Rating: 
Summary: More praise for P.S.
Review: I thought this book was fabulous. I read it in two days. P.S. is both funny and touching-the writing is often so beautiful that I turned down the pages to read them again. Schulman really understands relationships and the complexities of loss and fulfillment. In her main character, Louise, she has created a woman who is filled with her mother's nagging and her own doubts. But Louise is also a strong character, smart and looking for the right kind of love. Not only is the writing wonderful, but the plot is beautifully orchestrated. I cannot say enough about this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Save your money
Review: I'm glad the library bought a copy of this book. I usually read more than one book at a time and Schulman doesn't fare well compared to Roth or Hamilton. I was intrigued at first, thinking here was a female answer to some of Updike's recent over the hill (and oversexed) male characters. Alas, the book disappointed me. It needed more careful editing, among other things. It could have been one-third shorter if some of the padded writing had been tightened. It was funny in spots, but the book is an example of a good premise spoiled.
Rating: 
Summary: First Love Relived
Review: Louise Harrington ended her 10-year marriage to her former astronomy professor Peter, and now, four years later, she's still lonely and no happier than she was during their marriage. At age 37, she fears she is facing a lonesome spinsterhood. Louise and Peter are still very much involved in each other's lives and see each other several times a week. Their marriage seemed to end because of apathy and neglect. Louise's best friend since high school, Missy, lives across the country in Hollywood , but they talk to each other regularly. Louise's recent promotion in the admission department at Columbia University involves her in reviewing all applications, and she comes across an application from a student bearing the same name as her high school flame, Scott Feinstadt, who had died suddenly in a car accident on his way to college nearly 20 years ago. Out of curiousity, Louise calls F. Scott, ostensibly to review his application, but they immediately end up as lovers. In some weird time-warp, Louise believes that he is her first lover from so many years ago, the one she never got over. Missy, who had stolen Scott from her years ago, somehow finds out about this new relationship, and gets involved. Although they're supposedly best friends, it seems her life-long goal has been to interfere in Louise's affairs. Through some improbable plot twists and turns, Louise explores her relationships with Peter, Missy, the deceased Scott, her brother and her mother, eventually arriving at a better understanding of herself. P.S. is an interesting, quirky, humorous exploration of a woman looking for love and meaning in her life. At just over 200 pages, it's an entertaining way to spend a few hours.
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Summary: Great Book About Headache
Review: Maxine Rabinowitz wakes up one morning with a pain in her head. She lies down and waits for it to go away but no soap. So she sees Dr. Otolangy, the Colorful Refugee From Belgrade, who says, "Holy Smoke, your head she's in bad trouble." This wonderful novel is spun from these simple, colorful, circumstances. Incidentally, author Helen Schulman has a real corker of a headache herself, and writes in a very interesting essay in "Self" magazine this month: "I found that living with pain was one of the more noble things I'd ever undertaken. I found that it crystallized all that I loved and hated about life; helped me to identify the moments I wanted to cherish and keep, and those I wanted to toss into the recycle bin of my life's personal history." Schulman is more than capable of doling out this sort of poignant insight over the length of "P.S.", the title of which refers, incidentally, to the hospital shorthand used by craniological surgeons to describe chronic subdural skull pain. Note to art lovers: Ms. Schulman's expressive portrait, depicting the location and relative size of her headache, (taken by the brilliant photographer, "One Note" Ettlinger) is on display at the new show at Chicago's Art Institute, "Tell Me Where It Hurts, Honey."
Rating: 
Summary: A disappointment after all the hype
Review: My interest had been piqued by mentions in various publications and the enthusiasm of the below reviews, but to me, it was all for naught. The plot was interesting only up until the point she meets her mystery lover. After that, the plot was plodding and the descriptions overlong, doing nothing to heighten the suspense of the book. It was seemed somewhat obvious to me how it would end, and I scanned paged and skipped the lengthy paragraphs with pointless descriptions until I confirmed it for myself. I'm happy that I only borrowed the book; it would have collected dust sitting on my shelves until next winter, when it could feel the fire.
Rating:
Summary: A Romantic Comedy, with a Twist
Review: P.S. is a terrific romantic comedy with a twist. The twist is that there is a plausible story with strong characters. The emphasis in P.S. is much more on romance (or more like lust, love and sex) than on comedy, although it is very funny at times, and always told with humor. Louise has never truly gotten over her first love, Scott Feinstadt, who died in a car accident at 19 a few weeks after breaking up with her (for her best friend). Louise carried on, eventually marrying one of her professors ten years her senior. The marriage ultimately fell apart, but they remained very good friends, very close. Louise drifted along, never realizing the depths of her unhappiness until one day, she comes across F. Scott Feinstadt, a 24 year old man with a more than uncanny resemblance to that first love. Her best friend swings back into the picture, the exhusband gets involved, and Louise discovers some uncomfortable things about the life she has led so far. While this has all the elements of a standard romantic comedy--unmarried woman, old relationship, new relationship, stumbling blocks in the way--it is much, much better than most. The story is very clever, with nothing outlandish or fairy tale like. It's also a little thought provoking. Schulman ruminates on the nature of relationships and loneliness, of how one can be married, yet still be totally alone. I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Save your money
Review: There's asingle C+ at best sex scene in the entire novel. What's more, thecharacters are one dimensional and not at all attractive orbelievable, and the identity crisis she puts her main characterthrough would better suit a 15 year old girl (than the 37 year oldwoman). Example of the plot sophistication: the character finds outabout her promotion to Dean of Admission at Columbia by finding anenvelope tacked to her door at the end of a day she forgot to go in towork: oops! Depressing and predictable; I regret spending the moneyon it, and shake my head in dismay at the positive review of it in theNYTimes.
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Summary: F. Scott = Topher Grace = Amazing
Review: They just made a movie based on this book and Laura Linney will be playing Louise, Topher Grace (Eric Foreman from That 70's Show) will be playing F. Scott, and Marcia Gay Harden will be Missy. I got excited, bought the book, and read it in a record 3 hours, while imagining these characters like they were in a movie with those stars playing them. It was great. I'm glad Topher Grace will be in the movie version, but after reading this book, I think Toby Maguire could have probably played a nice F. Scott also. This book had so many twists and was delicious from beginning to end. I couldn't put it down. I kept thinking, Helen Schulman, don't let me down now and let this be juicy from start to finish and she sure didn't let me down. It only dragged on a little cuz all I really cared about reading was the romance between Louise and her 24 year old look-a-like-returned-from-the-dead guy. I didn't care about what the ex-husband had to say or what her brother did that was so bad..yada yada...but I guess the author had to include some extra stuff to make it a complete book. Missy the bitchy bestfriend is exactly how a bitchy bestfriend should be, harsh but gives it to you real and straight. This book is definitely worth it so buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Not worth your time
Review: This book was horribly written, it drags on to no climax. The characters seemed faceless and immature. The main character needs to get a life! Waste of $$
Rating:
Summary: Not worth your time
Review: This book was horribly written, it drags on to no climax. The characters seemed faceless and immature. The main character needs to get a life! Waste of $$
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