Black and Blue

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Summary: This book is one of Oprah's best to me!!!!!*smile*
Review: Paradise was horrible and this book,,well i thought it was well worth reading,,unlike Paradise.This book is excellent,but i like Oprah's awful taste is reading books!! But this book is actually good!!!!!

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Summary: A Memorable Read!
Review: Black and Blue was one of those books that I just could not put down. The anxiety that Fran felt was also felt by the reader when she was described as looking over her shoulder, walking a different route each day, or her heart quickening each time the phone rang. The descriptions of the beatings and verbal abuse that Fran received so frequently made the reader cringe and wonder about all of the beaten women who cannot escape from their own lives. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I have already recommended it to several of my friends.

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Summary: Same Old Same Old
Review: I wasn't wowed. It was well-written but, quite frankly, boring and predictable. It moved a bit slow in parts.

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Summary: The more emotion Fran learns to feel so does the reader.
Review: The book moved quickly. I didn't get a feel of any emotion untill near the end. I felt like Fran just getting thru the day with little emotion. But at the end my heart broke and perhaps that is because Fran due to the pain had shut down. In the end she feels the pain because she has also felt joy. I would have liked for there to have been more not ended so quickly. But I like seeing women grow and become strong and Fran does do that.

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Summary: Couldn't put it down!
Review: Excellent! I couldn't believe the story; realizing that this happens to many women everyday -- her terror, her bravery, her progress back into life, her successes, I felt each and every one. Excellent reading - I'm buying her first book as soon as I can get to the bookstore!

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Summary: Powerful, gripping novel
Review: Black and Blue has the power and emotional involvement of One True Thing. In both books, Anna Quindlen was able to transform herself into the characters about which she writes. The reader feels as if the author actually experienced the situation she describes. The fear and paranoia that Fran/Beth felt reverberate on each page. I felt my heart beat faster with the impending danger that Fran/Beth anticipated and I relaxed when Fran felt she was out of danger - even if only temporarily. I read this book in three days and found it fascinating. The author succeeds in describing the anger, fear, and hopelessness that victims of spousal abuse experience. Everyone should read it.

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Summary: Well written and captivating
Review: It was a delight to read a novel which was both totally engrossing and a delight to read because of its writing style. Anna Quindlen not only knows how to develop a character and a gripping situation but she has excellent skills with words and construction. A refreshing change from the usual best seller!

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Summary: Heartbreaking intro into the world of domestic violence.
Review: I was one of those people who wondered why women stay with abusive men. This book clearly showed me how complicated love can be, and how powerless one can feel.

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Summary: A Worthy Read
Review: A vivid depiction of the inner struggles of a battered woman. This is the type of book that could prompt a woman in an abusive relationship to leave. . . . that is my hope as I pass this book on to a relative in need of the courage and power to leave. I would also hop that "Black and Blue" serves as a reminder to men who are not abusive of how devastating and destructive abuse can be on an entire family. I would hope tht this knowledge alone is sufficient o prevent men from ever raising a harsh hand to a woman. I commend survivors of sopusal abuse and Anna Quindlen for sharing their experience with the world.

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Summary: Hanging character questions creates disappointment
Review: A member of our book club read this. She loved it and understood Fran's decisions. Most of us didn't. As one woman said, "I thought I would cry and I didn't." I personally didn't get Fran: why didn't she follow the advice of the underground's leader? She endangered her child's life as well as her own (because she had been in a previous controlling relationship and needed to call the shots? What a dumb way to take control! Also, having researched the underground while in law school, I thought it irresponsible of Ms. Quinlan to almost glorify Fran's disobedience since there are strong legal consequences in being connected with the underground.) Her love for her son was almost overly evident (I found myself skimming some of the passages where Fran waxes on about her child), yet I didn't understand her decision to withhold the truth about his father even after she saw abusive tendencies in the boy when, after all, he was aware of the abuse. In the end, these two seemingly incomprehensible and illogical decisions resulted in the book's rather tragic ending. Many abused women come from similar backgrounds of abuse; apparently, Fran did not. So why did she stay? Was it all sexual? That's hard to buy -- many people have relationships which are harmful and part of maturing is realizing that no one should be allowed to treat you badly regardless of sexual attraction. (This led into an interesting discussion -- amazing how many women have had such relationships in their younger years). We all agreed that we couldn't put the book down, wanting to know what happens to Fran. The end is surprising and we agree that a sequel is a good idea if only to see if her second husband could handle the odd role he has!