Rating: 
Summary: Well written but lacking.
Review: I have read about 70% of the Oprah Book Club Books (more of the early choices than the recent ones). While there are some I dearly love, and some I like but am not quite as enthusiastic about, there has never been one that I just couldn't wait to finish--until now. I had to push myself through the last half of this book to finish it. I found myself not caring about a single character in this book, and I quickly tired of Beth's incessant whining.Now before someone reads this and thinks I obviously know nothing about abuse, let me assure you I do. I grew up in a household where my father beat my mother AND my brother. I am no stranger to abuse, and yes it is a horrible horrible thing. But while Ms. Quindlen may have done a fine job at portraying the horrors of abuse, she failed to make me care anything about the people involved or to pull me into their story.
Rating:
Summary: Not worth it-probably will become a bad movie on Lifetime
Review: What a disappointment! Both this and "The Deep End of the Ocean" just rehash old stories. Worse, there is no unique point of view, no stellar writing, or anything to hold the readers attention. It's NOT the WORST book ever written, but its hardly worth the effort. The message is important, but the plot leaves much to be desired.
Rating: 
Summary: Typical Storry, Pulled off Masterfully
Review: The story told in Black and Blue was not one that I had never heard. It was, however, one that needs to be told more often. Ms. Quindlen's command of the language is fabulous, and she tells the story with a power that I was not expecting, and I was engaged from the moment I opened the book. A pleasent surprise, but a painful read.
Rating: 
Summary: An important book
Review: I did not find myself compelled through the book and somehow felt distanced from the story. I believe it is an important book, but certainly one I would not read in one sitting.
Rating:
Summary: BORRRRRING!
Review: I picked this up for no particular reason. I saw it in the Bestseller section and figured "How bad can it be?" Well, pretty bad. Perhaps "bad" isn't the correct term, since the author writes fairly well. It's just that the story was so slow I felt like I was waiting for something, ANYTHING to happen to keep me going. Reading shouldn't involve that much work. I liked the characters a lot, but I need more action.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good, for an old story . . .
Review: This type of story is almost overused, but Quindlen depicts abusive relationships in a way that isn't stale or cliche. Very suspenseful in places, with an appropriate sad ending. If there was a happy ending, it wouldn't be as good. Definitely worth reading.
Rating: 
Summary: I felt like I was living through the experience with her.
Review: Black and Blue is a great read. I liked the way the author shared the details of what living with abuse feels like and the losses she felt when she finally made the decision to leave. It was the little things that most people don't think about when you flee an abusive situation. Sleeping in your own bed, your own closet full of clothes, the freedom to be who you are and to support yourself in the trade you have been trained in - your favorite coffee mug and the little things that made your house a home. She painted a picture of her husband that helped you to see why she fell in love with him in the first place and how that love turned into fear. She helped you to understand how living in a situation like this changes how you think and who you are. I especially appreciated that she depicted the victim as someone who was strong, loving, intelligent and a survivor. She dispelled a lot of myths which is always refreshing. Domestic Violence is a reality of our times. This book helps you to see things from the victim's viewpoint. I couldn't relate to the relocation experience although I know it exists. I can only hope that it is this flawless in it's procedures. Unfortunately for this woman, it wasn't however, flawless enough.
Rating:
Summary: Not too great
Review: I guess it was OK. I have always enjoyed her work and wanted more from this book. It was too predictable and didn't keep to the story. I wanted to be kept in suspense and I wasn't. It wasn't all Oprah said it would be.
Rating:
Summary: Very heart-wrenching and hard to put down!
Review: I stayed up late a few times so I could get through some of the captivating places in the book. I think this book was wonderful and depicted very well the hardships of abusive relationships and having a child involved. I don't want to give a lot away, but I really recommend this to anyone. It is a hard book at places and will make you cry, and the ending will make you mad and make you think and make you want to re-write it, but it is very truthful in the way it describes life and living. Definitely a must-read!!!
Rating:
Summary: Sporadically credible
Review: The only authenticity apparent in this sad novel is the range of emotions experienced by Fran. The emotions and indecision experienced by her are very close to those experienced by battered women. The rest of the novel (save the ending) seems to be a battered woman's fantasy getaway, with no bills, an immediate job, and a sweet guy just yearning to be husband to her and father to her son....and he's single. A bit contrived, but it does accurately portray, at times, the difficulty faced when deciding to leave an abusive realtioship.
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