A Year And Six Seconds: A Memoir Of Stumbling From Heartbreak To Happiness (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
When the story opens, it's a dark and slushy winter in New York City, where Isabel is arriving by airplane from Ohio, two toddlers in tow, to move in with her parents; her husband has left her for another woman. In subsequent scene after hilarious scene, Isabel shares her valiant, misguided, and bumbling attempts to understand her own part in the disintegration of her marriage and to feel strong and loveable. And, one by one, she begins to cross items off a staggering single mom to-do list that includes: change last name, get bank account, get work, have breakdowns only in front of best friend and not in front of children, find rare preschool slot for son midyear in Manhattan, get along with three generations of family in tight quarters, find a man who can plant one great and romantic kiss, accept self, accept love, be happy.She cries, she dates, she (and her mother and father and children) get the flu, and then, just when she least expects it, Isabel falls in love.With humility and a refreshing sense of humor, Isabel stumbles many times but also laughs, forgives, discovers new treasures from old friends, marries again, and more than that, finds good love itself within and around her.Beautiful writing but a heartbreaking story until the end! I found myself relating to her as a woman who is going through a divorce while worrying about her children and trying not to make the same mistakes again in her life. I cried tears with her tears in the story and found myself crying at the end of the book because she found her true love and happiness. I would recommend it for a soul searching tale of the bumpy road that leads you to where you were meant to be. I loved her first book and sympathized with her, the devoted wife cast aside for a newer younger French professor. This one was braver because after she moves in with her parents and two young children in NYC one starts to find her...annoying. She's open and honest about what it's like to be dumped, divorced, lonely and raising Two little boys. But it does somehow endear u you to Isabelle like the first memoir does. Still you find yourself relating to her insecurities and the mess of it all. And cheering for her when she meets her soulmate in Central Park.
What do You think about A Year And Six Seconds: A Memoir Of Stumbling From Heartbreak To Happiness (2011)?
Not quite as good as the first one and did not go quite where I wanted it to go...easy read though..
—JRBJACOB
Read this book in two days. A great story of triumph over divorce.
—Pctouchstone
A worthy sequel to Gillies' first book, "Happens Every Day."
—Saleema
I am a memoir junkie. This was a good one. Quick, easy read.
—nceba
