Rating: 
Summary: Very Enjoyable Read
Review: I don't want to judge whether Peyton Place and its sequel is a good or great novel or not, as it is rather pointless. People mostly use their own subjective standards for such judgment. However, I do enjoy reading this book thoroughly. As to the sexual explicitness, I can imagine that it would be "groundbreaking" in the fifties as far as it being on printed pages; they otherwise did not seem overly dramatized.The book gives me a sense of what a New England small town life is like. Of course, I don't, for a minute, believe that the events are typical. I enjoyed all of the characters Grace Metalious sculpted, and I also liked the plot very much. Grace Metalious constructed a perfect web of links between the characters to tell her story. At the center was the evolving relationship between Constance, her husband Tom (Mike) and her daughter, Allison. The other characters, such as Selena Cross, and the Harringtons added important sidelights. The sequel was quite well done and provided a welcome sense of closure, although it is not as riveting as the original. Yea. I think you will enjoy this book, too.
Rating:
Summary: A Blockbuster Novel Of It's Time.
Review: I first became interested in the book after seeing the movie with the late Lana Turner. However, I must admit that I enjoyed the book much better. It really was a groundbreaker for the late 1950's and early 1960's considering that the issues of illegitimacy, rape, emotional attachment not to mention the hypocritical attitudes of the people of the town, only when a young girl is put on the stand for murdering her stepfather and the truth about the type of man he really was makes the people realize that judgement should not come so harshly to those without knowing all the facts. A novel that in many ways stood the test of time and without a doubt a gem.
Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate Soap Opera...In a Book
Review: I first decided to read this because I heard it was kind of like a soap. I didn't think a book could really have a lot going on. Boy, was I wrong! It's a totally awesome book! A lot does go on, but it's never confusing! I just don't get why they changed Tom's name for the second book. Was there some reason? Besides that, I can see why this book was #1 for 59 weeks, sold some 20 million copies, spawned a movie that (with inflation) could take on today's biggest blockbusters, and a top 10 hit show! Read it. If you enjoy drama and sensationalism at it's best, this is the book for you!
Rating: 
Summary: Every place has a bit of "Peyton Place"
Review: I first read "Peyton Place" when it was still considered hot stuff and just re-read the book to see how it had held up. Nobody would read it today just for the sexual frankness, when any R-rated movie or bestselling novel can use much more graphic language. But I enjoyed the book; it may not be great literature but it was a good read and not mere trash. Although the book was banned in many places in the Fifties, the kind of everyday profanity Peyton Place's citizens use struck me as pretty genuine. The book runs from about 1937 to 1944. The central character is Allison McKenzie, but there are any number of characters whose consciousness the author easily slips into: Allison's emotionally distant mother Constance, the new school superintendent Tom Makris, the town doctor Matt Swain, Allison's poverty-stricken friend Selena Cross, dedicated teacher Elsie Thornton and many others. I think it's one of the virtues of this book that Metalious creates so many believable characters, both male and female, with such apparent ease and economy. Peyton Place the town is a major character in the book, and everyone lives in fear of it, because it demands the appearance of perfection from all its citizens and thus condones hypocrisy and condemns human frailty. But Peyton Place isn't unique; it's a microcosm of a sexually repressive society. If someone describes your office as "a regular 'Peyton Place'," you can bet that harassment follows in the path of the hijinks. Big city or small town, there's a little "Peyton Place" in us all, even in these more liberated times. I would recommend that readers save the introduction to the novel until after they have read it because it gives too much of the plot away.
Rating:
Summary: Every place has a bit of "Peyton Place"
Review: I first read "Peyton Place" when it was still considered hot stuff and just re-read the book to see how it had held up. Nobody would read it today just for the sexual frankness, when any R-rated movie or bestselling novel can use much more graphic language. But I enjoyed the book; it may not be great literature but it was a good read and not mere trash. Although the book was banned in many places in the Fifties, the kind of everyday profanity Peyton Place's citizens use struck me as pretty genuine. The book runs from about 1937 to 1944. The central character is Allison McKenzie, but there are any number of characters whose consciousness the author easily slips into: Allison's emotionally distant mother Constance, the new school superintendent Tom Makris, the town doctor Matt Swain, Allison's poverty-stricken friend Selena Cross, dedicated teacher Elsie Thornton and many others. I think it's one of the virtues of this book that Metalious creates so many believable characters, both male and female, with such apparent ease and economy. Peyton Place the town is a major character in the book, and everyone lives in fear of it, because it demands the appearance of perfection from all its citizens and thus condones hypocrisy and condemns human frailty. But Peyton Place isn't unique; it's a microcosm of a sexually repressive society. If someone describes your office as "a regular 'Peyton Place'," you can bet that harassment follows in the path of the hijinks. Big city or small town, there's a little "Peyton Place" in us all, even in these more liberated times. I would recommend that readers save the introduction to the novel until after they have read it because it gives too much of the plot away.
Rating:
Summary: Beyond the term "Classic"
Review: I was hesitant at first to take on this book, knowing a little about its history. Well, I've just finished reading Peyton Place, and I have to say that I went into it thinking that I was going to read a cheap and sordid novel; the one that I had always heard about. The one that no one would ever admit to reading. Ok, it does have its steamy sections, but what should be closely look at is how well the whole novel is structured. We have a microscopic glimpse into a small town. We see their triumphs, their falls, their sadness, and most of all their loves. Metalious, should not go down in history as the author of a novel that shocked the United States. She was a talented young author who would probably have written many more novels of merit if she hadn't died so young. Check this book out. You are in for a surprise if you've only seen the movies and TV Soap Opera. Would also recommend another great read: "Bark of the Dogwood"--very gossipy, interesting, sordid, and well-written!
Rating:
Summary: Classic Soap
Review: I've been a fan of soap operas since long before I was born when my grandmother found herself addicted to Days of Our Lives and Another World. Soap operas have been passed down in my family, and in homage to the grandmother I never met, I have done what I consider extensive research on the genre. My one goal that seemed to be a problem was to read Peyton Place. I couldn't find it anywhere. I would search Amazon daily and finally (this was a few years ago) it showed up. I could not wait to read this "soap opera" novel not only for myself but for my grandmother also. I was not disappointed. Both the original and sequel left me in awe. At times I laughed and at times I cried just like good old fashion sudsies. If you love soap opera's and long for that classic character-driven story arc, Peyton Place will not be a dud. If you don't like soap operas, I'll agrue that Peyton Place is also a deep character study. I will forever have sympathy for Selena Cross- the real heroine of the story. She bravely faces off more demons than any modern "heroine" and she doesn't depend on a man to help her. She's a survivor and could be a positive role model for thousands of women. She is only one of the well-emoted characters in these two novels. Dozens of overlapping arcs show us a nice representation of life in a small town where everyone knows each other.
Rating: 
Summary: Absorbing but...terribly written
Review: I've read the existing reviews here and, yes, P.P. is a gripping and well-paced soap opera. Yes, it was revolutionary for its era.
But, c'mon people...as writing, it stinks. The ersatz profundity of the opening paragraphs ("Ah, Indian Summer. She is a Lady") is the worst kind of amateur creative-writing exercise. The sex-scene dialogue is so bad I exploded with laughter more than once.
One example. Mike Rossi to Constance:
"Your legs are absolutely wanton! Do you know it?"
Let's keep this "classic" in perspective.
Rating:
Summary: Good book
Review: It's a kickin book with great characters and a rockin plot. Write on Grace!!
Rating:
Summary: small town, big sins.............
Review: Metalious' novel of a New England town is frank,compelling and spellbounding. The characters are very believable and the incidents of growing up, falling in love, incest and murder hit very close to life. When it hit America in 1956 it became an overnight sensation - the movie was not half as good. Sadly Metalious' fame brought her eventual alcoholic ruin after novels like "Return to Peyton Place" "The Tight White Collar" and her last work "No Adam in Eden". I bought them all but like so many authors Grace never equalled the impact of her first work. She died a premature death in the early '60's - very much an author before her time. Read "Peyton Place" it remains a timeless book.
| 
