5 comments about The Year of Pleasures.

1. I've read some of Ms. Berg's other books and enjoyed them - I am sorry to say this one was a real disappointment - the premise is interesting and I thought the book got off to a good start but the author could not sustain the tempo - about 2/3 of the way through, it seemed as if the author had realized she only wanted the book to be a certain length, and so she'd better be about getting it done - so no sooner than are a host of characters introduced then the story is over - it never was very clear what the pleasures were - the book turned out to be a trite treatment of the topic - I would not recommend.



2. Right after Cathy Lamb's "The Last Time I was Me," this takes the cake. I have read every Elizabeth Berg book - this is my favorite. The others, though each offering their own good points, did not hold me like this one.
   
   From the first chapter, you are drawn into the main character's pain of losing her best friend and husband - the two had built a world of themselves, both enjoying each other's company more than anyone else's, so when he dies, she moves forward with their early retirement plans, much to the chagrin of the few people in her life - who, by the way, think she's lost it. (who hasn't been there once or twice?)
   
   Instead of a year of mourning, she tries to create a year of pleasures - doing things for herself - things that she never made time to do before. It helps that money is no object, of course, but, hey, don't we read to lose ourselves sometimes?
   
   I love unpredictably happy endings and this book did not disappoint.



3. liked the style of writing; it was an involving story. I follow all the pharagraphs. Once you start to read it You just can't stop. This was a quick and fabulous read! I felt as if I knew each of the characters. If you've ever experienced loss and felt as if you're alone in that feeling... Wonderful stories of loss, need, desire, friendship... I called an old friend and mended fences while reading this book. It helps you realize how important life is and how much more important it is to live it.
   
   If you're looking for more good stories you can`t miss these:
   A Strange Disappearance
   The Circular Study: By the woman who inspired Agatha Christie!
   The Chief Legatee
   The Filigree Ball: By the woman who inspired Agatha Christie!
   The Woman in the Alcove



4. This is a good book for a more mature (female) reader. It is a little predictable, but a nice read none the less. I do want to caution the younger reader, say the under fourty ladies, there is probably not a lot here for you. To get anything from this, the reader (or listener, in my case) will have had to have some life experences to really relate to what the author is talking about. All that said, it was a good, easy listen.



5. Having read and enjoyed Elizabeth Berg's earlier books, I was really disappointed with The Year of Pleasures. The first half of the book was really really good, then it just fell apart. Totally incohesive. Doesn't the author check back on what she had written a few chapters earlier? Betta sells her brownstone in Boston for almost $2 million, buys the "small" Victorian home for $350,000, which I find hard to believe since homes in "small town" America never sell for that much!
   So, unless she had a mortgage on the Boston home, Betta is set for life and should not worry whether she could afford the vacant store and the apartment upstairs. That did it for me! And the elderly owner of the Victorian who is languishing in a filthy old folks home, why didn't she do something with that $350,000 to have a better "end of life?"
   
   I was hoping to see more of Zeke the dog, but no. And what middle aged woman would move into a dumpy filthy apartment with two slobs when she could have rented out a spare bedroom if she was so scared to live alone! Or get a dog!
   
   Sorry folks, save your time and don't bother with this silly book. Ms. Berg has obviously lost her touch and should retire.

5 comments about True To Form.

1. "True to Form" is actually a sequel to one of Berg's previous books, "Joy School." Once again, the writing and plot seem aimed at a young adult reader. To a mature reader, the book may appear juvenile in content and writing style.
   
   Katie, the main character, has moved to Missouri with her strict army-dad, her new step mom and the two family dogs. She has also found a new best friend in Cynthia. One of the strongest characters in the book is Cynthia's Mom who is just a tad bizarre. Katie wins a radio contest and the prize is a plane trip anywhere she would would like to go. She chooses to visit her former best friend in Fort Hood, Texas, where she once lived. There is a lesson for Katie from this trip - nothing is ever quite the same as it was.
   
   The plot of "True to Form" is not exceptionally exciting, but the well-developed characters are what gives the book warmth, humour and style. "True to Form" is certainly not once of my favourite Berg novels; however, it is an okay read and we have the opportunity to find out how Katie's teen years are progressing.



2. "True to Form" beautifully illustrates the small challenges and trials of growing up in one of the most realistically stunning novels I've read in a long time.
   
   In this coming of age novel, we are reunited with young Katie Nash, of Berg's previous novels, who is facing some difficult choices apropos for a young girl at the age of 13. While, as many have noted, we're not exactly breaking new ground here, Berg writes beautifully and with such authenticity that it's nearly impossible not to enjoy the ride.
   
   Katie's struggles are relatively minor, but they are vividly drawn portraits of the challenges of a thirteen year-old girl, and watching Katie work through it with the pluck and shortcomings of a precocious young girl is an absolute delight. Unlike other novels that deal with childhood betrayal, Katie's transgressions are fairly simple, and more typical of a girl her age - she backstabs a close friend in the name of being 'cool' - yet it is so wonderfully written that every scene leaps off the page. This is not a book that's high on plot - it's more of a simple, beautiful character study of a young girl coming into her own, warts and all.
   
   I absolutely reveled and delighted in it, and it's short enough to be a quick summer read while frittering away a hot afternoon by the pool.



3. Following the recent death of her mother, 13-year-old Katie Nash and her family have moved to Missouri, the latest of her father's military postings. It's the summer of 1961, and Katie keeps busy with her two jobs - babysitting the rambunctious Wexler boys and helping care for her elderly disabled neighbor Mrs. Randolph.
   
   Initially Katie is less than thrilled with both prospects. The boys all but tear each other apart each day, and Katie is uncomfortable with the elderly.
   
   But within a short time, Katie begins to enjoy the time she spends in both homes. By being clever, Katie is able to control - and even build a rapport with - the three Wexlers, and it's clear to her that the Randolphs are an extraordinary couple - who just happened to get older.
   
   Katie's summer would be wonderful - except for some shocking news from her best friend back in Texas. All of a sudden, the two-years-older Cherylanne, who always seemed so mature, is seen by Katie as the child she really is.
   
   This final novel in Berg's trilogy about Katie follows the events of just one summer, when she is forced to grow up in ways that readers will be able to identify with themselves...



4. Be sure to listen to the reading of this book by Arija Bareikis. She's terrific!
   
   Imagine that you are a thirteen year-old girl whose mother has died, and your authoritarian father (who is in the Army) gets you two jobs for the summer that you don't want. Obviously, you are going to do the jobs . . . but your stomach is churning with dread. What is there to look forward to?
   
   Katie Nash ends up having the summer of her life, learning new meanings to friendship, making new friends, and finding out important lessons about herself and the challenges of being a teenage girl. She brings a caring heart to her life that takes this book from being somewhat of a formula book into one that will bring many smiles.
   
   Although I was never a teenage girl, Ms. Berg's writing took me back to those days and the desire to be an adult . . . while my parents had other ideas.
   
   Part of the book's charm is that Ms. Berg knows how to let her characters grow and change in ways that you usually don't expect.
   
   I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to re-create 1961 and think about the importance of becoming open to more possibilities.



5. Having read some of Berg's other books, I bought this one expecting something similar. I was very disappointed by the lack of interesting material, pointless tangents, and middle school drama that was True to Form. Skip this one and go for an early work by Berg.

5 comments about Dream When You're Feeling Blue: A Novel.

1. Elizabeth Berg -- you have done it again!!! This retro (c. 1940s) novel is the best!!! I highly recommend this book.



2. I liked this book and thought it was a very nice period piece. The focus was a good balance of family (especially sisters), love, and history. I really admired the growth of the main character, Kitty, throughout the story. I wasn't fully attached to her at first, but she became increasingly more likable as the pages turned (and I thought she was wonderful by the end). Though I'll admit the ending was not what I was hoping for, it definitely remained on my mind for a long time after I read it. Her shocking decision at the end could have knocked me out of my chair when I read it, but the more I thought about it later, the more I decided it was quite fitting with the situation (selfless in a large way, while still granting her the chance to fulfill other parts of herself in another).. It was very bittersweet. I'm glad I read 'Dream When You're Feeling Blue' and I'd recommend the book.



3. I loved this book!
   This book was given to me in a box of used books by a stranger. This book was so wonderful i couldn't let it down until I had finished it. This book started a chain of trips to the library to read all of Elizabeth Berg's books. I truly love her books, but this is the best so far.
   Ending was a big surprise - but then again, reality has it surprises, why doesn't fiction?



4. I'm so sad to rate this book by Elizabeth Berg so low as she is still one of my favorite authors, and sadly if this had been my first Berg book, I doubt I'd be reading another. I tried reading this book back in 2007 when it first came out, but couldn't get into it, still I thought I probably didn't give it enough of a try, so I was eager to read it this time. But it still took me forever to get through it. It didn't hold my interest, and then in addition to that, I had to read and re-read parts over and over again since I was so easily distracted and kept forgetting what I just read.
   
   Then the ending was such a disappointment. I never expected a happy ending, with the setting being in WWII, I expected someone to not make it home, and I kept thinking ahead to who that person would be, and I had picked the one person I absolutely wanted to make it home, and of course that was the person who didn't. :( That was sad enough, but then at the very end, I was disappointed in that as well. It's like the guys played Musical Chairs with the sisters - everyone kept dating everyone else. And the one couple that I really wanted to make it, didn't. It just seemed like such a strange, strange story that would never really happen. People were breaking up and getitng together all throughout and the one couple that would have stayed together through all this, didn't since the man never made it home from the war. Just a very disappointing book overall. :(



5. I loved loved LOVED 99.9% of this novel, all except for the last three or so pages! It definitely fed my intense curiosity and fascination with the WWII era--it is an incredibly detailed account of the day-to-day lives of the women on the homefront.
   
   The story is alternatively funny and heartbreaking. I didn't want it to end! And in fact, the ending is the only bad thing I can say about this book---it's stunningly awful. My mom said she thought the ending made the book more authentic, but I just thought it stank. And made no sense whatosever. So, in true Wendy fashion, I choose to ignore the author's ending of choice and make up my own. :)
   
   With that caveat, this is definitely on my list of best books I've ever read. I love the richness of the period detail, and the author authentically captures realistic dynamics between the sisters. Surely Ms. Berg is a sister herself!
   
   I definitely recommend this darling little novel to anyone who likes WWII fiction. Just remember to make up your own ending!

5 comments about We Are All Welcome Here.

1. I was concerned that a story about a young mother with polio and her daughter might tend to get maudlin, but I was pleasantly surprised. This is a funny, sad, wise, and inspirational story that held me captive from page one to the end. Berg handled the the characters brilliantly, and the book was extremely well paced. The tension and unwavering love that Berg created between Paige and her daughter was perfect and believable, and I was particularly moved by the in-home caregiver, Peacie.
   
   Besides being well written and highly entertaining, it is a book that asked me to think about the most simple things in life that I take for granted. I came away from it feeling a sense of peace that I'm unable to adequately describe.
   
   Of all the books I've read by Elizabeth Berg, this one is by far my favorite.



2. liked the style of writing; it was an involving story. I follow all the pharagraphs. Once you start to read it You just can't stop. This was a quick and fabulous read! I felt as if I knew each of the characters.
   
   Along excellent stories, I hope you enjoy these:
   A Strange Disappearance
   The Circular Study: By the woman who inspired Agatha Christie!
   The Chief Legatee
   The Filigree Ball: By the woman who inspired Agatha Christie!
   The Woman in the Alcove



3. I read this for bookclub and was hooked by page 8. I laughed and cried during this quick read.



4. This is her best work yet. I loved the story & the way it was read by the author.
   Kept me interested & unpredictable.



5. Uncomfortable. One star. Dag nab it. Yes, I felt very uncomfortable with the book, I felt that you feel that Berg felt uncomfortable with the subject matter. Now, I wholeheartedly include myself as one of Berg's millions of fans. I have found most of her books truly enjoyable, and I hope she will continue to provide us with such extraordinary and satisfying reading. I do hope, however, that she stays away from "period pieces". I detested (strong word to convey my profound disappointment) her novel "Dream When You're Feeling Blue", primarily due to her awkward references to signs of the times such as tastes, fashion, products, etc. In bending over backward to create a sense of authenticity, she practically screamed at us: "See? I did my research! I got the nostalgia just right, didn't I!" ...groan... It felt uncomfortable. She does the same in this lame book. Ship 'n Shore blouses, Lay's potato chips, OK-OK, I get it. (I'm old enough.) The details of caring for a person in an iron lung (do they still call it that?) were awkward and self-conscious, again carefully included for the sake of authenticity. I'd love to see a really tough subject like this in the hands of a Nick Hornby, one of the most refreshing and empathetic writers of our time.

5 comments about Talk Before Sleep.

1. This story is unforgettable, one minute your laughing the next your crying. It was a story about friendship between women. One who was dying of breast cancer and one best friend who learns so much from her dying friends' courage and out look of life. The bond between the two of them is very moving. I laughed and cried because I too had a best friend who died of breast cancer. We did everything together, so for me this book was so close to home. I didn't want it to end, but knew it had to, Because as in life it has a beginning and an end . Read this book and pass it on to your friends , they will thank you.



2. I'll give this one three stars because, like all Berg's books, they keep my interest and have some moments of elegant description and lovely imagery. In "Talk Before Sleep", I knew that Ruth, who has cancer, was going to die, but I couldn't really care. Ruth was basically a self-indulgent person who for some unknown reason evoked feelings of undying loyalty in her friends. Ann, the narrator, is a flat character who doesn't seem to appreciate the husband, daughter, and good health that have been given to her. It seems like many of Berg's protagonists are women who seem to have too much time on their hands, so they spend time contemplating how bored they are in their marriages and how the life they have chosen makes them feel dead inside. For Berg's best work, read the Katie trilogy that starts with "Durable Goods."



3. I liked this book. It's poignant about a scary subject, and insightful in the importance of female friends.



4. not the best book, not the worst either. may try another book by this author- may not.



5. Elizabeth Berg is a writer that understands women and is able to capture that connection women have with each other as friends, mothers, wives perfectly. This book is a testament to that as it is a story of two best friends. Ann and Ruth and what they endure when Ruth is diagnosed with breast cancer.
   
   I felt like I was reading a memoir in Talk Before Sleep. Ms. Berg delves deeply into the feelings, experiences and connections women have when a friend has cancer. It made me stop and think about what it would feel like to have a close friend with cancer as I have not experienced that. I am in my 40's and know it will happen and this story gave me an opportunity to understand what that experience may be like. This is a beautifully written story even though it is sad.

No comments about Elizabeth Berg CD Collection: Say When, The Art of Mending, and The Year of Pleasures.

No comments about The Last Time I Saw You: A Novel.

5 comments about The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted: Stories.

1. i loved this book....it is funny in places and poignant in most places...some of the chapters are truly unforgetable...i highly recommend it for a most unusual read...



2. I read all of Elizabeth Berg's books, and they are all excellent, without exception. This is the first short story book of hers, and it is wonderful. Each story stands beautifully on its own and is incredibly well written. I loved this book! My favorite story was "The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted." This story alone is worth the price of the book.



3. This book had so many thoughts that I share and could never put into words as well as E. Berg. She authored a book to make you laugh outloud and at times weep. i've given it to a few friends as a gift and they too have enjoyed it.



4. One of her best. She is able to communicate about life in ways that make me realize I too feel the same thing - but didn't even realize I had ever thought about it. Each short story is an epiphany.



5. I've just finished the fifth story (I am listening to the audio CD read by the author) and don't plan to continue this book. I'm not sure how these stories can be considered funny and uplifting. I have found all of them so far to be a bit sad and depressing, and I'm a pretty optimistic, glass-half-full type of person. How is "Full Count" an "exhilarating story of a woman breaking free from convention" as these stories have been described? A young girl with an innocent, gentle, happy view of life gets emotionally slammed at the end. Depressing. The main character of "Over the Hill and Into the Woods" seems to be having an emotional breakdown. She is tired, angry, bitter, defeated, and nasty bordering on vicious even to her own children, who she sees as unappreciative of her and her husband. Yes, there is some redemption at the end and, yes, she is real, but there's just not enough uplift here to make up for the downer of this woman's unhappiness and disillusionment with life. As a young mother, I found this difficult to listen to. Even the title story, "The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted" had an undercurrent of sadness and anger. I checked this CD out of the library because I wanted to laugh or at least smile, but the unhappy women in these stores have given me no cause to. Instead I have sat through each one feeling tense and hoping for endings that wouldn't hurt. No doubt these stories are well written and Elizabeth Berg is a skilled author, but they just aren't for me and I do not recommend them to readers under age 50.

5 comments about Say When (Brilliance Audio on Compact Disc).

1. Say When presented itself to me at a time when I needed a book like this. Some of the other reviewers cast the characters off as boring or dumb. I enjoyed the idea of an everyday couple going through what so many everyday couples do. It was refreshing for me to read about a marriage that was not at all perfect yet the circumstances afflicting the couple made it necessary for them to take time to marvel at the memories and the dremas they once had together, no matter how "boring" or "dumb". Also, you hear so much about the man in the relationship coming home and announcing that he's moving out moving on, leaving the woman in a desparate situation. It was a nice change swith to have the tables turned and hear the males perspective of such a disruption to life. Very well written. An easy and insightful read.



2. This is a novel you can relate to and get lost in and just read for the pleasure of it, like all of Elizabeth Berg's books. She is a wonderful writer with a very readable style and great talent for creating "real" people with real strengths and flaws and personalities. These are the dramas of people's real lives...they're subtle and often internal and she captures them perfectly. I've been reading a lot of her books and it was a nice change to read a male narrator, and I have no doubt she was drawing from her own experiences because I found it to be a very believeable male perspective. A very good and satisfying read.



3. My key problem with the book lies with Ellen. The only person she ever appears to have ever truly connected with is her daughter, Zoe; she's always had doubts about her feelings for Griffin, even before their marriage. Almost 40, she's never taken the time or effort to establish a career, has no friends to speak of (other than occasionally confiding in a waitress in a nearby restaurant), has no apparent ties to the community and no hobbies. She turns to another man to fill the emptiness in her life, but that's not something anyone can fix for her.
   
   Elizabeth Berg's point is that we need to love the people in our lives, flaws and all. That's true, but for a relationship to be truly healthy, it's important the two people bring out the best in each other and that's not the case with Griffin and Ellen. He loves her deeply, but fails to understand that she is a very unhappy woman, and that is something his love cannot overcome. From the way her character is written, it sounds like she's clinically depressed and has been for years.
   
   The fact that Ellen's depression is not addressed is one tragedy. The other is how Griffin clings to a woman who has never had more than tepid feelings for him. Zoe is the glue that keeps them together, but she deserves a mother who doesn't rely solely on her role as parent for personal fulfillment. The way the book ends, none of that is addressed.
   
   Elizabeth Berg's writing is lovely and I'm usually a big fan of her work, but this is one book I cannot recommend.



4. I am firmly with the one star raters on this one. Unmoving characters and no apparent story line. I read (actually listen) to books for entertainment as I spend a lot of time commuting to work in the car. Elizabeth Berg has done much better in my opinion. I will not give up on her books but I wish I had passed on this one. I kept waiting for something to happen. It was mercifully short and David Colacci delivered a great job of reading the audio book so I did make it to the end. Let's hope for better efforts in the future.



5. Infidelity is a tough subject to tackle but Elizabeth Berg does it beautifully. The story is written from the husband's point of view and I was impressed at how believable his voice was...I really forgot a woman wrote this! Berg masterfully captures the emotions one might feel in this situation.
   
   The book opens with Griffin admitting he knows his wife, Ellen, is having an affair. The rest of the story takes us through Griffin's emotional journey as the couple faces the important issues of separation, what to do with their daughter, and ultimately the fate of their marriage.
   
   Several reviewers wanted to know "why" Griffin would still want his wife and "why" he was with her in the first place, but I get it. He loved her...it doesn't need to be any deeper than that. As for Ellen, many reviewers judged her as cold but I disagree. Most people who stray from their marriage do so for the exact reason Ellen did...she didn't feel special or understood by her husband. She repeatedly states that she has tried to connect with him and she openly admits her faults.
   
   In my opinion, Berg does a wonderful job capturing the subtleties of a failing marriage and the complex, changing emotions that go along with it.

5 comments about The Art of Mending (Brilliance Audio on Compact Disc).

1. The Art of Mending brings the reader along as family secrets are exposed and shows what the effects are on each of the characters. Berg did a great job of capturing the family dynamic and the reaction of those that hadn't yet put the pieces together. It is a painful story of how abuse, if not revealed and given the chance to heal, can destroy a person's life. The reader follows along as each memory is rediscovered and feels the confusion and disbelief that occurs when the siblings are told about something horrible that happened right in front of them without their being aware. It was interesting to me that there was not a likeable character. There was no one to grab a hold of and cheer for. Each character's dark side was exposed. Overall, I thought this was a good, quick read that kept my attention. Every time I put it down, I wanted to return to it to see what happened - to learn the truth. I liked how Berg included a narrative description of a photograph at the beginning of nearly every chapter. Each description pushed the reader closer to the truth, providing them with additional insight into the childhood of these characters.



2. i've been having difficulty falling into deep, productive sleeps. this pile of words crossed my desk recently and cured all such issues. thank you miss berg!



3. This is a story of a family, and the inequities in the dynamics between family members. The family in the story has gathered for their annual reunion and visit to the Minnesota state fair. Everyone is planning on looking at the animals, riding the rides and gorging on junk food. But Laura Bartone's sister, Caroline, has other plans. She wants an evening alone with Laura and their brother Steve to discuss something. Tragedy strikes the family and Caroline's discussion consists of accusations against their mother. Each of the siblings must examine their own childhood as they knew it to reconcile the differences and mend the family. As always, Elizabeth Berg's prose flows and draws you into the story. She prefaces a number of the chapters with the description of a photo that Laura is examining in her quest for understanding her sister Caroline.



4. I chose this book for our bookclub because instead of the typical man comes to terms with his father, it's a family coming to terms with their mother. Especially the adult women in the family. The interesting relationship each child had with their mother as children and the changes that occurred after their father died hold your interest. And my husband enjoyed the story line as well. So it's not a "chick" book. One person in our book club did think that there could have been more depth in the son's relationship with his mother and sisters. But sometimes that's just the way it is in families. One person doesn't connect as much as the rest. Well worth the read.



5. The story had a lot of potential that kept me interested. The characters could have been more believable,especially Caroline's. The ending was the weakest part of the story, which really annoyed me.