Rating: 
Summary: An Emotional Read
Review: I read this book in 2 days. I was mezmorized by it, depressed by it, confused by it... the list could go on. The lyric tone of the book was haunting and sad. Kasischke keeps your mind uncomfortably alert, forcing you to try and make sense of the truth of the story she is telling and not telling. She tickles you with small pieces that seem not to fit and force you to question every sentence you read. I was particulary aware after reading the book of the formatting that occurred between the two voices. As the voices switch back and forth in the book I noticed that the opening sentences of Diana the 40yr old were all capped, as if shouting at you - or at the younger Diana screaming for her or us to listen. The opening sentences of Diana the girl were lower cased and italicized, as if sluggish and dreamlike and not until the end of the book do you understand. Kasischke skillfully crafts the quickening meter of the book as the voices seem to tumble over each other racing toward the end, racing to the truth. This book is a good exercise for those readers who are looking for something different, something to wake up their reading skills. I am anxious to read my next book to see how this experience challenges and changes my next.
Rating:
Summary: This is one of the best books...EVER...
Review: I started this book one afternoon never having heard of Laura Kasischke. I found it in our local library. From the moment I opened it I could not put it down. I was somewhat surprised to read the negative reviews of The Life Before Her Eyes. Ms. Kasischke's style grabs the reader immediately. I was never confused by time, place, or character. I have scoured the book stores and libraries for more books by this author. I was so enthralled reading about Diane McPhee that I finished the book in 48 hours!
Rating:
Summary: This is one of the best books...EVER...
Review: I started this book one afternoon never having heard of Laura Kasischke. I found it in our local library. From the moment I opened it I could not put it down. I was somewhat surprised to read the negative reviews of The Life Before Her Eyes. Ms. Kasischke's style grabs the reader immediately. I was never confused by time, place, or character. I have scoured the book stores and libraries for more books by this author. I was so enthralled reading about Diane McPhee that I finished the book in 48 hours!
Rating: 
Summary: Three and a Half Stars
Review: I started this book over my morning coffee, and the first chapter was so compelling I had to tear myself away to head to work. It was therefore a bit of a letdown to return to it that evening, as much of the rest of it consists of rather tedious descriptions of the minutiae of a middle aged housewife's suburban life. Some of the metaphors and descriptions are lovely (I'd like to read some of the author's poetry; she certainly has a gift for language), but they do little to move the plot along. The flashbacks to Diana and Maureen's high school years were interesting, but somewhat confusing because the teens are never referred to by name ("one girl says to the other...") - I'm not even entirely sure which one finally snagged Nate Witt! Because I had such difficulty telling the girls apart, I didn't feel that I got to know either of them over the course of the story, and that was disappointing. The slow pace picks up further on with the bizarre events that begin to disrupt Diana's middle aged life, such as the reappearance of Timmy the cat and the mysteriously altered story young Emma writes for school. Other, more subtle hints are dropped here and there, so you do eventually guess what is happening. Still, the final pages are quite powerful and well worth sticking with the novel through it's slower moments. A highly original story that's lingered in my thoughts ever since I closed the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Wondering when we would get to the explanation
Review: I was extremely excited to start this book. I am extremely glad that I am done with it. I still don't really know what the point of the story was or really what I read. I had to go over some chapters again just to figure out what character the author was referring to. I think that other reveiws were correct in saying that it is hard to know which character was which in the high school segments because there was no reference by name. I think that the concept of the book was interesting, however, follow through just wasn't there.
Rating:
Summary: Wondering when we would get to the explanation
Review: I was extremely excited to start this book. I am extremely glad that I am done with it. I still don't really know what the point of the story was or really what I read. I had to go over some chapters again just to figure out what character the author was referring to. I think that other reveiws were correct in saying that it is hard to know which character was which in the high school segments because there was no reference by name. I think that the concept of the book was interesting, however, follow through just wasn't there.
Rating:
Summary: A compelling and haunting story...
Review: I was totally blown away by this book! My local book club chose The Life Before Her Eyes for our monthly selection, and I can't wait to discuss it with everyone. The writing was pure poetry, and the story captivated me from the very beginning. And the ending was one that I did not expect. The Life Before Her Eyes begins with two best friends, Diana and Maureen, as they are primping in the girls' restroom at their high school. Suddenly, one of their classmates comes in and points a loaded gun straight at them. "Which one of you should I kill?" he asks.... At that point, the story takes off around 25 years into the future. Diana is a happily married artist and mother of 8-year-old Emma. She is the typical minivan-driving soccer mom. Everything is going well, but then there begins these subtle changes -- changes almost of a ghostly nature that impact Diana's life in terrifying ways. And interspersed between the paragraphs of Diana's future are excerpts from Diana's past with her friend, Maureen, before the shooting. I was completely mesmerized with this book. I felt that something was building up, some sort of surprise or twist to the story, but I could quite figure out what it would be. And by novel's end, I was so out of breath with the anticipation! Laura Kasischke has written an amazing novel. She has a great gift of storytelling that is unshakeable. I loved every minute and every word, and I look forward to reading more by this author.
Rating:
Summary: A compelling and haunting story...
Review: I was totally blown away by this book! My local book club chose The Life Before Her Eyes for our monthly selection, and I can't wait to discuss it with everyone. The writing was pure poetry, and the story captivated me from the very beginning. And the ending was one that I did not expect. The Life Before Her Eyes begins with two best friends, Diana and Maureen, as they are primping in the girls' restroom at their high school. Suddenly, one of their classmates comes in and points a loaded gun straight at them. "Which one of you should I kill?" he asks.... At that point, the story takes off around 25 years into the future. Diana is a happily married artist and mother of 8-year-old Emma. She is the typical minivan-driving soccer mom. Everything is going well, but then there begins these subtle changes -- changes almost of a ghostly nature that impact Diana's life in terrifying ways. And interspersed between the paragraphs of Diana's future are excerpts from Diana's past with her friend, Maureen, before the shooting. I was completely mesmerized with this book. I felt that something was building up, some sort of surprise or twist to the story, but I could quite figure out what it would be. And by novel's end, I was so out of breath with the anticipation! Laura Kasischke has written an amazing novel. She has a great gift of storytelling that is unshakeable. I loved every minute and every word, and I look forward to reading more by this author.
Rating: 
Summary: Pointless
Review: My book club chose this book for the month. I will readily admit that the reason I didn't like this book is due to my own stubborness. I kep waiting and waiting to get to the meat of the tale. I like books with a story. There was no point to this book other than for the author to write pretty, pretty prose. Yes, I get that you are a poet. Now please tell me what is going on instead of hiding behind alliteration. I don't need a page after page of colorful descriptions. I need a reason to care about the characters. I felt that Kasischke was deliberately obtuse with the facts in order to be more "artistic." Much ilke a beginning director will stage odd shots, or shoot in black and white just to prove how different they are than the commercial directors. Her lack of straightforwardness was not interesting, and it left me feeling very dissatisfied by the end of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Pointless
Review: My book club chose this book for the month. I will readily admit that the reason I didn't like this book is due to my own stubborness. I kep waiting and waiting to get to the meat of the tale. I like books with a story. There was no point to this book other than for the author to write pretty, pretty prose. Yes, I get that you are a poet. Now please tell me what is going on instead of hiding behind alliteration. I don't need a page after page of colorful descriptions. I need a reason to care about the characters. I felt that Kasischke was deliberately obtuse with the facts in order to be more "artistic." Much ilke a beginning director will stage odd shots, or shoot in black and white just to prove how different they are than the commercial directors. Her lack of straightforwardness was not interesting, and it left me feeling very dissatisfied by the end of the book.
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