Book Description
Based on diaries and e-mail correspondence that architect Suad Amiry kept from 1981 to 2004, Sharon and My Mother-in-Law evokes the frustrations, cabin fever, and downright misery of daily life in the West Bank town of Ramallah. Amiry writes elegance and humor about the enormous difficulty of moving from one place to another, the torture of falling in love with someone from another town, the absurdity of her dog receiving a Jerusalem identity card when thousands of Palestinians could not, and the trials of having her ninety-two-year-old mother-in-law living in her house during a forty-two-day curfew. With a wickedly sharp ear for dialogue and a keen eye for detail, Amiry gives us an original, ironic, and firsthand glimpse into the absurdity — and agony — of life in the Occupied Territories.
Customer Reviews:
Superb book - you can't put it down........2007-07-04
I read this book within a day, I just couldn't put it down, it was so beautifully written, and so easy to read.
Suad Amiry has a remarkable ability to say in one sentence what other writers take three pages over. A single sentence can be so thought-provoking, you consider all the many implications that follow from just one statement.
Despite the misery of her situation, Suad's defiance of her occupiers is hilarious - what a courageous and spunky woman! Her frankness and honesty of her own feelings, including her failings, are also very impressive.
Well done to Suad Amiry, I eagerly look forward to her next book - I hope she will write one!
arafat and my hot flashes.......2006-12-26
Arafat and my hot flashes - an Israeli response to Suad Amiry's Sharon and my Mother-in-Law.
After reading Suad Amiry's novel Sharon and my mother in law I was extremely moved ... as an Israeli, living in Tel-Aviv at ta time when all around me people were "bursting at the Seams" or merely committing suicide at their leisure while taking other people's lives, limbs, children and women with them, I could identify myself with her agony at not being able to move freely...
It was Saturday eve; I always felt weird on Saturday eve, uneasy. On a verge of a panic attack. Maybe it was to do with the gloom I experienced at home, as a child on Sat. eve (My mother was a BA -graduate of Auschwitz). It was exactly 2 years ago, me and my not-such-a-great-hero, husband, who was an extremely gifted and intelligent man but the biggest coward if there's ever was one, were having a row, after a long week ... I wanted to venture out. Out of doors...out of our building; living in Tel Aviv had become a Russian roulette ... the streets were very quiet and empty ... not a dog in sight, the stray cats had totally disappeared, everyone was waiting for the next one, and we didn't know where it would come from. I wanted to go to the movies.
"Are you out of your mind?!!!" Gideon screamed. I couldn't sit at home anymore I had to go out. To a coffee place, "A coffee place?!!! Now?!!" Only yesterday one of the most popular coffee places in Tel Aviv blew up.
"Ok then, the bar around the corner is always empty! Why would a suicide bomber come there, to kill us and the barman?". I thought that was reasonable enough.
"I don't know why?" argued Gideon back "he might just get fed up half way to the Hilton, did you think about that?".
I tried the movies, again.
"Crowded places?!!! Hello? Anybody home?", pointing at my head.
"but we never had a suicider at the cinema!!", I tried to reason.
"Exactly!!!", exclaimed Gideon with a big smile, winning the argument.
I felt a hot flash coming on. It was August and I just had to have some air. "I don't care!!!", I screamed, "I am going out!!! Now!"
All of a sudden a siren was heard, and another one and another one, a string of sirens always meant a suicide bomber, and the ambulances were rushing to the scene. We looked at each other with terror and turned on the TV. There was a suicide bomber at Michael's Pub, a few minutes away from us. It was my son's favorite hang out; thank God he had been living in Holland for the last few years. He didn't even come home for a visit; I wouldn't let him, my only son...
Gideon, quickly rushed to the phone to ring his three children (from his 2 ex wives) they were all in their twenties ... that was his usual routine, every time a bomber hit the town. Then he would take his clooney (Cloonex - a tranquilizer) I was always angry when he took it, being a practitioner of Chinese medicine, it was totally against my principals. But he couldn't care less. He was slowly becoming addicted to clooney.
We stayed at home glued to the TV watching the horrible scenes of children, women, blood, screaming, etc etc. Gideon began his usual snores beside me, the clooney had knocked him out!
The next day we heard on the news that Palestinians were under curfew ....
There are always three sides to every divorce: the wife, the husband and the truth...
We are having a terrible, endless bloody row: it's time to stop talking about the past. I would expect an educated person like Suad not to live in the past, but to accept our existence in Israel and to start talking from that point. We have no where else to go, and the experience of living as a Jew outside Israel has not been very successful ... I could attach a picture of my mother's green number tattooed on her arm, she is only 74, she was 12 when they took her to the camps, one of the last survivors in the world ... Tell me Suad, the truth: this is not about the occupied territories. Barak begged Arafat to take it back. This is about Jaffa...according to your book. Do you expect my mother to go back to Czechoslovakia? And look for her confiscated home? And what about me? I was born here, am I to take a dive in the sea?
Yours sincerely,
Yael Stern O'Dwyer
Worth reading with some caveats for the uninformed reader.......2006-09-16
I enjoyed reading this book but was chilled at the author's inclusion of "1929" as a year of Palestinian "pride" without mention of the atrocities of the Hebron pogroms. "Text without context is pretext" as the PLO's old friend Jesse Jackson used to remind us. Tom Segev's One Palestine, Complete: Jews and Arabs Under the British Mandate (which alot of Amazon reviewers think has an anti-Zionist bias) would be a good corrective for the reader new to these issues.
Amiry is not a fanatic or a fundamentalist and this is her P.O.V. and her life. Can she address the moral failures of the Palestinian leadership, beginning with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and ending in Hamas? Maybe, but this is not that book.
Our hope for peace? We're in trouble.......2006-09-03
I picked up this book at Ben-Gurion airport at a time when I could have used an uncommonly witty look at life under the Occupation, but alas, I found nothing witty or uncommon about Suad Amiry's wonderfully named but lazily written screed -- and if you are a thinking person, you'll find nothing funny about her bigotry.
Some parts rattled me, but it wasn't her so-called reportage, which anyone familiar with the region will recognize as the usual embroidering. I am not saying that life under occupation is not difficult and sometimes brutal. However, my editor's antenna went up more than once. Naturally, Amiry's stories are impossible to verify.
No, it was her attitude throughout the book that unnerved me. For instance, Amiry dismisses out-of-hand the very public military inquiry into reports of looting by Israeli soldiers. And yet she cheerleads without shame for Palestinian thievery, and even opines that Palestinians aren't stealing enough from Jews.
And the child-free Amiry treats us to a charming vignette, her tacit approval ringing loud and clear, of Arab mothers warning their mischievous children: "Behave or the Israeli soldiers will shoot you."
Interestingly, on my flight to Israel, just in time for the Israel-Hizbollah war, I read Amos Oz's new book, an essay, really, called "How to Cure a Fanatic." And one of his cures is humor. If you can laugh at yourself, you are in no danger of becoming a fanatic. Sadly, Amiry can make fun of her neighbors and relatives, and she can indulge in the most racist of rants against Jews, knowing someone will find them funny. But she cannot laugh at herself. I suppose we should be grateful that she left out the hilarious phenomenon of suicide bombers.
In the end, I pitied Amiry -- an obviously unstable middle-aged woman who I suspect would have been unstable even if she had stayed in her native Jordan. If the Israeli occupation hadn't driven her to distraction, something else most assuredly would have. But if you can blame the Occupation for your woes, so much the better. How good and pleasant it is to be a victim. How little responsibility you bear.
Life OVER the Occupation.......2006-07-09
Suad Amiry's book is very witty and easy to read. The book is based on a compilation of emails, letters and Amiry's recollection of the various events. Amiry offers a portrayal of life of a relatively well off Palestinian family under Israeli occupation. The Israeli occupation and the siege of their city feature prominently in the book but almost as natural disasters or "Act of God" ..so they are there thrown into the mix making ordinary complex life even more complicated. The politics of the occupation are touched upon but clearly what is central is just the day to day life.
The title of the book is very much a reflection of the light hearted style of the book but also of the very menacing undertones. In the United States Sharon largely has(d) the reputation of being a tough minded and determined leader and with the Gaza withdrawal in 2005 as a peacemaker; whereas in most of the world outside of the US Sharon is seen as a ruthless cruel man responsible for the death and destruction of many who was sanctioned by his own country and was even wanted for trial on war crime charges in Europe. For the Palestinians I imagine Sharon had simply been a brutal merciless monster; the title Sharon & My Mother in Law with that background is therefore very ironic! A daughter - mother in law relationship in a middle eastern environment is never straight forward ..the very words mother in law carry a whole world of conations. The very title of the book comes across funny to any Middle Eastern; equating or even putting Sharon & mother in law in the same sentence carries with the wit and the determination that comes across in Amiry's words.
Many reviewers of this book talked about the book illustrating the humanity of the Palestinians, I doubt if that has been on Amiry's mind; for those who doubt the humanity of the Palestinians better read John Grisham or watch Pirates of the Caribbean; this book celebrates the humanity of the Palestinians and the triumph of their spirit.
Book Description
Breastfeeding is natural, but it's not always easy. It is the biological norm, but it is not the cultural norm. By learning the seven basic principles in this book, mothers can dramatically increase their likelihood of success and make breastfeeding the enjoyable experience it should be. The seven laws taught in this book are easy for mothers to understand and are sure to help them avoid some of the pitfalls that they might otherwise face.
The seven principles include: 1. Babies Have the Urge to Self-Attach 2. Use the Power of Skin-to-Skin: A Baby's Natural Habitat 3. Breastfeed Ad Lib 4. Reach for the Comfort Zone 5. Expect Cluster Nursing 6. More Milk Out = More Milk Made 7. Babies Outgrow Breastfeeding
The book also addresses how to solve common problems and deal with special situations such as breast reductions and babies with special needs. The authors describe some of the social, psychological, and cultural reasons why breastfeeding is not currently the norm, and what this implies for mothers. In all, this is an easy-to-use breastfeeding resource for new mothers, which includes all the latest research and techniques used by those in the lactation field.
Customer Reviews:
User Friendly.......2007-10-05
I read The Nursing Mother's Companion before I had my baby and it was very good. Then after I had been nursing and working for awhile I still needed some reassurance about maintaining my supply. I found this book very informative and it doesn't have that scolding tone some of the other books have. I also enjoyed the details about the way other cultures deal with birth, motherhood and breastfeeding. I'm buying it for a pregnant friend of mine.
Read this book and breathe a sigh of relief!.......2007-09-26
I am expecting twins in December. Looked at other books but this one really seemed to be my answer. It's an easy read. Keeps it simple. Provides a wealth of information to ease a first time mom's concerns and anxieties about the "fears" of breastfeeding. I now know this is the most natural experience and no need to be afraid. I'm excited to breastfeed my twins and know that this is going to work. Go into it believing! Don't go into thinking "IF it works..." It will. I will buy this for any woman who I know is expecting!
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!.......2007-08-27
This is simply the BEST breastfeeding book ever! It answers all of your questions, even those you hadn't thought about. It explains EVERYTHING you need to know. This book saved my life; if it wasn't for it I would have probably given up. Thanks to it I successfully breastfed my baby until he was 8 months old. I highly, highly recommend it. I've already bought several copies to give to my pregnant friends. In fact, the single advice I give to any pregnant woman I meet is: if you're planning on breastfeeding READ THIS BOOK!
The only breastfeeding book you'll need...........2007-07-22
Okay, I have read them all. I LOVE this book. And don't skip the intro! It is great and she dispels all the myths out there.
Clear, concise, accurate and positive, this is the book for any type of Mom! From a professional point of view, this book as a resource is great.
I wish I'd had this BEFORE MY SON WAS BORN!.......2007-07-07
I thought I'd done everything I could to prepare for breastfeeding, but if a friend hadn't brought me this book at 3 weeks I really might have thrown in the towel. I was starting to think I'd never make it through the first month and wondering if I had milk supply problems. In five minutes of looking at this book I realized that:
1. it would get SO much easier in a few weeks (if only someone had told me!);
2. all my "worries" were actually normal behavior for a 3 week old baby. (If only someone had told me!)
3. I too could feed lying down at night and actually get some sleep. (If only someone had told me!)
If you're about to have a child - or if you're exhausted after only a few weeks and wondering if you can make breastfeeding work - then do yourself a favor and READ this book before you decide to quit, supplement, introduce a bottle, or switch to formula.
Book Description
Authors Liz Bluper and Renée Plastique have sparked a revolution with their code word: M.I.L.D.E.W. (shorthand for Mothers-In-Law Do Everything Wrong). Their playful acronym is becoming a party of today's lingo as women talk to each other about that all-too-familiar marriage by-product-the mother-in-law.
The authors are helping women ¿laugh their MILDEW away¿ by sharing their hilarious strategies, stories and relatable experiences. Women from across the globe are now opening up and sharing their stories, lending support to those also suffering from ¿MILDEW build-up¿ and confirming that, indeed, they are not alone. They are discovering that when it comes to MILDEW, laughter really is the best medicine. ¿M.I.L.D.E.W. is truly therapeutic!¿ says one reader.
With its broad appeal, M.I.L.D.E.W. is inspiring mothers-in-law, too. By taking their scientifically calibrated quiz, more than one mother-in-law has been surprised at the results and subsequently changed her ways. Bluper and Plastique are hearing reports of reduced marital stress and improved family relations. ¿World peace can't be far behind!¿ quips Plastique.
From their all-too-revealing quiz to the laugh-out-loud stories to the "Hey, that really might work" strategies, this book gives new meaning to the word "MILDEW," and will keep you laughing and dying to share it with your friends.
Customer Reviews:
Funny!.......2007-05-13
This was a very delightful book, and it had me laughing throughout the entire thing. I loved it! Definitely a must read if you have a difficult mother-in-law!
Cute, a funny gift.......2006-10-22
This book is definately not a self help book. I frankly found it humorus to read some of these other women's stories. If you're looking for something to improve your relationship, this isn't the book. If you looking for something kind of funny to laugh at all the silly things other people's MILDEW do, this is. I think it would make a fantastic gift for a wedding shower or bachelorette party.
Don't waste your time........2006-08-11
I thought this book was horrible. If all you want to do is laugh about the problem instead of trying to correct it, then maybe this book is for you. However, I found the stories mean and not funny at all.
The quizzes they had in there were far from helpful. I couldn't even relate to many because they reference TV shows I have never personally seen, not to mention situations that are so superficial it makes you wonder whether or not it is the mother-in-law that actually has the problem. Some of us have to work and have children with no time to sit and watch television or worry about petty squibbles; we are trying to deal with the "real" family situations that allow people to rise up and create a good family environment.
The only thing I could find in the book that made me slightly laugh were some of the quotes from famous people. Other than that, the authors failed attempt at success makes me wonder if they do anything to try to make their mother-in-law situations any better or are just being cruel at their mother-in-law's and husband's expense.
Immature.......2006-06-15
This is a book lacking in compassion, with no attempt to understand the issues involved in a diffcult, but potentially correctible relationship. It's mean and vindictive, and not as funny as the authors think it is. Let's hear from them when they become mothers-in-law themselves. Interested families should read other, more helpful books that will alleviate, not exacerbate problems with cruelty.
Must Have Been Peeking In My Window.......2005-01-09
Take my mother-in-law, please.
I didn't submit one story to this book, but I swear these writers were talking about my mother-in-law!
Can't wait for an obvious follow-up to this great book.
Book Description
Can two women love the same man and still get along? Absolutely! Annie Chapman believes that a mother–in–law and daughter–in–law can become friends—even close friends. However, this connectedness often takes years to develop. Now that journey can be a joyful one! Offering practical advice and biblical wisdom, this book helps mothers–in–law and daughters–in–law nurture their relationships. Readers will learn how to dance together on topics that include—
- dealing with traditions and activities
- managing differences in handling money
- handling intrusive comments and actions
- accepting and rejecting child–rearing advice
- coping with differences in faith
Through thoughtful ideas, real–life insights, and humor, The Mother–in–Law Dance helps mothers–in–law and daughters–in–law experience a dynamic, loving relationship.
Customer Reviews:
i was hoping for more.......2007-10-17
It is a good book, very basic. I can see it mostly helping those people who don't seem to see the world through others eyes. I was looking for more solid advice. It's mostly just stories and other people situations, there no real solutions or advice. Would I recommend it a friend? Maybe, but I would recommend Leadership and Self Deception by the Arbinger Institute first.
Not what it says.......2007-06-04
I was so thrilled to see a book on the topic by a Christian writer so I bought this book as soon as I saw it. Upon reading it though, I was quite disappointed. The author tells lots of stories but misses many opportunities. She never defines what the problem areas are. She never defines how to overcome them. She never notes how to avoid problems. Instead it is pretty much of a "hey, I have a great relationship with my mother- and daughter-in-law, but, honey, it's too tough so don't you expect to repeat whatever I did." This could have been a great book focusing on biblical stories and all, but she didn't accomplish it, even if it doesn't focus on mothers with married daughters.
She wasn't the only one wrrong.......2007-05-27
I was looking for a book to show me that my mother-in-law was was wrong and I was right with our relationship. But it instead re-grounded me with the Biblical understanding of truths about our relationship. A wonderful book to read!
Excellent book.......2007-05-08
I found the book to be very helpful for the mother of the groom. A lot of things to think about, but very imforative. I recommend this book with Christian perspective to any friend of mine.
Beyond the Mother or Daughter-in-Law Relationship.......2007-02-19
Annie Chapman has an amazing way of being blunt, but still encouraging on a very delicate topic. This book offers so much advice for the typical blunders that women find themselves in. I feel that all mothers with sons and all daughters desiring to get married should read this book.
Customer Reviews:
Very Funny book, but didn't agree with all advice! .......2007-10-17
I haven't quite read all of this book yet, but what I have read so far is that this author is funny and it is a good read for any bride to be! It will still be something to read after you are married too. I did not like the author assuming that all women have sex before marriage--I am a virgin and plan to be until my wedding day. That was so ridiculous! So, her advice on sex was a little off to me. Anyway, the rest of the book had some good things on switching from being single to married and how to keep up with friends, etc. I will read those parts again to know where to go. Also, I didn't exactly like her part about starting a family. I am Christian/Catholic and we just believe God is part of the say on starting a family. Sometimes your will isn't his and vice versa. I don't believe in any "birth control" and I think the author was on verge of saying this is OK--it is not according to my belief system and I was offended.
All for now.
Decent Read.......2007-08-28
It's an interesting read, but it's definitely geared towards a specific demographic of brides. Any bride that hasn't lived as a single woman on her own for a good amount of time will find this book interesting but not extremely helpful. Still, the author is witty and the book is an easy read.
Tedious and biased.......2007-07-23
I hate to be the lone dissenter, but this book really didn't help me sort out my pre-wedding thoughts. A few months before my wedding, I began to feel somewhat nervous about leaving my single life behind and "becoming another person." I bought this book hoping that it would offer advice and some reassurance that my feelings were shared by other brides.
While it did indeed indicate that my sudden identity concerns were common, I found that most of Stark's advice was based on her own marriage, with a few tidbits thrown in from a few interviews she had done with several young brides--although most of it is common sense. I found myself often thinking that I was reading Stark's autobiography.
That said, it does have some good pointers and a few good stories that a lot of brides can relate to.
Great Book !.......2007-04-04
I am a 40ish bride-to-be and I learned a lot from this book. It's not only advice about weddings, etc., but a really deep look at some serious issues that arise in relationship. Thanks Marg.
Excellent advice and a must-read for newlyweds.......2006-10-24
Someone once said that "When the Wedding March fades and the cake is in crumbs, what you have left is a marriage." There are plenty of books out there for how to plan a wedding, but few to help on the morning after. This practical advice for beginning your marriage and surviving the transition to spouse is both entertaining AND informative. Would make a great gift for a newlywed, or good class reading for those in premarital counseling.
Book Description
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a nice Jewish widower must be in want of a wife. Eligible men may be scarce in Boca, but that doesn't stop Carol Newman from plotting to marry off wealthy Norman Grafstein to her lonely mother-in-law, May. Even May's sharp-tongued friend Flo approves of Norman-though Norman's best friend Stan, a cynical professor, keeps getting under Flo's skin. Misunderstandings abound until love conquers both pride and prejudice in this perceptive, engaging comedy of manners.
Customer Reviews:
A great modern Pride and Prejudice.......2007-08-05
Cohen uses the Pride and Prejudice story in a Florida retirement community. It works well because of the closed society nature of that community. She remains faithful to Austen without carrying it to extremes. A delightful read.
She's No Jane Austen..........2007-05-12
I have no problem putting a book down I'm not enjoying. The only reason I didn't put this one down was because I spent the day in doctors' waiting rooms with the choice of this and "You And Your Thyroid" pamphlets.
I LOVE Jane Austen. You know and relate to and feel for the characters. You meet people in her books you know you've met before in real life and you laugh at the comparisons. You're drawn in.
Jane Austen in Boca on the other hand was filled with the most unlikeable and most cardboard-like characters I've ever "met" in one book. There wasn't even one that I remotely liked or cared what happened to. Carol was unsufferable (not delightfully ditzy like Mrs. Bennett); Flo was obnoxious and rude (not clever and insightful like Elizabeth); May was a completely boring little mouse (not gentle and loveable like Jane); Hy was supposed to be annoying because we're told he was (as opposed to the delightful absurdities we witnessed and enjoyed with Mr. Collins), Stan was absolutely flat and uninteresting even after the "change" (so totally unlike Mr. Darcy), etc., etc., etc.
And then the ending. Was there a page limit imposed by the publisher?
Silly book. The only reason I gave it two stars was because I managed to finish it. It won't get a place on my bookshelf though. I'll donate it to the local library because it's harmless and there seems to be plenty of people who apparently enjoy this kind of book.
Very fun twists on a favorite classic.......2007-02-01
What happens when you take the plot of Pride and Prejudice and plop it into a senior retirement community in Boca Raton, largely populated by jewish snowbirds from New York and New Jersey?
Lots of fun. I had read another book by this author, but when I realized this was about seniors, I was initially hesitant. I just didn't think the romance angst would work when played against seniors. Wow, was I wrong.
Could Darcy and Bingley possibly have been more sought after than two widowers in good physical shape, financially secure and with their own teeth? Very funny, very witty. Good characterizations all round and a wild and fun romp.
Conclusion occurs very quickly - my only plot complaint. All in all I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it as an exceptionally well-written, fun, modern Jane Austen-like romp through the senior set.
Liked it, really wanted to love it.......2006-07-19
A nice, friendly, cozy reworking of my beloved "Pride and Prejudice". I really wanted to love this book, and I almost did. This is a fun book, until the end. The end just feels so rushed, it's almost like the author just gave up. Another couple of chapters maybe and I would have loved it. Still, a good book - lots of fun, and worth the read.
great read!.......2006-04-19
When I saw this book in a bookstore on a business trip, the cover put me off, but i needed a book for the plane home and gave it a try and am very glad I did. it's a pitch perfect adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, set in a jewish retirement community in boca raton, florida --brilliant! the opening chapter sets the theme and comic tone, and by the end the emotion and drama are like being in a parallel universe with elizabeth and darcy---but with jewish senior citizens in modern day florida. i also enjoyed cohen's "jessie kaplan and the dark lady", although it wasn't quite as good as "boca". am looking forward to reading her "jane austen in scarsdale". For another modern-day adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, "This Side of Married" by Rachel Pastan, set in Philadelphia, is also quite good, although not as funny as "boca".
Average customer rating:
- I really can relate to Ellie (main character)
- Wake up people!
- LOVED IT!
- eh...
- Rage
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The Other Woman
Jane Green
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Domestic Life
| Women's Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
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General
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Contemporary
| Romance
| Subjects
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ASIN: 0670034045
Release Date: 2005-03-08 |
Book Description
Jane GreenÂ's bestselling novels are rich with wry, clever insights into the romantic lives of her idiosyncratic heroines, winning them a devoted fan base. Now, with The Other Woman, Viking will reintroduce America to the inimitable Jane Green.
If opposites attract, Ellie and Dan are perfect for each other. SheÂ's impulsive; he follows all the rules. Ellie is a virtual orphan, whereas DanÂ's family is as close-knit as they come. At first, Ellie is thrilled to be accepted into the Cooper clan and embraces DanÂ's mom, Linda, as the mother she never had—until she begins to realize that LindaÂ's “mothering” is far more intrusive than even the best daughter-in-law can handle. What can Dan and his mother possibly have to talk about on the phone twice a day? And how has the intimate civil ceremony Ellie always dreamed of turned into a black-tie affair that would rival a royal wedding? Suddenly, Ellie finds herself wondering if itÂ's possible to get an annulment—from Linda.
A hilarious yet touching look at mothers-in-law and what they teach us about ourselves, The Other Woman is a brilliant hit from a novelist whose star just continues to rise.
Customer Reviews:
I really can relate to Ellie (main character).......2007-09-11
I really am able to relate to her, atleast in the way she reacts. The book itself is generically about a woman with a minimal family past falling in love with a man that is very family bound and at first thinks that it is the greatest thing ever, and then soon realizes it has its obsticals. Pretty much Ellies reactions to things are simillar to things I would do, so I relate.
She goes through ups and downs, and I really enjoyed this book as well as all others by Jane Green!
Wake up people!.......2007-07-25
I love Jane Green for her consistent production of captivating novels that I can take to the beach, get absorbed in, laugh aloud at times, get choked up, and enjoy myself. This book gave me exactly that, as always.
I'm not sure why people are fixating on their like or dislike of the main character. It's a book, you're not going to prom with Ellie or marrying her, she's a figment of an author's imagination, built to entertain you for the length of time it takes to read the book. I found Ellie and Linda's relationship relatable for many people, often times in-laws are crazy or hard to deal with. It's life. Sometimes people are crazy, possibly even those who write hostile reviews on message boards.
If you are looking for studious, factual, serious, or informative books you should not be reading anything by Jane Green. In that case, go to the reference section of the library and have a field day. My point is know your author. It sounds like Jane is not the answer to what you are looking for, something serious like science fiction seems up your alley. You can't criticize and author for writing what she does best (which at times is a chick flick book that can touch on trashy, be funny and emotional). Kudos to Jane for sticking to what she does best...making people laugh.
I enjoyed this beach read as much as all the other books I've read by Jane Green. I know my author. She'll provide me with something entertaining.
LOVED IT!.......2007-07-12
I loved this book, however, I can relate to the complicated mother-in-law issue! My favorite book by Jane Green thus far.
eh..........2007-07-11
This book wasn't the best novel by Jane Green. It is easy reading though. I prefer her earlier novels. "Jemima J" and "Straight Talking" are my favorite. I'm starting "Swapping Lives" now, then its onto "Second Chance." I am definitley a fan of her books and I hope they aren't a disappointment. Even if they aren't that great I would still read them.
Rage.......2007-06-27
I love Jane Green's books, but the plotline in this one and the author's failure to develop a critical character very well both left me uncomfortable.
On the plotline, I couldn't see Ellie's and Dan's marriage surviving the level of rage and hate that Ellie built up against her mother-in-law (Dan's mother) after the accident with their son. Ellie had reason to resent and dislike her mother-in-law (Linda), but much of it was her own fault: Ellie never specified boundaries for Linda or stood up for herself. Instead, she insisted that her husband fight all her battles for her, which wasn't reasonable. After the accident, in light of the six months of hate and rage vented against Dan about Linda, Ellie should have had professional counseling (and she and Dan marriage counseling) so that Ellie could work through her rage, see her own complicity in Linda's behaviour (which was controlling and overbearing), and come to terms with it. I just don't see how she could have worked through that level of hate and rage in the time period provided in the book and without professional help. The inevitable reconciliation should have been spelled out and should have been long and difficult (Green does suggest that may have been the case). It also bothered me that Ellie did not press Trish and Greg for news about Dan after the separation; that did not fit her character.
Then, worse, Green did not spend enough time developing Dan, Ellie's husband. She didn't make him someone that the reader would care whether or not he and Ellie would get back together. Why did Ellie love Dan? Why would she miss him so badly after they separated? Green put so much effort into some of the women characters, but not anywhere enough into Dan. He came across as a wuss, and he really seemed to be a nice guy, but no reason to agonize about breaking up with him.
Not a bad book at all, and some really interesting secondary characters, but I felt this one a bit flawed. Three and a half stars.
Average customer rating:
- Let's have more from Melodie
- Courtesy of Teens Read Too
- Warm coming of age story.
- Couldn't put it down.
- very good story telling
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My Lost and Found Life
Melodie Bowsher
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1582347360
Release Date: 2006-08-22 |
Book Description
Ashley Mitchell thinks she has the perfect life: popularity, a hot boyfriend, and great fashion sense. But Ashley’s world falls apart when her mother is accused of embezzling a million dollars, and no one can find her. Before she can say Dolce & Gabbana, Ashley’s life goes from perfect to pathetic. With questions growing about her mother and her money quickly disappearing, Ashley is forced to make some drastic changes in her life. With nowhere else to go, she moves into an old camper behind a gas station and takes a job in a quirky San Francisco coffee shop where she wouldn’t have been caught dead a month ago. But life at Mad Malcolm’s Cyber Café isn’t what she expected. At the Madhouse she finds friends, confidence, and courage to start putting her life back together. But will Ashley ever have the chance to share her new life with her mother?
This heartfelt coming of age story will resonate with every daughter who ever took her mother for granted, and every young woman who must step out on her own and not just survive, but thrive.
Customer Reviews:
Let's have more from Melodie.......2007-01-19
Melodie Bowsher's first novel reaches right into the world of young women walking the line between adolescence and womanhood -- from their vocabularies to their daily preoccupations. Like many high school seniors, Ashley sees her mother as an irritant -- the person who magically pays for Ashley's lifestyle but who otherwise just doesn't 'get it' and should just stay out of the way. Ashley has no idea how her single mother struggles to provide Ashley access to the priviliged social sphere at which the popular teen is the center. The embezzling mom is an intriguing character herself. Her early disappearance in the book shapes Ashley's challenging metamorphasis from preoccupied prom queen to ingenious survivor. How does a sheltered teen who has never paid a bill even begin to get by when her home and credit cards no longer exist -- when her irritating mother (her only family) is nowhere to be found? Ashley's journey is a crash course in survival. How long do we have to wait for Melodie Bowsher's next novel?
Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2006-10-27
It's five days before graduation and Ashley's perfect life is crumbling. Her mother is being accused of embezzling a million dollars, and has disappeared. Ashley can't believe her mother would do something like that, much less disappear and leave her with the fall-out. Although it's starting to look like it all might be true. One by one the things Ashley counted on and took for granted are falling away. There's no way she can afford the senior trip to Hawaii. Her perfect boyfriend won't even acknowledge her. Gone are her plans to go to college in Boston with her best friend. Not to mention the bills, but those can wait for her mom to come back. Except it's getting pretty obvious that she's not coming back.
Suddenly Ashley, who's always just gotten what she asked for, has to fend for herself. It's a hard crash course in reality. There's no way she can afford to keep the house, even after she has a yard sale to sell off its contents. She needs a job, but it's hard to find a job with no work experience. It's impossible to find a place to live without income. The only people who can help are her mother's ex-boyfriend, who doesn't like her, her mother's best friend, who thinks she's a spoiled brat, and the cop who's investigating her mom. Everyone seems to be waiting for her to fail.
Ashley finds herself living in a camper behind a gas station., without heat or running water. She falls into a job at Mad Malcom's, an off-beat coffee shop where the clientele is as nutty as the owner. In her wildest dreams she could never imagine her life getting this off track. The question is, can she pull herself out of where she`s ended up? And, what really happened to her mother?
On the way through she learns a few things about real friends, dangerous people, and personal strength.
MY LOST AND FOUND LIFE is so well-written that Ashley seems like a real person. It's written like an autobiography, and I almost forgot that it wasn't a true story. Especially since it could be--things like this actually happen to people. It is a good reminder that you don't always know what people have been through. As well as a reminder that you might be surprised at what you can do when you run out of options.
Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman
Warm coming of age story........2006-10-08
Melodie Bowsher's MY LOST AND FOUND LIFE tells of Ashley, who leads the perfect life until her mother is accused of embezzling a fortune - and vanishes. Suddenly Ashley's forced into a move to an old camper, takes a job in a quirky San Francisco coffee shop, and explores a side of life she never knew existed in this warm coming of age story.
Couldn't put it down........2006-09-16
Loved this book! Read it in two days. Although I liked Ashley from the beginning of the book, I grew to love her by the end. Her personal transformation was genuine and heartwarming. Funny, touching, a bit of a mystery and a real page turner. A great read.
very good story telling.......2006-09-05
I just finished reading this book and I loved it. And I found myself wiping tears from my eyes at several points. It's a hit! I wish there was a Part Two.
Book Description
No matter what your age, divorce is one of life’s greatest challenges. But while your parents, friends, and lawyers may be chock-full of advice, the truth is that young women who divorce today face a brand-new set of issues and possibilities far removed from those of women a generation before. If you’re looking for a fresh, empowering, and thoroughly modern guide to starting this new chapter of your life, Not Your Mother’s Divorce offers the ultimate roadmap—from wading through legal jargon to getting back into society—as told by your best girlfriends who’ve been there.
Based on the experiences of more than thirty women who divorced in their twenties and thirties without children, Not Your Mother’s Divorce offers camaraderie and practical counsel on:
Breaking the news to family and friends
Coping with sudden singledom—from living arrangements to changing your name
Protecting yourself financially and dividing your assets
Legalese 101—making the legal process work for you
Reentering the dating scene
How to handle encounters with your ex
Warm and insightful, Not Your Mother’s Divorce gives you the tools to find your way through this difficult time—and emerge a stronger, wiser, happier you.
Customer Reviews:
A MUST-READ for anyone going through a divorce.......2006-03-16
At 32 years old, I'm the first one of my friends to go through a divorce (after 5 years of marriage), and while my girlfriends were tremedously supportive of me, none of them have ever gone through something like this and there are some things that only someone who has survived a divorce can understand. This book was like an old friend, comforting me, guiding me through the process, assuring me that everything I was feeling was normal and to be expected. A year later, it still sits on my nightstand, battered and highlighted in yellow marker, being read and re-read whenever I need support. Of course, this book is not substitute for therapy, but I don't think I could have gotten through this past year without it. I would recommend this book to ANYONE going through a divorce. I've also seen some reviews on here by someone who finds the book to be "pro-divorce", and that is not the case at all. The authors merely acknowledge the fact that divorces happen, provide comfort and advice without passing judgement on the how and why, and help those of us who are going through the process to make the best of the situation and feel somewhat hopeful about our futures.
One-of-a-kind.......2005-11-20
This book is not for people who are not sure whether they want a divorce. It will not suggest that you work harder on your marriage, and it will not tell you that you are making a mistake. It will also not give helpful advice on how to save a marriage. I think the title should be sufficient warning of its target audience.
That said, it is a completely unique book that allows a young, childless woman going thorough divorce to feel that she is not alone. It gave me hope that I might someday be happy again. As someone who had been repeatedly lied to and betrayed by a husband who had been given countless "second chances," I was not interested in hearing that I should try harder to save the marriage.
Well written by intelligent, educated women who had been through divorce themselves, the book really does sound like the advice of a close girlfriend. This book was a life-saver for me.
Best Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce in your 20s & 30s!.......2005-03-09
I went to the bookstore to pick up a book on divorce - what I found was books that were either very heavy on the legal end or books for women with children. There was nothing out there for books for 20/30 somethings going through a divorce within the first 5 years -that spoke to me, not my mother. Someone recommended this book and I ordered it within the first 3 weeks after the big break-up. I was looking for something that spoke to me, in a girlfriend type of tone, not a preaching tone and this was PERFECT. It took me through what to expect in the beginning, the cycle of what would happen, how to tell people (or not tell people), and what to expect. It had great vignettes within it that illustrated situations similar to what I was going through and served as a general companion that helped me get through the healing process in the first six months. It was exactly what I needed. I would strongly recommend this to someone in their 20s/30s, first marriage, no kids - its right in-line with the chick lit out there and laughs and cries with you. Without this, I don't think I could have handled everything as well as I have. A must read over all the other books on the subject out there!
Disappointing and Bothersome.......2004-06-21
Although I did find this book to be helpful from a self confidence standpoint, this was a strange read. The authors come across as very self absorbed and insecure. I felt like I was reading Sex and the City for divorcees. I think a chapter on attempting to reconcile the differences you and your spouse might be experiencing would go a long way. This book gives you absolutely no hope and makes divorce sound like a positive thing. I once had many of the same feelings (or lack there of) that the women in this book describe, but I found it in me to work out things with my spouse. I have never felt stronger and more in love. What we went through was very difficult, but I cannot imagine my life without my spouse. In our world today, it much easier for a woman to walk away from a marriage than it was in the past. This can be a good thing, but also a very bad thing. I almost gave up to soon and I know and I know others who have. Many of them regret their decisions.
Such a GREAT read!.......2004-06-14
Not even 30 and struggling with ending my marriage only 3 months old has left me with a myriad of feelings. Coming from a family of divorce I obviously did NOT want to go down the same path. Not Your Mother's Divorce has shown me that I'm not alone in what I am about to go through and in "real world" terms. I found that other books tend to focus on bitter custody battles and how to cope as a single mom- neither of which applies to me or anyone else going through a "starter marriage". Moffett & Touborg give a perspective that I could completely relate to - reading this book is like having my best girlfriend sitting next to me encouraging me that what I'm about to go through will only make me stronger and that I WILL in fact survive and be better off for it and a MUCH happier person! I can hardly wait! I can only say that I am grateful to have read this book at this point in my life. I've learned a lot about myself, what went wrong in my marriage (before we got married!) and this book will with out a doubt help me face the world as a delightful divorcee!
Book Description
Susan Shapiro Barash, acclaimed author of Second Wives and Sisters, turns her penetrating powers of observation to the oldest of triangles, exploring the uncharted dimensions of mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, and son/husband roles. Women whose mother/daughter-in-law status is fast approaching, newly acquired, or well established will benefit from this book, as will the son/husband stuck in the middle. Barash leads readers through this complex relationship to a better understanding of the dynamics of insecurity, generational jealousies, child rearing dilemmas and power struggles. Utilizing an extensive survey of hundreds of women, their mothers-in-law and the men they share, Barash presents the real voices of those affected, the mixed feelings and problems faced as well as the ways in which they learned to cope and solutions devised. Interspersed with these first-hand accounts are the insights and recommendations of noted psychologists and relationship counselors.
From Mothers-in-law and Daughters-in-law, readers will learn how to create a mutually independent and rewarding relationship that allows mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, and son/husband to grow.
Customer Reviews:
Lots of examples, but not many helpful solutions.......2005-10-21
I was looking for some help witha troublesome mother-in-law relationship, and this one had some good reviews. I was fairly disappointed by it though.
First, the book offered a number of real-life examples, but the arrangement of these stories into seprate chapters seemed a little unclear to me--I found it hard to locate the sections that might be most helpful for my specific situation.
The second problem I had with the book is that the author apparently has no training in psychology or family therapy--according to the author bio she teaches screenwriting. So, she presents a lot of examples, but the "solutions" are not really solutions, but rather just statements of what the results of a particular situation are likely to be. I was looking for more concrete solutions.
New Mother-In-Law Again.......2005-09-06
This book hopefully will be helpful for me to get me to understand my second daughter-in-law. Too bad it was not around 36 years ago for other family members to read. It has some very interesting insight into family relationships.
It was good........2001-12-21
I think that the book was VERY neutral. I don't think that she took either side. I am the Daughter-in-Law and I saw myself in many of the examples. Some things were hard for me to read, like I do have to accept that this woman is part of my life whether I like it or not and.... I do have to try to avoid conflicts with her for my husband's sake. Other things were great to read like "A mother-in-law has to give you her idealized vision of a daughter-in-law", and that her fear of losing her son comes from her being insecure and unhappy in life (or so I understood). I think that the book is good. It did give me a sense that my mother-in-law will never change and she will never apologize to me for being intrusive. I bought the book b/c I recently finally confronted her and I was looking for something to validate my feelings. This book certainly has.
I'm glad I'm not alone..........2001-11-06
Finally there is a guide book about mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law that makes me feel like I'm not the only one. Barash covers every issue imaginable, from interfaith marriages to marrying someone of another race, to holiday time and money matters. She interviewed hundreds of mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law of all different backgrounds and ages. But certain issues seem to be the same for everyone. Even the thorniest of relationships can be healed if one reads this book. There is a questionaire in the back which is very insightful. I highly recommend this book to every mother-in-law and daughter-in-law -- before or after the wedding! It's a terrific read for women.
Healing Trouble in Paradise.......2001-08-29
I am so pleased to find a book that explains the complexities of the mother in law/daughter in law connection. Susan Shapiro Barash, relationship expert and gender specialist, uncovers all the troubles and tribulations between these two women, citing psychologists, sociologists, divorce lawyers to give insight into why these two women harbor negative feelings toward each other. Barash also reveals positive stories, of mothers in law and daughters in law who fill a void in each other's lives. Interviewing women of all ages, working class and college educated, Barash finds that over time, even the worst of these relationships can be healed. The book includes a survey in the back and is well written and thorough. I recommend this book as aguide for every mother in law and daughter in law out there, regardless of how long they've been a mother in law or a daughter in law.
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