Black and Blue

Rating:
Summary: Bait and switch?
Review: I was swept up by this woman's courage and determination to find a way out of a seemingly hopeless situation, and I found the book a real page-turner. But as I read on, I started feeling less comfortable with her and her obsession with her son Robert. It began to seem she'd substituted her obession with her abusive husband to an obsession with her son. After gaining my sympathy throughout the whole book and underlining it with her description of the conversation with her mother-in-law where the women insists blindly that her son is a good man and "nobody can tell me different", sending shivers down my back, Frannie herself says: "I don't give a damn about her, about her bruises and even her broken bones...I love my boy. I always have. I always will." All of the sudden there was no difference between Fran and Ann Benedetto? That's cheating.

Rating:
Summary: I love a book that brings you so intensely into the story!
Review: When I heard that Anna Quindlen had a new novel out, it was like hearing from an old friend. Black & Blue is not only about a battered woman; it is about how women see the world--our loves and joys, our regrets and disappointments. Although my husband loves me very much and has never been abusive, I related to Beth and Cindy and the way they dealt with the blows life handed them. Our humor, friendships, and children are our anchors. They provide us with strength and selfworth and show us ourselves in a way we would not see in our own mirrors. Thank you, Anna!

Rating:
Summary: vivid portrait of the lasting effects of domestic violence
Review: Although there is a lot of abuse in this book, the violence never seems gratuitous. The reader comes to understand that what Fran tells us about her life with Bobby is only the tip of the iceberg compared to all the horror she has had to endure. While I cheered her attempt to rebuild her life somewhere else, I felt the presence of Bobby in every word that Fran spoke, in every step she took to put her life back together. The sense of impending doom gathers steam as the book approaches its climax, which is both devestating and, somehow, expected.

Rating:
Summary: Made me better understand the plight of an abused woman
Review: As usual, Anna Quindlan did not disappoint me. I really like her characters - they are so real. They make me feel. Heart breaking. Courageous. Can't wait for her next book!

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: I couldn't put this book down; I was almost late to work because I had to finish the last chapter. I intend to give it to my teenage daughter to read next. Some of the incidents may not be entirely appropriate for her, but the message about spousal abuse is something all young women should read. As for those readers who reviewed this book and gave it a low rating because it was depressing, or repetitive about Bobby's violence or Fran's mind-set...DUH!! There is nothing uplifting about spousal abuse except for finding the courage to remove oneself from the situation. I have enjoyed Anna Quindlen's writing for years, and this novel only added to that opinion.

Rating:
Summary: Good Read...drags a bit!
Review: Enjoyed reading and sympathizing with Fran/Beth's life. Would love a sequel to catch up on Robert. Ending a bit predictable.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Year's Best
Review: 'Black and Blue' is absolutely marvelous! I could not put this book down! Anna Quindlen weaves a story of love, secrets, and lies that breaks your heart. It proves that there are no black-and-white solutions to life's most difficult problems; and, once a decision is made, there is no turning back -- a lesson that many of us should take to heart.

Rating:
Summary: A tragic account of abuse
Review: Anna Quindlen's "Black and Blue effectively portrays a woman's experience dealing with the devastating effects of an abusive marriage. What is marvelous about Ms. Quindlen's perspective in telling this story is that she allows us to go inside the mind of her main character rather than tell a chronological account of what has happened. No other novel has really explored the mind of a woman's experience with abuse as seen here in "Black and Blue." Fran Benedetto escapes her physically abusive husband with her son, Robert. Relocated from New York to Florida, Fran Benedetto now becomes Beth Crenshaw. What we deal with now is not only the fear Beth feels that her husband will find her but her fear in finding her identity as well. A different name, a different look, a different state or residence - these are all the different things Beth must come to terms with. But can we learn to accept our reality when we feel our identity is lost? Brillantly, Ms.. Quindlen shows us through the mind of Beth the process one must go through in dealing with such a tragic situation. I never wanted to refer to a book as an "Oprah book" but I feel it is necessary here. This is Oprah's April book selection and Oprah consistently chooses well-written, thought-provoking novels. However, Oprah is fixated on choosing novels dealing with abuse. Yes, I do think she has a moral obligation to teach the public about abuse and how to get out of it; however, my fear is that she is desenitizing us with this devastating issue. We are reading so much about this situation that I find myself not reacting to what abuse does. Reading "Black and Blue" I found myself not caring what happened to Beth and that was a sad state of affairs. To be fair, Ms. Quindlen wrote an excellent story which should be told - she is a good writer with the correct sense of moral obligation. I only hope Oprah realizes that there are other issues our society must deal with and pick books with different issues so that! we, the public, can look at and learn.

Rating:
Summary: heartbreaking
Review: I'm glad the reader from Baltimore pointed out the fact that victims of abuse habitually hold themselves at a distance from others. I thought this was a real strength of Quindlen's characterization of Fran, and it does account for the distance some readers may feel from her. I can't imagine not sympathizing with Fran's plight, myself, though, as I often felt I was actually inside her head. I was especially stunned by the reader who complained that the book is "depressing" (clearly meaning this as a weakness). A person who would make this complaint when women and children live this horror every day should be ashamed. Quindlen's novel is one of the most moving I've read in years; in fact, I cried through most of the last audiotape. I found Mrs. Leavitt's story about meeting her husband particularly astonishing; it made me gasp, and little fiction is that powerful. I also feel that Quindlen's understand of young Robert's situation is dead on. Like many other readers, I got through the novel quickly, in less than 24 hours. Lili Taylor's voice is exactly right for Beth; I've seldom heard a narrator so right. I look forward to teaching this novel in my women's literature class.

Rating:
Summary: Gripping, troubling
Review: I really enjoyed reading this book... Having been in a mildly abusive relationship in college, I understood exactly why Fran was afraid to leave, and the power that Bobby had to constantly frighten her into staying. Anna Quindlen's grasp on the dichotomy of Fran's weakness and her eventual strength were impressive. I felt pain with her pain, victory with her victory, and fear with her fear. I read the book this past weekend, and have already given it to a friend to read. Like most of the people below, I feel like the last chapters left some loose ends, but isn't that the way life realistically ends up? A good read, and I highly recommend it, though it won't leave you skipping for joy... It actually makes me want to go to our local battered women's shelter and try to help.