3) A beautiful Londoner would marry aforementioned pilot knowing full well that doing so was intercontinental bigamy. And then bring TWO children into the world as a result of this union. 4) The "union" representative who calls on Kathryn for most of the novel. This is his job? How often do domestic US airlines have crashes? Two or three a year? (9/11 excluded) With a crew of 4-10 on each flight are we supposed to believe that the pilot/attendant unions have these people on staff, who are pilots, not psychiatrists or even psychologists, available seemingly for months on end to counsel the families. Who can accompany said grieving family member via First Class to London. And of course, this "union" representative knows ALL the details of something which only the FBI and maybe the FAA would be privy. Even before 9/11 (I'm sounding repetitive), the airlines and the unions cannot support a program such as this. And even if they did, any sexual encounter, or any suggestion thereof, involving a counselor and a grieving family member would be just another lawsuit among the many. 5) An anti-IRA group planted a bomb on an American airliner via IRA infiltration. Yeah. Okay, sure. Whatever, Anita. No way. "Can we ever really know another person?" I guess not, provided you're inherently stupid.
Rating:
Summary: Surprising!
Review: The first part of this book went slow for me... perhaps because I didn't give the book enough attention.. the second half went really fast! A coworker had read the book, and she mentioned their were some surprises in it... even knowning some were coming, I was still surprised. I don't want to give anything away. I do feel that a lot more could have been done with the way it ended. The story was really built up, but then seemed to just throw a lot of the details away at the end. Overall, it was a good book though - I would recommend it. Not the best book I've ever read - but definately a fun read.
Rating: 
Summary: one of the best books
Review: i bought this book as something to read on the way home from florida i bought it at a sam's book club. i started reading it and once i got past the chapter two i was the pilot's wife i could feel her pain and hurt the feeling of being completely lost without the one you love. the sadness of having to deal with your own pain and yet staying strong enough for your child. the detail in this book made you feel like you were there. once you start reading this book i bet you won't be able to put it down it breaks your heart,makes you cry,makes you laugh and it really makes you think! i would definetly recommend this book to anyone!
Rating:
Summary: Very moving book, a roller coaster
Review: This is one of my favorites of Anita Shreve. If you haven't read her before, this is a good book to try. I love all of her stories, they are so easy to relate to. They are also realistic.
This book will make you cry, it's a lot like the movie Random Hearts, so if you liked that movie...
Rating:
Summary: A Great and Simple Story
Review: I think that this book would have boring if it was written in any other way or by any other person. The way she goes into detail about the stages of grief, shock, and recovery from a heart broken by betrayal is very realistic. Shreve also uses flashback about every other chapter to entertain and suggest to the reader the huge difference between Kathryn's life "then and now"; one of loyalty and one of betrayal and uncovered lies. It is a beautifully written story and there are enough characters for anyone to relate to this great novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Much to do about nothing
Review: I also made the mistake of following Oprah's recommendation. This book was rather disappointing and quite boring. Although I did care about the Pilot's wife and I was surprised about her husband's deceit, it wasn't enough material to write a whole novel. It was predictable and the end of the book was slow to come.
Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: No, not all women write because they are angry at men. However, I don't want to defend all of womankind in this space! I read this book because I had read from sources other than the Oprah circuit that this was an interesting and original book. However, I was not impressed with it at all. The writing felt self conscious and clunky and I did not feel any sympathy for the main character. I realized at the end that I had not even formed a mental picture of the husband and couldn't imagine his life at all before the plane crashed. Blah is all I have to say. Next time I'll pick up a Guy Vanderhaeghe novel and breathe a sigh of relief as I am swept into an engaging and well written story.
Rating:
Summary: Borrow This One
Review: This is a quick, light read for a long weekend that won't task too many brain cells. The writing is good, with definite ups and downs to the story, but unfortunately it left me wondering about the plausibility of the ending. I felt disappointed upon finishing it. You won't quit reading halfway through, but definitely borrow this one or visit the library. The writing style is good and left me wanting to try one her other novels (which I did). Worth reading!
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