5 comments about Art of Mending, The (Ay Spoken Word - Berg) (Ay Spoken Word - Berg).

1. I'd read Berg's writing book and decided to check out one of her novels. I believe, at least according to other reviewers, this isn't the best one. The story was okay, but the writing and characterization were fair. I was very disappointed after reading her book on writing (Escaping into the Open)--which was delightful.
   
   The Art of Mending left out the "art" part of it. It was difficult to finish because it seemed to be a rough draft--where the characters were just beginning to be fleshed out, but not quite there yet. There was no real climax. It read more like a boring memoir. And it didn't ring true in many places. The mother never seemed like a real person, just a pawn to move the story forward.
   
   I'm sure Berg is capable of better, so I'll read a couple of her other books. But this one fell flat.



2. Elizabeth Berg is one of the best writers of our time. I didn't discover her until recently but she's become a real favorite and I'm buying all her past novels that I can find.



3. And I say Wow because I never saw the end coming, and it did not!
   
   Let me start by saying I am a huge Elizabeth Berg fan, having devoured most of her works, and when I friend lent me her copy of this book, I was eager to begin. However, the more I read, the more I found that I did not like any one of the characters, unusual for an Elizabeth Berg book. I found Laura to be very juvenile and selfish and had to keep reminiding myself that this was a 50- something year old woman, and not a 20 year old one as she was portrayed. The dialogue was unrealistic, especially the conversations between she and her husband--long, drawn out paragraphs of their views on life. And I can also tell you from experience (a friend's not mine, who is a quiltmaker) that one cannot make a living designing quilts, never mind making more than her hardware store owning husband. How the heck much does she charge for these things, and who, in North Dakota would have the dough to cough up for one? Maybe on the East or West Coast, but North Dakota? And then there's Caroline, who I felt sympathy for because she was the most realistic of them all. Just when I thought a heated confrontation was about to take place, where all secrets would be revealed, I was astonished when I turned the page and found the reader's guide! Where's the end? The confrontation to end all confrontations? The book had great potential, however, I got the feeling that deadline needed to be met and was wrapped up in a most sort of warped way. A pity. I gave it so many stars (3) because I must admit, it did keep me going because I was waiting for a revelation that did not come.



4. 50-something quilt artist Laura Bartone is forced to confront the secrets that have long haunted her family during their yearly family reunion.
   Laura is not so thrilled to attend but she has never missed a reunion and she is also looking forward to seeing her siblings and her parents and enjoy quality time with her hubby and her two kids at the fair.
   After their long drive to their parents' place in Minnesota, Laura's sister Caroline comes clean with Laura and their brother Steve, telling them that she has been abused physically by their mother throughout her childhood.
   Laura and Steve are shocked, they cannot believe this has happened under their noses with them not noticing a single thing.... They don't believe Caroline at the beginning but as memories come forward they will learn to make their peace with these disturbing confessions from their sister.
   To add to the family's tension, Laura's Dad dies and the trip is cut short. Laura stays with her mother and begins to untangle the riddle of conflicting childhood memories.
   An entertaining story about family secrets and labyrinths.



5. I was really loving this book from the moment I started reading it. The writing was perfect - interesting enough to tell a story without the annoying overly dramatized language that some other authors use. I found myself very engrossed in the characters (except for the kids - what teenager do you know would describe family, when asked to define what it means, as "slippery?" But I digress...) The author set up the ending so well, and I couldn't wait to see what panned out with Caroline and her mother, and just when I was about to find out -- Berg ended it. I mean, you find out what happens, but I felt there was a lot of build up (pretty much the whole novel!) for not much of anything. I think Berg could have done so much more with their relationship after their meeting, rather than just end the book. Even so, I am very glad I discovered Berg, who obviously is a highly gifted author, and I would still recommend this book to others. I am looking forward to reading her other books.

5 comments about Joy School.

1. We first met Katie in Durable Goods, now she's back.
   It's the late 1950s, and Katie is living with her father and a housekeeper in a small suburban home.
   
   Her teenager neighbors love to tease Katie by leaving her mean notes in the hedges beside her window. The kids at school also tease Katie, and her father is still strict and mean.
   
   One day Katie decides to go iceskating behind the Mobile station. She gets a little to far to the thin ice and falls through. Somehow she managers to pull herself out of the water, and walks freezing cold into the Mobile station where she meets the twenty five year old manager, Jimmy. Katie developes a crush on Jimmy, despite the fact that he is married.
   
   With her new secret crush Katie begins to have more confidence in herself, and begins to stand up to her neighbors, the kids at school, as well as her father.
   
   I honestly think this is a great book. Written in the usual Elizabeth Berg fashion. If you have ever read an Elizabeth Berg book you will know what I mean.



2. When one is 13, every feeling and emotion is utterly and deeply heightened. The world becomes wrapped around one person and that person happens to be the 13 year old narrator. In this case, the teenager is Katie, whom falls madly in love with a 23 year old Paul Newman look-a-like, whom happens to be married.
   
   But love is only one segment of the story. Katie moves to a new state and is meeting new friends--one who is strange and awkward--and one who is beautiful and 13 going on 30. Of course, being a girl, one knows three is a bad mix, so Katie juggles between the two.
   
   Berg, once again, creates irresistable characters, such as Nona, the weird old Italian grandma "When you-a-come over again. Bring-a-me-a- some whiskey, no?"
   
   And the priest who listens to Katie's concerns about coming of age. He is absolutely lovely and I want him as my preist, only I'm Baptist! Katie describes him as bent over and old, but seeing everything, looking you in the eye,really listening.
   
   "Joy School" is deliciously delightful. Berg's insights and wisdom is continually right on, witty, and thought provoking. I love this woman. I understand her. She is a true woman's author. "Joy School" and most of her other books make one feel as if they are eating a sweet bowl of chocolate ice cream--savoring the sugar upon their tongues until they turn the last page.



3. Katie, a lonely 13-year-old living alone with an emotionally distant father, longs for friendships which just don't seem to be happening. Just having moved from Texas to Missouri, Katie waits for sporadic letters from Cherylanne, her former "best friend" who isn't much of a friend at all; and without any provocation, the twins across the street leave nasty notes in Katie's yard.
   
   Then one fateful winter afternoon, Katie decides to ice skate in a small pond behind a gas station. She falls through the ice, and nearly succumbs to the cold wetness when she is helped by Jimmy, the 23-year-old station manager.
   
   Katie immediately falls in love, although there is over a decade between them, and she knows that Jimmy is married with a young son. All that matters, she decides, is that she loves him and he must love her back in the same way.
   
   As the months progress, Katie continues to visit the gas station. She tells both Cherylanne and her new friends Cynthia and Taylor about him, and it's obvious that Katie truly believes she has a chance at a future with Jimmy. He is, as she dubs it, her "joy school," her opportunity to finally learn to be happy for once.
   
   There comes a time, of course, when Katie is forced to realize what's really happening -- and as painful as it is, she realizes that the experience has caused her to mature, just as all the other people in her life have been slowly changing all the while, without her noticing.
   
   While Katie's story is simple (and, one might say, fairly predictable) it's still poignant and engrossing. Who among us can't relate to being thirteen and feeling the pangs of first love, of being surrounded by others yet lonely? Berg is a talented storyteller.



4. Lifeline Online: A Memoir
   Joy School
   
   So simply written, yet so full of knowledge. Katie, a young girl wants to grow up, fall in love and be noticed by her peers. She learns and grows the hard way through rejection and trying to be a circle that doesn't quite fit the square. Like most of us at the age of thirteen, she's awkward and full of questions. With each hurt and sorrow, Katie learns life's lessons, the hard way. She learns of herself.
   
   Berg, not only speaks to the young adult in this story, but to the adult. Her philosophy on life is insightful and speaks straight from the heart. The world would be a better place if we all did this. What a wonderful way to pass on what you believe and Berg has done just that.



5. Easy to read and a very sweet story. I am a busy Mom of 2 little ones and I was able to read this and enjoy it between diapers and bottles and choo-choo's. It is an easy read with a nice story.

5 comments about Open House.

1. This was a pretty good book,you really connect with the main character. It's sometimes funny, sometimes sad, and sometimes leaves you saying " you go girl!"



2. Sam's world is turned upside down when her husband abruptly announces that he wants to leave. Since *she* was perfectly happy, being a stay-at-home wife and mother, Sam never imagined that David could possibly feel differently.
   
   Once he's gone, Sam begins to experience a series of tiny internal breakdowns. As she's wondering what on earth to do next, one thing is for sure -- she's going to be the best mom she possibly can be to her 11-year-old son Travis.
   
   But what happens when Travis says he'd prefer living with his father? And if his dad makes excuses not to have him?
   
   Above all, how will Sam make it financially, living alone in a huge old house? She'll take roommates, that's how...and thus a series of unique characters sweep into the Morrows' lives.
   
   Even if you haven't experienced divorce personally, chances are you'll relate to Sam anyways...because who hasn't experienced some sort of loss that devastates to the core? Through it all, Sam's voice remains consistent; even when horribly defeated and depressed, readers can't help feeling that Sam's life will turn out fine.



3. I don't know if it was this author's style of writing or just the story line itself, but I really couldn't get into this book. It was an enjoyable read, but I prefer to read novels that are more than just enjoyable. I'd probably try this author at least one more time before deciding on whether I like her or not.



4. I kept waiting for this one to have a point. Didn't seem to find one. Do yourself a favor and save yourself the time.



5. There are already so many wonderful reviews and descriptions of this book, so I won't ramble. Suffice it to say that this is one of the best books about going through a divorce that I've read. I love that it is so raw and real at times, but still offers hope and inspiration.

5 comments about Durable Goods.

1. i was disappointed after this book was suggested to me. nothing ever happens. there are a lot of long winded descriptions and background and very little story.



2. Elizabeth Berg is one of my favourite authors, but this book was definitely not written with a mature reader in mind and I did not realize this until after I had purchased the book. For a mature reader, it is a quick easy read but beware, it has an elementary writing style.
   
   Katie has an abusive father and your heart aches for her. Her older sister, Diane, runs away with her boyfriend to Mexico. Katie starts out on the journey with them but has a change of heart. Although the book is a work of fiction, pieces of the author's throught process left me wondering if some of the events were not taken from her own life as a child. If you are in your late teens, the book will likely appeal to you and is definitely worth reading. For anyone older, the writing style will appear to have a child-like quality. Mature readers will find some of Berg's other books, such as "Open House," "Talk Before Sleep" and "Say When" more appealing than this one. All Berg's books are well written but take note that some are written with different age levels in mind.



3. Elizabeth Berg is a great writer, this one just didn't resonate with me.
   In this book Katie struggles with an all to often distant and violent father. She spends most of her time with the neighbor girl, and trying to get closer to her older sister Diane.
   Eventually the sisters runaway- only to have Katie return home to her father, right before they move away.
   I love how Berg always knows her character so well. This one moved a little slow, but not too much.
   The issue is that - for me- there is no real character growth, and the story is not very deep, or moving, or anything really.
   Diane moves away and that is that, they move to Missouri. Her father is still the same person, and Katie is still an adolescent girl with a lot to learn that still walks on eggshells around her father, and still feels guilty when he becomes upset or angered. Katie's dad does finally tell her how she died, how it happened, or rather what finally caused it- but in no way was there suspense leading to this, or adequate drama to make you feel any pain for Katie.
   
   While Katie is an interesting character, her story is nothing unique, and not spellbounding in any way. Instead, the read imagines Katie will go on to live much the same life, and in the sequel you find she does.



4. At 12, Katie faces many of the typical adolescent-girl concerns -- stressing over her looks, over keeping up with her sophisticated best friend Cherylanne, over boys. But in other ways, Katie is carrying burdens far too heavy for a girl her age.
   
   She and her older sister Diane are living on an Army base in Texas with their physically and emotionally abusive father following the death of their mother. While Katie gets her share of it -- the book opens with Katie's accidentally causing the toilet to overflow, and being so afraid of her father that she hides under her bed -- her father seems to center the brunt of his fury upon Diane. At 18, she's not holding anything back, and certainly letting her father know she's had enough.
   
   One terrible night, Katie runs into Diane, quietly packing for Mexico, where she plans to live with her boyfriend Dickie. She offers Katie the chance to come along. And while both sisters share the same traumas and heartache, they don't share the same ideas about family and loyalty -- misplaced or not.
   
   This is Elizabeth Berg's first book, and while I personally felt it wasn't as strong as the subsequent ones, I still enjoyed her work. Both Katie and Diane were extremely sympathetic characters, and although some may have written the father as a one-dimensional man, Berg managed to show glimpses of other aspects within him.
   
   If you want to follow the family's story over the course of another year, a sequel called "Joy School" is also available.



5. Katie's life is one of loss. Katie not only loses her mother, but also her faith in Jesus Christ. She tells us that she used to talk to Him as the Communion wafer melted in her mouth. Then, her mother is gone, along with her faith. (If Katie is Roman Catholic, then we know her mother died after Katie's seventh birthday; Catholic children make their first Holy Communion during the seventh year of life.) Katie, however, maintains a spiritual connection- she has visions of her mother at the Blessed Virgin Mary. Katie communicates with her mother's spirit, too.
   
   Katie is pushed around by her sister, Diane and best friend, Cherylanne. Both have rocky relationships with the protagonist. (I think Katie deserved a better confidant than Cherylanne. In fact, there is a brief meeting of Katie and her "in-school" best friend.) It makes sense that Katie admires Diane and Cherylanne- she is being physically abused by an unpredictable father. Katie is slapped around, or witnessing her sister's beatings.
   
   Their father creeped me out. I was hoping that Katie would get far enough away from him. Does she? Well, you'll have to read to find out.
   
   Katie will grow on you. You'll want to help her better her life. You'll want to help her find good friends, get away from her abusive father. I did not like the way Diane always treated Katie- but I agree with Diane that the father should have been forced to stop the abuse.
   
   Bridgette is adorable!
   
   Now, for the false advertising- my hardback copy from the library says that, "Katie spends the lazy days of her summer waiting.... waiting for Dickie Mack to fall in love with her" and "until Katie's admiration for her strong-willed sister leads her on an adventure that transforms her life". First, there isn't much in the way of "love" for Dickie, just that Katie remarks she can get Dickie to fall in love with her. And, the adventure is not much of an adventure, nor is it very transforming. You'll see what I mean at the end of the book.
   
   Yes, read this. But keep in mind Katie has a long way to go!

5 comments about What We Keep.

1. I'm not sure why I'm so drawn to this story, but this is one of my favorite books! Maybe it's because I'm an only child and envious of the sisterly relationship between Ginny and Sharla. I love how they're always trying to be the "cool" one and vying for the upper hand. Anyway, I don't have any deep insight to offer, just that I think this is a wonderful book!



2. This is my first and only book read by Elizabeth Berg so far and I enjoyed this book a lot. The ending is a bit abrupt, but people like resolution, I guess. It's unfortunate that some people were expecting the same from EB, which I believe would be a huge sign that the author isn't creative and/or is in a rut. She could really take me back to her childhood and EB capturing the sisterly bond between Ginny and Sharla was a nice read. I read this novel in a women's lit class in college and approached it from a feminist standpoint. The dad wasn't the greatest by any means, but consider what time period this was written for. Martha, the woman seated next to her on the plane, notes to Ginny that "people like 'differentness' in everything except their mothers." If you approach the novel like that, you can empathize with both sides of the story and makes for a much more interesting read.



3. This was a wonderful story from beginning to end! And yes, this time, the ending was fabulous, happy and complete, but not in a poorly written manner!!! I was glued to this book. As a kid of the 80s and 90s, I enjoyed reading about late 1950s American culture.
   
   But even more enjoyable is the story of Ginny and Sharla, how two young teens overcome the heartache of their mother's big mistake. As I read about Ginny enduring the five hour flight to San Francisco, where she's going to meet her mother for the first time after 35 years, I kept wondering what her mother did. I knew it involved the mysterious Jasmine Johnson. I wondered- did her mother become so jealous of single, sexy Jasmine that she murdered her? Or, maybe there was a sapphic relationship?? Did Jasmine sexually abuse Sharla and Ginny, and mother couldn't cope with the effects?
   
   As I read about young Ginny and Sharla, I looked for clues about the mother's mistake. You'll have to read the book to find out all about this. Trust me, it is sooo worth it!!! ;)
   
   Ginny and Sharla have a very typical sisterly relationship, which I appreciated, not having any sisters. Again, loved the references to the late 50s (Berg has a knack for taking us back in time!). Ginny has a little love relationship with a teenage boy, it's sweet, and it's not caked in hormones, either. (Means this is appropriate reading for older teen girls.)
   
   Highly recommended book! Enjoy!



4. This book was the first Elizabeth Berg book I read and all I can say is I found myself smiling, laughing, and crying while reading that book. Having grown up in the 50's, I found so much of my childhood in that story. She has become my favorite writer as she seems to always touch my heart through every book of hers. I think I'm going to reread "What We Keep" again this summer!



5. This is the story of an adult daughter going to visit the mother who left her when she was 12.
   
   The story is good at showing the hurt the child feels when her mother leaves, but when it comes time to resolve the story the author (I've never read her before so I don't know if it's her way) falls into the...I don't know what to call it, PC--feminist story line? the father is at fault, he had an affair with the neighbor--something not at all in the character of this kind, responsible, unimaginative man. And if that's not enough to absolve the mother for her abandonment, well then, she had to find herself. Hey what do children count against that?
   
   Goood grief.
   
   Instead of putting the blame on the mother who leaves, the book justifies her actions because two wounded children said they didn't love her anymore. Who was supposed to be the adult here? Please.
   
   It's not just the "women must follow their stars" garbage that I object to, but the fact that at the end the children feel guilty about driving their mother away.
   
   I think the author just got stuck and couldn't figure out how to end the book. But I think she should have worked out an ending that didn't cheapen her writing and waste my time.
   
   Don't bother with this.

5 comments about Year of Pleasures, The.

1. I'm a big fan of Elizabeth Berg. Her writing always includes a lightness, an easy humor despite the ordinariness of life. This storyline could have been dragged down by the grief of being newly widowed. Instead, Berg gives us a likeable character (Betta Nolan) who reinvents herself by moving to a charming new town. Who can resist the idea of starting over? It's a constant fantasy of mine. Berg is a master at creating characters who speak to all of us and this book is no exception. The people that Betta meets and reconnects with are varied and colorful, yet surprisingly average. Most likely we have all encountered people such as these, only we are too busy to get to know them, their stories, their hopes and dreams. This is a wonderful story of self-discovery, with a little help from some friends.



2. Unlike some of the reviewers of The Year of Pleasures: I did NOT find the characters (or the setting) "June Clever-ish"; I DON'T think Betta "selfish"; nor did I find the characters too "Goodie-goodie". A recent widow myself, I admired Betta's tenacity in starting a new/different life and not lolling in her grief. Death is a part of life, and life goes on.....why not LIVE it? I agree that Elizabeth Berg DOES speak to one's soul. The psychology/philosophy she "slips" into her stories adds so much to her characters and speaks volumes as to the kind of person the author is......kind, compassionate, and insightful. I discovered her less than a month ago, have read five of her novels and have two "in the wings" waiting to be read.
   
   I was torn between reading the book slowly, to savor it, and reading it quickly, to see how the story developed. I have recommended it to many, and plan to re-read it after I finish "The Art of Mending".
   
   I hope Berg has many more stories where her others came from......I am an ardent fan. Thank you for "hours of pleasures".



3. What person affter 30 years of her husband doing everything goes up to the first house in the first town she stopped at and knows nothing about, and buys it, full price, after 10 minutes of looking?
   
   The worst was when she phoned a friend after not speaking for 30 years and just reaquainting themselves after 2 short visits "I've got a favor. I want you to take the weekend off, fly down here, and make the girlfriend of a new friend jealous." These women are 50 years old! And then the way she treats that friend when she gets along with Tom. Practically throwing her out of the house.
   
   What a totally selfish woman. Unbelievable.
   
   The other worst was after only months after her absolute perfect husband died she is throwing herself at another man to have sex with him. If she her husband loved him as much as we are led to believe ... There is no way.
   
   I guess there are lots of worst things. Like her relationship with 10! year old Benny who has girlfriend troubles. Benny's mother lets him stay at Betta's house until 9:00 and she hasn't even met him.
   
   Blah BLah Blah. You feel insulted and stupid reading this book. "the things that bring me comfort now are too small to list (but she lists them anyway)... "raspeberries in cream. Sparrows with cocked heads. Shadows of bare limbs..." PLeeeeeeeeeeze!



4. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I agree with C.L. Ferle who stated that this book relates to everyone approaching midlife and wanting or needing to reinvent themselves. The message here is that life is full of starts and stops, beginnings and endings, rolling with the punches and surviving whatever life throws at you. There is light at the end of the tunnel and better days are coming so don't give up. And I don't know of one person who hasn't needed to take comfort in that message at some time in their lives. I love Elizabeth Berg's writing style, the way she sprinkles words of wisdom right into the storyline that stay with you long after you have finished the story and I have a strong feeling that she writes from personal experience. I have just added her to my favorite authors list and I look forward to reading more of her novels. To those critics here who are complaining about the characters being selfish, the story being contrite or unrealistic or whatever other whining they are doing, sorry you didn't "get" it. It's not so much about what Betta did, but rather HOW she managed to pick herself up by her boot-straps when life as she knew it ended.



5. I loved this book! I've been disappointed by some of Berg's recent books, still believing her first few were the best....Joy School, Durable Goods, etc. But some of her phrasing and descriptions in this book are just breathtakingly beautiful. Of course, some of it is unrealistic, but it's a novel!! I highly recommend it!

5 comments about Ordinary Life: Stories.

1. I usually prefer novels, but these short stories were just as good, as ever. Berg brings her usual sensitivity and insight to exploring a number of interesting situations. Berg's writing is lucid, readable and highly enjoyable.
   
   In "Ordinary Life: A Love Story," Berg writes about Mavis, a wife in her seventies who locks herself in the bathroom for a few days, as a way of coping with changes in her life.
   
   "Departure from Normal" is the story of a woman and her pet parrot. Both have cancer.
   
   "Things We Used to Believe" is about a man and a woman who have an almost-affair.
   
   "Caretaking," told partly in the past and then in the present, is about a woman whose mother has Alzheimer's.
   
   "Sweet Refuge," one of the most powerful stories in the collection, is about a nurse who willingly seeks out the most difficult terminal patients, and the rewards and complications of her behavior.
   
   "Take This Quiz" is about a wife enamored of magazine quizzes who tries to get her husband to open up.
   
   "Martin's Letter to Nan" is a husband's letter to his wife who just ran away.
   
   "What Stays," one of my favorites, is about a little girl with a vivacious and unusual mother.
   
   "White Dwarf," my least favorite, is about a woman who has had an affair because her husband won't talk to her. They address the affair indirectly, while driving in their car.
   
   "The Matchmaker" is a fun story about an eleven-year-old who tries to fix up a German woman with a widower in her neighborhood. She gives English lessons to the woman.
   
   "One Time at Christmas, in My Sister's Bathroom" is about a woman coming to terms with her difficult father at a family gathering. This one will resonate with anyone who has a difficult in-law or relative.
   
   "Regrets Only" is a fun, quirky story about a married woman and her gay male friend.
   
   "The Thief" is an unusual and interesting story about a man who intends to steal valuables from a woman's house.
   
   "Today's Special" is kind of an undeveloped story about eating in a diner and what it can do for you. I wasn't surprised to find that it was one of Berg's earliest stories, because it wasn't up to the level of the other tales.
   
   Overall, though, this was one of the best short story collections I've ever read. I loved all but two of the stories. Highly recommended.



2. First of all, I am a huge Berg fan, and have read all but her latest book, "We Are All Welcome Here." "Ordinary Life Stories" left me absolutely mystified. The book is comprised of fourteen very short stories, none of which seem to have any real purpose or substance. With the exception of three stories, "Martin's Letter to Nan," "Regrets Only" and "One Time at Christmas," the stories read like the ramblings of a tormented soul. I always try to find something positive to say about a book. In this case the only positive comment I can come up with is "thank goodness the book was short and ended quickly." What more can one say other than it was a tremendous disappointment and fell far short of Berg's usual writing style.



3. This multi-faceted collection showcases the elements that make Elizabeth Berg such a wonderful writer. In just a few pages, she exposes the rawest emotions from her characters and their relationship issues. One story was an epilogue of Pull of the Moon, and another story reminded me of scenes from Never Change.



4. Ordinary Life is a collection of short stories by one of my favorite contemporary authors, Elizabeth Berg. The first story alone, "Ordinary Life; a Love Story" is worth the price of admission. It captures the small moments that really make our lives, as Mavis locks herself in the bathroom for a week and takes out her memories to thumb over. So many of those memories spoke to me - being young and sharing a bed with a sister, sitting and talking with that same sister later when you are married and dealing with so many things, all the belongings we used to have - pink bras, colored mixing bowls. Ms. Berg paints these lovely, exquisitely select pictures, and brings our own emotions into focus.
   
   "Caretaking" is a sad but touching story of a mother fading away into Alzheimer's. "Martin's Letter to Nan" is the rebuttal to one of Ms. Berg's earlier novels, "The Pull of the Moon", which I really loved because I felt it was the one unfinished part of that novel and reading this short story made the novel feel more complete. It also said a lot of honest things. "One Time at Christmas in My Sister's Bathroom" almost handed me my past on a platter, except my own story with my own father did have a more satisfying resolution. Each of the other stories in the collection were enjoyable to read, some are bound to touch you more than others.
   
   As always, after reading one of Ms. Berg's works, I feel spiritually lifted, more able to see important truths in small things. I'm glad to be able to read her words.



5. Ordinary Life is a collection of storied by Elizabeth Berg, they're both uplifting and heartwearming. Altogether, they're each different and unique. Such a deep love for all of her characters- I'll stay a devoted Berg fan.
   
   It's reminiscent of the kind of work she does with Open House, and Talk Before Sleep.

5 comments about Until the Real Thing Comes Along (Chivers Sound Library American Collections).

1. No need to re-iterate the plot, I just wanted to say that I appreciated the reviewers who shared in the delight of this book. I love Elizabeth Berg's writing style and found this easy read entertaining as well as heartwarming. This book was second only to her later "Say When" which I thoroughly enjoyed. If you're looking for a good vacation book (though you'll probably read it in one-two sittings) this is the one. You'll find yourself chuckling through a few tears.



2. I've recently discovered Elizabeth Berg and have been greatly moved by 3 of her books. I was really looking forward to this one... though I am married with a child, I certainly do remember the occasional angst of my single days! HOWEVER, this book is SUCH a disappointment. The whole plot is just a cop-out and the protagonist is not very sympathetic. I suspect the book might be based in fact, which I suppose would somewhat redeem it.....



3. I am a huge Berg fan, but this book did not cut it with me. The main character, Patty, is approaching mid-life and desperately wants a child. Ethan was her first love and continues to be "the love of her life." He also loves Patty dearly, so what is the problem? Ethan is gay and his love for Patty is that of a cherised, long-time friend; they feel comfortable together. Patty asks Ethan to impregnate her so they can raise a child but, of course, marriage is out of the question. We are not talking in-vitro fertilization here or anything that might be plausible, but a pregnancy developed by a good old-fashioned "romp in the hay"...or in the case, the bed! Patty gets her wish, she has a baby girl. In the end, Ethan also gets his wish, he finds "the love of his life" in another man. As for the baby, well, we can only hope everything worked out well for her, too, but we will never know because that is where the story ended.
   
   The problem with the book has nothing to do with sexual orientation but the fact the plot and events were just too inconceivably far-fetched. For the past 20 years, two of my very best friends (men) have been in a committed gay relationship. They are literary scholars and avid readers. When I ran the scenario of this book by them to see what their reaction would be, they thought either the book was nuts, I was nuts for reading it...or possibly both. On top of that, the book has a juvenile writing style that makes one wonder where Berg's thought process was when she wrote it. Like Picasso, she must have been going through her "blue period!" Ms. Berg, you missed the mark on this one.



4. Ill conceived and silly. Really a waste of time - I actually felt that the novel was very depressing. I will not be reading any of Ms. Berg's other novels. Too unrealistic to believe that a gay man would become the love of someone's life and that a person could not move on from this relationship.



5. I agree with the other reviewer that said the dialogue was not realistic. I too found myself thinking the same thing, who talks like this? I listened to this on audiobook and the reader made it even worse. She makes Patty sound really stupid (she is, but the reader made it worse) I really couldn't wait for it to be over and I hope I forget it soon.

No comments about Art of Mending, The (Ay Spoken Word - Berg).

5 comments about Say When.

1. Griffin readily admits to not being the most attentive man in the world...but it's still a huge shock when his wife Ellen announces that she has a lover and wants a divorce.
   
   Despite her pleas, Griffin refuses to move out. *He* didn't do anything; so why should he miss out on daily interaction with their eight-year-old daughter Zoe? Instead, he says, he and Ellen can live like roommates, each living separate lives while still sharing a roof.
   
   Both quickly learn that's not so easy. After ten years of marriage, how do you suddenly change the rules? How do you even figure out what they ARE? If you're making dinner for yourself and Zoe, should you set another place at the table for your spouse? If you're heading out, do you owe the other person an explanation?
   
   As the months pass, Griffin thinks back through his entire history with Ellen, scrutinizing the good points and the bad on both sides of the relationship. Readily admitting his own flaws, he also sees Ellen's, and is readily willing to give things another try...if only she is.
   
   But now that Ellen's embarked on a new life with her twenty-something auto mechanic boyfriend, she's not exactly willing to give it up. Or does she simply feel like she's unable to return to the way things were?
   
   Despite being written by a woman, Griffin's voice resounds authentically as that of a man. Berg does not focus upon the outside conventions, but rather upon the raw emotions and ruminations that ambush a person in a situation like this, regardless of their sex or gender.



2. This was the first book I read by Elizabeth Berg and I knew I had discovered a good author. She is a master at creating memorable characters, yet ones that are simple and real - people you could imagine encountering at your local grocery store or seeing at your child's school concert. This story is unique in that it is told from the husband's point of view, a refreshing tactic for a female author. Griffin, the narrator, is stunned to learn that his wife is leaving him for another man. He did not see this coming and now has a young daughter to care for, as well as a failing marriage to contemplate. His journey of self-discovery is told with simplicity and wit. This was an enjoyable read (despite the sobering subject matter) with a satisfying conclusion.



3. When Elizabeth Berg opened her novel with Griffin knowing about his wife's affair, it led me to believe that I had gotten hold of a juicy novel. Although curiosity about the survival of the marriage kept me reading, I found myself looking for something exciting to happen. It never did. Although I initially enjoyed the interaction that Griffin had with his daughter, it seemed to eventually soak up too much space in the novel. Even though it did portray the healthy bond he had with his little girl, it ended up serving as a distraction from the problems with his wife. It also made me wonder if this book was about Griffin and his wife or Griffin and his daughter.
   
   Estelle, the owner of the restaurant, had such a strong character and personality that it seemed a waste that Griffin only encountered her twice and she was not given a bigger role in the novel. There was so much the author could have done with a character like that! Imagine if she was Griffin's mother. A character like her would have had periodic meltdowns and plenty to say to a daughter-in-law who was stomping all over her son's heart. Now that would have been interesting.
   
   Speaking of interesting, this story left me feeling a little "blahed" out because I thought since this was a novel about infidelity, there would be a little more drama. Although good for light reading, I could not help but wonder if this novel would have left a better impression on me if it had more intensity. Not that I need slashed tires and stalking to keep me riveted, but a plot such as this needs accessories to pick up the pace a little.
   
   Even so, there was something in this novel that gave me pause to ponder. When Elizabeth Berg took us back for a moment to the frame of mind Griffin's wife was in when she decided to marry him years ago, she touched on a choice that many people make in relationships: "Do I follow my heart or my mind? Do I go with the man who ignites true passion within me who does not treat me so well? Or do I stay with the good guy for whom I have no passion?" Griffin's wife stayed with the good guy, got bored, and ended up cheating on him and "falling out of love" with him. That is the risk people take when they move towards the safe route and follow the mind. Although I am not trying to justify her actions, it does compel me to examine her behavior in a less judgmental way and ask myself, "So does that really make her a bad person?"
   
   Then I analyzed Griffin. My initial reaction to his desire to hold onto his wife made me question his good sense. Although Say When compelled me to question when forgiveness merges over into the realm of foolishness, Elizabeth Berg had this skillful way of making me look past that. As I kept reading, I was able to see a love so deep that a man was willing to give a bandaged heart back to the wife who so deeply wounded it. Does that make him stupid, or does that make him a man who not only held fast to his marriage vows, but also completely yielded to the power of unconditional love? This is what makes a marriage work, and it is this kind of love which urges a person to come back to someone who has broken his or her heart. This unconditional love supersedes pride and the pain of being without the other. What a powerful force. This gave me compassion for Griffin and eventually pushed me to root for his marriage.



4. This is the work that solidified my opinion not to read any more Elizabeth Berg novels. I read [The Year of Pleasures] and enjoyed it and have since tried a few of her others all with the same result, sheer disappointment.
   
   This novel tells the tale of Ellen, a wishy-washy stay-at-home mom with no real discernable qualities that stand out to the reader. Ellen is unhappy with her life, but unable to fully express why and so leaves her husband, Griffin for a life with an auto mechanic she has known for a few weeks/months. She expects Griffin to move out of their home, and when he does not the two try to stay "roommates" while pursuing other people. Griffin is devastated, but similar to his wife, is unable to express his emotions (except for anger). The two dance around each other and their marriage all while trying out other identities (Griffin as a Santa at the mall and Ellen as a pancake house waitress). The subplot of Griffin working as a mall Santa seemed incredibly tacked on as well as completely unrealistic to me. Why was this added?
   
   The only worthwhile character in the novel is their young daughter, Zoe, whose personality comes shining through. Griffin and Ellen are boring, unsure of who they are and don't seem to stand for anything or have anything of importance to say. While the concept of adultery is very much an adult topic, Berg seems to write for young children. Her characters are black and white and the dialog is trite and repetitive and doesn't really manage to say anything. She doesn't give us a reason to care about these characters at all. I finished this book yesterday and I couldn't remember the name of the main character! That's how forgettable this novel and the characters are.
   
   The novel comes to a haphazard resolution only because it seemed like Berg was ready to end the novel. There is no real resolution, only one that seems slapped together by Berg.



5. WHAT A BORING , NOTHING OF A BOOK.. ANOTHER DUMB WOMAN TRYING TO FIND HERSELF. WHY BOTHER ? HER HUSBAND WAS JUST AS DUMB AND BORING. I CAN'T BELIEVE I FINISHED THIS. IT WAS TORTURE. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THIS AUTHOR IS A BEST SELLER !! ARE YOU SURE ? I FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW WHAT I GUESS WAS A "STORY LINE". AFTER THIS STUPID MAN I'M GLAD I DON'T BELIEVE IN SANTA.... HOW IN THE WORLD WOULD A CHILD OF THESE TWO IDIOTS HAVE A CHANCE IN THIS WORLD? NO MORE BOOKS FOR ME BY THIS SO CALLED WRITER. COLOR ME GONE.