Like Normal People

Rating:
Summary: exquisitely written
Review: This novel reminds me of one of those flawless, exquisitely chiseled stories you'd read in the New Yorker. Deceptively simple, the characters are unique and richly drawn-they haunted me even after I put the book down. Although the writing is not necessarily similar, read this if you liked Michael Cunningham's A Home at the End of the World. Both books are magical.

Rating:
Summary: Like Normal People
Review: This shapely, loving, glowing novel moved me so much; all the way through I kept thinking, "Well, THIS scene must be the climax, it's so heart-wrenching (or it's such an epiphany, or the writing is so darned beautiful)" -- but what a payoff in the final pages! The characters are funny and vain and hopeful and tender and utterly believable, especially the 45-year-old retarded Lena and her control-freaky mother, Ella -- but 12-year-old Shelley is also rendered with great sensitivity. This novel has everything: unflagging plot, memorable characters, layers of meaning and complexity, and beautiful, sometimes quirky, always unexpected writing.

Rating:
Summary: And even an ending...
Review: This was a wonderful read. The skill of the author is apparent at the end when you realize that she has described the events of one single day, but in that description, you see three generations and how they cope with a member of the family with mental retardation. I agree with a previous reviewer that Viven could have been fleshed out more....Ella, Shelley and Lena were drawn so clearly, it is a shame that we only knew Vivien based on what other people thought of her. Karen Bender has written a beautiful book that made me care so very much about these characters.

Rating:
Summary: Touching in its simplicity
Review: This was a wonderful read. The skill of the author is apparent at the end when you realize that she has described the events of one single day, but in that description, you see three generations and how they cope with a member of the family with mental retardation. I agree with a previous reviewer that Viven could have been fleshed out more....Ella, Shelley and Lena were drawn so clearly, it is a shame that we only knew Vivien based on what other people thought of her. Karen Bender has written a beautiful book that made me care so very much about these characters.

Rating:
Summary: Normal
Review: Very normal book. Really great and normal. One of those normal everyday kind of books.

Rating:
Summary: Rerouted family dreams
Review: Very touching story of a family with their oldest daughter being born mentally retarded. How their dreams were dashed but lived on. How each member loved the other and lived each stage of their life. Very moving and insightful into the lives, wishes, needs, dreams and love of women, mothers, sisters, and nieces.