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Read The Book Club (2003)

The Book Club (2003)

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Rating
3.62 of 5 Votes: 1
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ISBN
1551667215 (ISBN13: 9781551667218)
Language
English
Publisher
mira books

The Book Club (2003) - Plot & Excerpts

Actual Rating: ***1/2Another women's book club story that had all of the usual heartaches and life complications; however, Monroe's writing made working through the tangle of story lines well worth the reading time.Opening Lines:PrologueEve of ReturnJanuary 7, 1998Tonight, I will return to my Book Club.On books and memories...We can all laugh now when a book makes reference to the Baltimore catechism or flocks of nuns shrouded in starched wimples and jangling rosaries. We relish books that bring us back to that innocent time when we played without fear in the streets on summer nights till 10:00 p.m. How many books chronicled our era's passage from Motown to the Beatles and finally to acid rock? Or the painful choices of the Vietnam War years? All of us knew boys who wore either military uniforms or peace signs, or perhaps one who fled across the border, never to be heard from again. Now some of us know husbands--no longer young but aging without grace--who break family ties and flee. We devour stories of them, wondering, shivering.Observations of an office...The overwhelming influence in the cozy lair...was the presence of books. One entire wall was bookshelves, crammed full of leather-bound volumes in muted colors. Books were stacked on the floor in the corners, under tables and on tops of tables. Eve sniffed the air, catching the heady scent of knowledge. It drew her in.On finishing a book...All stories come to an end. That moment when we sigh and close the book, perhaps sit back in our chair and rest our palm over the cover, is met with quixotic emotions. On the one hand, we're satisfied if the author successfully tied up loose ends, turned a memorable phrase and rewarded the hero's moral choice with his heart's desire. Yet we're also saddened that the adventure is over.

The Book Club is a breezy story about five middle-aged Chicago women who confront the changes in their health, relationships, and dreams while they occasionally discuss novels. Eve Porter must deal with her handsome husband's sudden death. Ambitious Annie is faced with huge obstacles when she finally tries to start a family. Doormat Doris is the perfect wife, but that doesn't mean she has the perfect life. Bohemian Midge has carved out a peaceful creative existence until her mother threatens to jeopardize it. Gabriella supports everyone around her, but does anyone help her? Eve's transformation, Annie's problems and Doris' epiphany overshadow the other character's arcs so much that it's easy to forget who Gabriella even is. While the issues Mary Alice Monroe touches on are timely and important, she barely delves beneath the surface. Clunky descriptions such as "His eyes shone with the blueness and intensity of an acetylene torch (p.228)," make you wonder if you're reading a Harlequin Romance. Need a light, trite page-turner to read on the plane? Join the club; otherwise, drop out.

What do You think about The Book Club (2003)?

Another great read by Mary Alice Monroe - who I spent a good bit of time getting to know this summer thru her novels and her Facebook page! I enjoyed this story of friendship -- five women who meet for their Book Club, but share so much more. I was glad that they were not all the best of friends and had ups and downs in their relationships. Their support for each other is supportive, without being all consuming. Five different personalities and at different stages of life kept the characters and book interesting. My favorite part of the book is when they all gather at the Lake House - I love the description, and their time there together was so special. I really wanted to jump in the pages of the book and be a part of this close, and fun group of friends.
—Kristin

3.5 stars. I really like Monroe's writing style as I find it easy to breeze along and her character's relatable. I did not think this was one of her best, but still a feel good read. Five women have been in a social book club for many years. I would not say they all are good friends, but over the years the friendships seem to slip back and forth. This is what I enjoyed. These women reminded me of friendships I have had with different women....sometimes they are the best of friends, sometimes you can't relate and other times you tolerate them more or less because of your history. You fit together, even though you go home to very different lives. I think Monroe did a wonderful job of showing how a shared history kept these women together. I also appreciated that each women was facing a change in her life, and once again I could relate. Each had a pretty major issue arise that I have either dealt with or have gone through with a good friend. The stories of each of these women were honest....and I could see how they had reached this time in their lives....and I could think of someone I know who was much like each character. (myself included) This felt a little drawn out in some places which is why it did not get a full 4 stars from me. But her stories are comfortable....relaxing....just what I need at times....just like an old friend.
—Connie

This book surrounds the lives of five friends who live in the Chicago area and have a monthly book club. The novel opens with the death of Eve's husband and the turmoil this throws into her life. Her friends attempt to rally around her and her children, but have their own strife. Annie is struggling to have a baby, Gabriella is working extra shifts to support her family after her husband loses his job, Midge, an artist is dealing with her mother moving back to Chicago and in with her, and Doris is trying to deal with her feelings of inadequacy and possible infidelity of her husband. We get to see Eve start to build a new life and possibly find a new love as she goes through the challenges of going back to work. Annie's frustrations with not having a baby threaten to break up her marriage and possibly that of another member. In the end, there are big changes for the group, but they manage to grow the cohesion between them.
—Michelle

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