Black and Blue

Rating:
Summary: Tries too hard to tug on your heart strings
Review: This book starts off with Frances Benedetto explaining why she has to leave her husband. It seems more like a documentary, almost, because of the little dialog. It's attention-grabbing, and keeps you intrigued; it's a great book overall, especially the ending, which is heart wrenching, but this book tries so hard to build you up to that point, to try to tug on your heartstrings and make you cry, that it gets pretty pathetic.

Rating:
Summary: Old topic- written with finesse
Review: Yes, it is possible to take such a subject that is so over-written such as spousal abuse & still make in interesting. Quindlen is a great writer, like she's weaving a tapestry.
You are cheering for Fran. You begin to understand what it's like to be her. What it's like to be in her position.
This one is worth checking out.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: wow. I just finished Black and Blue and can I say that agian, wow. This novel is full of romance,action,mystery,suspense, and drama. What more could you ask for? I would recommend reading the last hundred pages in your own bedroom. No need for the embarassment of breaking out in tears while drinking a cup of cofee at Starbucks.
The only negative thoughts that I have come up with is that the story just leaves you there. I'm sure readers are screaming for a sequel (hint hint Anna).Also I had to reread parts so I could figure out if i'm in the past or present. I reccomend this book to readers who soak up details and information easly. Overall, Black and Blue is an amazing novel.

Rating:
Summary: Not for parents
Review: I just finished reading this book last night and went to bed with a huge pit in my stomach. The first section of the book gives you the history of why she needs to get away and how she does it and then it goes into how she manages her new life with her son, but the ending is absolutely horrible. Yes, it some minds it could be called a reality check, but for myself and other parents, it's the unthinkable. I couldn't get this book back to the library fast enough this morning. And I couldn't hug my son enough times before leaving for work. I would not recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: More of a commentary on domestic abuse than a novel
Review: This book was well-written and I enjoyed it while I read it, but looking back now, I have different insights. First of all, it is pretty much your typical domestic abuse novel that doesn't go beyond what any of the others do. The best parts of the book are therefore between mother and son and other quirky things that happen in Fran Benedetto's everyday life in hiding. Bobby was the typical abusive husband stereotype; tough, a cop, and capable of great violence. I understand this book was meant to explain the dangers of domestic violence, but as a result, it ceased to be a novel with satisfactorily developed characters. Bobby therefore wasn't a human being but an approaching tornado that would once again wreak havoc on Fran and her son's life if he found her. And guess what, the ending came as no surprise.
I liked how Robert showed signs of a fierce anger. At least he wasn't a little angelic boy who never said a word and just sat locked up in his room all day. However, he wasn't really unique either. And neither was Fran. It is understandable why she was afraid to leave, and she was a very tough cookie who could face down an armed robber at the pastry shop where she once worked but not her husband, but still, I found her inner turmoil, and her dialogue with her son ( "you know I wouldn't ever hurt you like your father hurt me", etc.) was way too cliche.
So, this book does give insight into the turmoil and danger connected in abusive households but it fails to deliver anything really substantial. Good for naive people who think that if their husband hits them, he truly loves them. Not good for those who are so sick of the word "domestic abuse" that they'll likely puke if they read one more full-length novel about it. You know, in my opinion, this issue has been driven so far into the ground that it is beyond the normal six feet. I'd say it's good and dead (I'm not talking about in life, but when it comes to writing about it). I dare someone to write a good, honest, enlightening domestic abuse novel. Either take up my challenge, or just leave that poor dead horse alone.

Rating:
Summary: Heart-wrenching...
Review: It is usually my policy to lean away from this type of book and dive into classic literature. A couple days ago, however, my mind just wasn't up to the challenge. So I picked up this book instead, for a change.

WOW! Well, it was a change alright. Anna Quindlen's use of the first person really allows you to get right into the story, to feel like you could be Frances Benedetto yourself. I had to stop reading more than once just to reflect on the intensity of the situation. While the style of writing isn't perfect, it works because spousal abuse is far from perfect itself. I cried through the whole last thirty pages or so. This book is accessible to anyone, both young readers and old. It's definitely not a "must-have" in my books, but it is recommended. It'll turn your insides black and blue.

Rating:
Summary: Sad realism
Review: This book disturbed me just because of the subject matter, but of course that was anticipated. It's just sad that it could be the true story of a number of women. I can't imagine being as scared as this woman was. It's pretty well written but weak in some spots. It's not a repeat listener, but it's okay once.

Rating:
Summary: Gave me a little peek into my mother's mind...
Review: This book was not what I had expected in terms of story development. I thought the story was going to be more of a suspense novel with the husband trying to track down his wife and his wife moving from place to place in an attempt to flee from her husband. The story is more about a woman's thoughts on why her husband beat her and on how hard it was for her to make her son understand her decision to leave her husband.

Frances, the main character of the story, is a difficult woman to understand. This is from my limited perspective but also because Quindlen tries to be as realistic as possible about Frances, making her complex and unobjective.

Overall, this story allowed me into the mind of a woman who loved her son so much that she was willing to stay in an unhappy marriage for a long time because she believed that her son would have a "good Daddy".

It's a passable book. Not fantastic but gives an insight into how self-sacrificing mothers can be when it comes to their children.

Rating:
Summary: Anna has done better
Review: I love Anna Quindlen's writing, but I do not think that this was her best. It was a very predictable book and didn't have the impact on me that her previous book, "One True Thing" did.

Rating:
Summary: Why call the police, when you are married to it?
Review: Anna Quindlen did a fine job to describe the battered woman's fate. The story is quite convincing, even though the author was never physically abused herself. I found her style fascinating, and I didn't encounter a dull moment reading this account. I will read this author again. ...