Life Sentences

by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey

Three women --- Lindsay, Meg, and Cissie --- were college roommates, but they haven't seen one another for twenty years. It is Lindsay Howard, a successful New York magazine editor, who draws them together once again. At forty-two she realizes that her life has been impelled by a single-minded devotion to others, but now she wants to explore every options left to her. To do this she is forced to keep secrets from her family and nearby friends, and to push away the man who loves her. It is to her college friends that she turns for support in this life-changing decision.

As they renew their loyalties to one another, they gain insights into their lives --- with their husbands and children, as well as with their own parents --- and they recognize their struggle for independence in the context of their families. And it is with a newfound and joyous confidence that they emerge from their time together, ready to embrace their own life sentences by making lifetime commitments to love another person --- whether it be a partner in marriage, a lover, a child, a parent, or a friend.

In A WOMAN OF INDEPENDENT MEANS, Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey wrote about a strong woman in an unliberated time asserting her independence, while LIFE SENTENCES is about a woman in a liberated time acknowledging her interdependence.

In LIFE SENTENCES the results are at once poignant and devastating, comforting and provocative, but above all unforgettable.

Genres: Fiction

277 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another old book I read decades ago, discovered on my bookshelves and remembered loving it. I blew the dust off my hardcover copy and plan to read it again, one day. Only problem with doing that, something I have done only 2 or 3 times in my long life, is that it takes time from reading something new, something which also promises to be a gift. I have not seen anything from this author in years. I wonder if she is still alive. I will do a search and hope that she is and that, perhaps, there are a few novels of hers I never read.

[Tiffany Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed his book. I loved how they ending was. took me by surprise but at the same time it didn't.

[Ginny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this on the bookshelf at the beach house, and picked it up. It started out fine, somewhat dismal, but Lindsey was an interesting character, so I kept reading. However, by the end, I was disappointed. The college friendships were remarkable, but Meg’s choices were not in character and left me rolling my eyes . And rape is a crime of violence, not an act of sorrow, or contrition. Give me a break!

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

The MC Lindsay had the saddest life. A pretty dark story.

[Tracey Wear · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good story until it got all weird and creepy toward the end.

[Relyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm in the middle of a fun project. I was combing my bookcases looking for books I no longer want to give shelf space. I have realized two things. First, I still have tons of books that look great that I've never read. I need to read from my own shelves. Second, I missed reviewing so many books over the years. Today I am going back and recording them. If you are not me, the reviews from this project may not be helpful because this is such a personal project. But, my GoodReads is primarily for me and I would love as complete a look at my reading life as possible.

This was so well-written. Probably triggering for most people, but amazing in its human-ness.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book when I read it 20+ years ago on a trip to some exotic place but from this vantage point it's only worth 2 stars. A 42 year old woman gets raped and becomes pregnant. She decides to keep the baby to make up for an abortion she had when she was a newly wed and her husband had an accident which totally paralyzed him. Her two best friends from college come to help her through the complete bed rest required to maintain the pregnancy. Each of them has her own family/marital problems.

[Jenna Hackworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up because of a book challenge for a book club I'm a member of. I'm so glad I did! This was a very enjoyable read. It was definitely sad in parts (what characters had to go through), but in the end, it really turned out well for all.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my very very absolute favorite books ever....I have read it again since the first time and it was brilliant the second time as well. I may just make it an every 10 year reading occasion.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was the book about the woman whose husband was injured and in a coma just after they were married. I think it was a very good book.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I accidentally requested this book from the library thinking it was another book, but was pleasantly surprised.

[Sue Kozlowski · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like this book at all. It felt to me like she rushed to finish it. Not believable or realistic.