Rating: 
Summary: Great tale of Suburbia
Review: OK, let's face it up front: This is a story about adultry, murder and intrigue in middle-American suburbia. It's not the type of lifestyle that most of us aspire to but in Susan Isaac's hands it is absolutely hilarious. This is one of the few books that made me laugh out loud - the word pictures created are too good for words.IN fact, the whole tale - from plot to Jewish Angst to the heroine's thoughts - are the stuff of best sellers. I have a real attraction to those stories where the innocent bystander innocently becomes involves (and solves) a crime. This is all done between soccer rides for kids and fixing dinner for her hubby. (The movie was not nearly as good as the book but was still a hoot.) Definite read.
Rating:
Summary: Great tale of Suburbia
Review: OK, let's face it up front: This is a story about adultry, murder and intrigue in middle-American suburbia. It's not the type of lifestyle that most of us aspire to but in Susan Isaac's hands it is absolutely hilarious. This is one of the few books that made me laugh out loud - the word pictures created are too good for words. IN fact, the whole tale - from plot to Jewish Angst to the heroine's thoughts - are the stuff of best sellers. I have a real attraction to those stories where the innocent bystander innocently becomes involves (and solves) a crime. This is all done between soccer rides for kids and fixing dinner for her hubby. (The movie was not nearly as good as the book but was still a hoot.) Definite read.
Rating: 
Summary: Read it for the writing
Review: Susan Isaacs has written a sequel to this book, so I decided to reread it before reading the sequel. It is better than I remembered. Judith Singer is a frustrated mommy/wife. She has gone from a promising academic future to housecleaning and nosewiping. Her husband is a workaholic at a PR firm, and seems to care little about anyone other than himself. Judith reads about the murder of a dentist. She knew him, having seen him once for a gum problem, and is intrigued by the mystery. She starts to investigate on her own and eventually hooks up with Lt. Sharpe the lead investigator. They solve the murder and have a brief affair. This is an interesting look at suburbia in the late 70's. Most of the characters are upper middle class housewives with feminist leanings. Their struggles with their lot in life add alot to the story. The mystery was good also. This book was much better than I remembered.
Rating:
Summary: Still good after all these years
Review: Susan Isaacs has written a sequel to this book, so I decided to reread it before reading the sequel. It is better than I remembered. Judith Singer is a frustrated mommy/wife. She has gone from a promising academic future to housecleaning and nosewiping. Her husband is a workaholic at a PR firm, and seems to care little about anyone other than himself. Judith reads about the murder of a dentist. She knew him, having seen him once for a gum problem, and is intrigued by the mystery. She starts to investigate on her own and eventually hooks up with Lt. Sharpe the lead investigator. They solve the murder and have a brief affair. This is an interesting look at suburbia in the late 70's. Most of the characters are upper middle class housewives with feminist leanings. Their struggles with their lot in life add alot to the story. The mystery was good also. This book was much better than I remembered.
Rating:
Summary: 20 years later, still is a very good read
Review: This is, I think, Susan Isaacs' first book, written in the 70s. At least it's the very first book by her that I read, years ago. A couple of days ago I decided to re-read it, after finishing (& liking) "Long time no see". Well, "Compromising positions" is as good, as easy-to-read as I recalled...but then again, I've got a soft spot for all Susan Isaacs books! In "Compromising positions" we meet Judith Singer for the first time. An intelligent, attractive (although not exceedingly so), funny & energetic lady. A historian turned housewife & mother, & bored stiff by life in the suburbs. Judith is going from day to day, living with Bob, in a kind of boring but pretty stable marriage, looking after her young kids, & taking pleasure in long, witty conversations with her intelligent & sassy friend, Nancy. At some point, she hears about the murder of the local periodontist & as it turns out, womanizer. The case interests her, & suddenly she finds herself deeply involved in the investigation. And also deeply involved with a certain person who has something to do with the investigation, but that I'll leave you to find out for yourself. "Compromising positions" is a wonderful, easy read about life in the suburbs, life in the 70s, & life for a bored housewife who yearns for intellectual stimulation. I think this is the first book where Isaacs shows her talent & her ability to draw believable & enjoyable characters. And as a footnote, I'd have to say that in Isaacs work I've read some of the best, funniest & most sexy love affairs that I've found in the book world!! Sit back & enjoy...
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