Rating: 
Summary: Never judge a book by it's...title
Review: Never having the pleasure of reading any of Shreve's works prior to delving into "All He Ever Wanted", I admittedly formed an unfair and premature opinion of the novel based on its somewhat flimsy melodramatic title. However, I was soon to discover that it is definitely a fitting and descriptive cover for the thespian narrative that unravels within. I was also taken unaware that this was a period piece, set in New England in the early part of the 20th Century - a fact I was all too happy to uncover, as I am an aficionado of period works. "All He Ever Wanted" is a heart-wrenching account of unrequited love, obsession, jealousy and betrayal; exploring the most intense (and at times, darkest) workings of the human heart. Dreary and rather depressing, this candid narrative painstakingly chronicles a marriage of convenience gone sadly awry. It is written in the voice of Nicholas van Tassel, an English literary professor at a small college in New England as he ponders upon the memories of his fateful past... One harrowing evening after escaping a restaurant fire, van Tassel happens upon the striking Etna Bliss and is instantaneously enraptured. Here commences their somewhat stifled and confusing courtship. Ultimately, their marriage forces each character to make critical compromises that will change their lives forever: Man gives up romantic ideal of marriage (knowing full well his wife does not love him) if only to 'possess' her for himself; Woman relinquishes hope of marrying someone she loves and settles instead for a man who offers her freedom and a degree of independence (which is ultimately counterfeit). Although the story is a little slow and one-dimensional at the outset, as the plot proceeds the reader will be taken in by the rich detail and character definition that quickly develops. The letters between certain characters were also a nice touch, allowing a glimpse into their personal thoughts - a unique perspective for the reader, digressing temporarily from the narrator's recital. All in all, I must say I was thoroughly impressed by Shreve's shrewd portrayal of affections not reciprocated in "All He Ever Wanted"...it is a theme all too familiar in the human game of love.
Rating: 
Summary: Gripping and Unforgettable
Review: Anita Shreve simply does not write ordinary books. Even her lesser efforts tend to leave the reader gasping for air at the end--and "All He Ever Wanted," one of her best, in my opinion, is breathtaking in the same shocking way. Written entirely from the point of view of a stodgy male college professor circa 1900, this is the story of a passion so intense, so unlike the writer himself, that it is scarcely believable, especially when related in the stilted flowery language of the day. Nicholas Van Tassel, a rather ordinary pedantic with nothing particularly unusual about him, happens to be in a hotel restaurant when it catches fire. This single pivotal episode in his otherwise unremarkable life changes him forever--it is during the rescue effort that he encounters Miss Etna Bliss, and falls head over heels into a passion that borders on, indeed IS, an obsession. Hampered by the extreme rules of etiquette governing proper men and women of the day, Van Tassel nevertheless pursues Miss Bliss, finally persuading her to marry him despite her the fact that, as she honestly tells him, she does not love him. Love will come, thinks Van Tassel, hardly able to believe his luck in winning his prize. And that hope, that fantasy, that overwhelming obsession of his entire being, eventually destroys the narrator, his wife, and his entire family. Shreve stays in character completely and thoroughly, managing to evoke the failings of the man himself, the restrictions of the society in which he lives, and the hopelessness of his obsession without ever once betraying herself. It is safe to say that the author stays well in the background while letting Van Tassel tell his own tragic story. I consider this book a minor masterpiece. Shreve is an acquired taste, I know--but truly innovative and absolutely original in every book she writes. "All He Ever Wanted" is no exception.
Rating: 
Summary: Begged to borrow it--then returned it unread--tiresome book
Review: The stilted language was unbearable. The pace was horrific. I am a big Shreve fan, but this was a disappointment. I read the first 50 or so pages, skimmed the end. On the bright side, I guess Shreve does a very convincing old man!
Rating: 
Summary: this book was not what i was expecting
Review: i expected bigger lies and bigger deciet but it just wasn't that. i mean the guy was wrong for not letter her have the house.
Rating:
Summary: The obsession with love!
Review: What a read this book will be for those who decide to pick it up. Nicolas Van Tassel stumbles, in a tragic fire, upon a woman whom he finds himself completely consummed with. Suddenly his entire purpose in life is to have her, marry her, and if possible, win her love back. Is this possible? Can someone fall in love with you simply because you love them? Can decidng to 'settle' on marrying someone really be a pay off in the end? And what about women, not only of hte early 1900's , but of today also- who find themselves absolutely consumed in their family and home- what is their freedom in life? And finally, what is 'crossing the line', when you yearn for the one you love to be near you..... These questions are all so complex, and this novel will push you to the end of exploring these questions. A deeply moving yet very subtle novel. Very light on dialogue, this story consists more of Van Tassel and his obsession filled thoughts, his needs and desires, and how they rule his life. I was a bit stunned on his final admission of freeedom from this obsession and the only way he reaches it.
Not a fast paced novel, but defintely deep and emotional..... through VanTassel's point of view you only pity him and his warped view of love. This is a book that will keep you thinking and discussing long into the night..... a good book for people who love to read!
Rating: 
Summary: A Very Good Read
Review: Anita Shreve is very readable. She writes this novel as her others - with intelligence, and a penetrating look into the human heart and motivations. Like some of the other reviewers, I agree that this one may be a little short on story but it is written as a "memoir" from the husband's perspective in a 3-day train ride. So the reality of that would not lend itself to a War and Peace type of novel. If you enjoy Anita Shreve, you will like this book a lot. So far my favorite is Fortune's Rocks.
Rating:
Summary: All He Ever Wanted - Outstanding
Review: Couldn't put it down. Evoked so many conflicting emotions. So well written and thought provoking. I really enjoyed this book.
Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: So slow I never even finished
Review: I absolutely loved The Pilots Wife...couldn't put it down til I finished. This book I put down way before I finished it! It just counldn't capture my interest it was so slow and boring.
I won't give up on reading other books she has written since The Pilots Wife was so good, hopefully her others are just as good.
Just one little amazing fact...this great author lives just a few miles down the road from me and never heard of her until Oprah Winfrey featured her and The Pilots Wife.
Rating:
Summary: Long on human behavior short on plot
Review: Wow did I ever love Shreve's "Fortune's Rocks", "Sea Glass" and "The Pilot's Wife", but this one took a turn somewhere into less than a page turner. Her description of how Etna and Van Tassel meet after a fire is riveting and charming. The unraveling of their relationship that never really was as told by Van Tassel is uncomfortable as intended but not as compelling as the description of their initial connections.
There are moments of genius in the way Shreve works Van Tassel's unlikeable character into the book. I think though that because he's so despicable I projected that dislike of him into the my overall opinion. This book is good no doubt - but not really enough to rise to the level of some of her best I'm afraid.
Rating:
Summary: GOOD ...........but slow
Review: This book started off very very slow. I kept reading and did find it hard to put down but at the same time found myself getting bored at times. Still...a good story but many unresolved issues in the end.
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