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The Sunshine When She's Gone
When Veronica Reed wakes one frigid January morning, two things seem amiss. First, her Manhattan apartment is luxuriously quiet—her husband, John, and the baby, Clara, are out. Secondly, she is rested, having slept through the night for the first time in months. As Veronica goes about her first free morning in what feels like a lifetime, John, racked by sleep deprivation, is fleeing lower Manhattan with Clara for a weekend in the Caribbean. This isn't a kidnapping. It's just that the cozy local diner happened to be closed, and John, wanting to give his wife a break and spend a little time with the baby, took a taxi to the airport and hopped on a plane.
Told through alternating points of view, Thea Goodman's The Sunshine When She's Gone explores one unusual weekend's life-changing impact on a couple, as individuals and as partners. As Veronica revisits the carefree lifestyle she knew before John and the baby, she grapples with the sacrifices of parenthood. Meanwhile, John faces the full responsibilities—and joys—of being father to an infant with whom he has almost never been left alone. John and Veronica nearly lose hold not only of themselves but of each other as they struggle to find their way in this hilarious, eloquent novel about passion, ambivalence, and love.
Told through alternating points of view, Thea Goodman's The Sunshine When She's Gone explores one unusual weekend's life-changing impact on a couple, as individuals and as partners. As Veronica revisits the carefree lifestyle she knew before John and the baby, she grapples with the sacrifices of parenthood. Meanwhile, John faces the full responsibilities—and joys—of being father to an infant with whom he has almost never been left alone. John and Veronica nearly lose hold not only of themselves but of each other as they struggle to find their way in this hilarious, eloquent novel about passion, ambivalence, and love.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
31 people are currently reading
1372 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
April 3, 2013
I received this book for review from the PR company who is promoting it. My best friend Anne and I both read The Sunshine When She's Gone. Neither of us liked it nor understood the motivation of the characters.
In the press release, the PR company refers to this story as a farce. Neither Anne nor I were able to find the humor/farce in this novel. Other reviewers on Amazon have referred to this book as a satire, yet I find nothing satirical in the writing style or content.
It is a well written text, indeed, but it doesn't read like a comedy, which is what a farce or satire is meant to be. It reads like a serious dramatic novel with a highly improbable and unbelievable plot. The writing style does not convey that this is a tongue-in-cheek look at a couple and circumstances that are meant to be funny.
Also, based on the author's interview on NPR, I don’t get the impression that she meant this to be a farce or satire at all - she seems to give real emotions and characteristics to these people in an attempt to make them really real, but then builds a completely unreal set of circumstances around them. If she truly meant this to be a farce or satire, don't you think she would have been sure to express this in her interview?
The plot is completely unbelievable and the characters are horrid, shallow people, especially the wife. Time and time again over the past couple of weeks since I finished the book, I've tried to put myself in the shoes of the characters in an attempt to understand why they made the decisions they made. But none of them make sense.
What father in his right mind would hop on a plane to another country with a newborn, virtually no supplies, and not contact his wife in 3 days time (except for one voicemail, in which he lied about their whereabouts)? What mother in her right mind wouldn't freak out when she discovered her husband and baby were gone and couldn't get her husband on the phone (over the course of almost 3 days) to confirm their whereabouts?
I am the mother of a 2 year old, and Anne is mother to a 3 year old and a 7 month old, so we know full well how it feels to be overtired, overwhelmed and at wit's end. We know how it feels to be angry and frustrated with our spouses for waking the baby, or not doing the laundry, or not saying the right thing. But neither of us can relate to these characters, especially with the wife, who seems to have these real, caring feelings for her family, but then makes selfish and disgusting choices that in no way back these feelings up and make her utterly detestable.
As mothers, my friend and I both agree that if we hadn't been able to contact our husband (or mother in law) to determine the whereabouts and well being of our child after even a single day, we would be out of our minds with panic, not out gallivanting and drinking with friends and sleeping with ex boyfriends after a full 2 days of ignoring reality. This character pines for her child on one hand, but then turns around and ignores those feelings in favor of a stiff drink (and a stiff something else...) Ridiculous.
I think that the author has a strong writing ability, but this story is awful and her talents have been wasted on this novel.
Also, I am at a loss to understand how this book made Oprah's book of the week list. Totally scratching my head on that one.
In the press release, the PR company refers to this story as a farce. Neither Anne nor I were able to find the humor/farce in this novel. Other reviewers on Amazon have referred to this book as a satire, yet I find nothing satirical in the writing style or content.
It is a well written text, indeed, but it doesn't read like a comedy, which is what a farce or satire is meant to be. It reads like a serious dramatic novel with a highly improbable and unbelievable plot. The writing style does not convey that this is a tongue-in-cheek look at a couple and circumstances that are meant to be funny.
Also, based on the author's interview on NPR, I don’t get the impression that she meant this to be a farce or satire at all - she seems to give real emotions and characteristics to these people in an attempt to make them really real, but then builds a completely unreal set of circumstances around them. If she truly meant this to be a farce or satire, don't you think she would have been sure to express this in her interview?
The plot is completely unbelievable and the characters are horrid, shallow people, especially the wife. Time and time again over the past couple of weeks since I finished the book, I've tried to put myself in the shoes of the characters in an attempt to understand why they made the decisions they made. But none of them make sense.
What father in his right mind would hop on a plane to another country with a newborn, virtually no supplies, and not contact his wife in 3 days time (except for one voicemail, in which he lied about their whereabouts)? What mother in her right mind wouldn't freak out when she discovered her husband and baby were gone and couldn't get her husband on the phone (over the course of almost 3 days) to confirm their whereabouts?
I am the mother of a 2 year old, and Anne is mother to a 3 year old and a 7 month old, so we know full well how it feels to be overtired, overwhelmed and at wit's end. We know how it feels to be angry and frustrated with our spouses for waking the baby, or not doing the laundry, or not saying the right thing. But neither of us can relate to these characters, especially with the wife, who seems to have these real, caring feelings for her family, but then makes selfish and disgusting choices that in no way back these feelings up and make her utterly detestable.
As mothers, my friend and I both agree that if we hadn't been able to contact our husband (or mother in law) to determine the whereabouts and well being of our child after even a single day, we would be out of our minds with panic, not out gallivanting and drinking with friends and sleeping with ex boyfriends after a full 2 days of ignoring reality. This character pines for her child on one hand, but then turns around and ignores those feelings in favor of a stiff drink (and a stiff something else...) Ridiculous.
I think that the author has a strong writing ability, but this story is awful and her talents have been wasted on this novel.
Also, I am at a loss to understand how this book made Oprah's book of the week list. Totally scratching my head on that one.
March 5, 2013
Although Goodman’s book may appear to be a kind of romantic novel, it is actually a poetic and rueful skewer of modern urban parenthood. For a book about a new baby, its plot is incredibly gripping and it’s hard to put down. Goodman’s prose is filled with all kinds of exquisite details, rueful insights, and unexpected hilarity. Warning: those looking for heroic characters to live vicariously through are likely to be disappointed. Its protagonists are flawed and narcissistic and their lack of self-awareness propels them into a serious of funny and tragic mishaps. But Goodman is not trying to write some chick-lit escape vehicle. Instead, she’s offering a biting and rueful portrait of a current cultural moment. In this way, her book reminded me of Tom Wolfe’s “Bonfire of the Vanities” or Tom Perrotta’s “Little Children” but in a writing style more like Alice Monroe or Michael Cunningham. I found this a great read with lots of juicy rewards.
March 16, 2013
I found this book to be well written, entertaining and thought provoking. Especially for people who are parents or have long term partners, I recommend it wholeheartedly.
The Sunshine When She is Gone tells an honest story about the struggles relationships endure with the introduction of children from the perspective of each parent. It pushes the boundaries of those perspectives by allowing each of the main characters to break a few (big) rules, which makes it funny, produces anxiety, and keeps one reading. Unless your relationships are perfect, this book might appeal to you.
I was almost embarrassed by how well I related to the main characters. I found the interactions between them totally convincing. The book captured so much of their "before and after" mindset, their easier connection before and their different not quite connected but shared everything perspective after! It presented their patterns of behavior and those things that allowed them to connect ... and then how hard it was to find the time, space and situation to really connect after.
The author's ability to describe the characters observations in original ways that resonated made the book fresh and relevant. There were numerous areas where minute details stick with me because they were so carefully laid to set up the narration. As a parent, I laughed at how the father thought that the baby really didn't need the special goats milk formula that the mother so carefully procured. I can still think of ten other details that just fit and made the story enjoyable along the way.
I look forward to more books from this author!!!
The Sunshine When She is Gone tells an honest story about the struggles relationships endure with the introduction of children from the perspective of each parent. It pushes the boundaries of those perspectives by allowing each of the main characters to break a few (big) rules, which makes it funny, produces anxiety, and keeps one reading. Unless your relationships are perfect, this book might appeal to you.
I was almost embarrassed by how well I related to the main characters. I found the interactions between them totally convincing. The book captured so much of their "before and after" mindset, their easier connection before and their different not quite connected but shared everything perspective after! It presented their patterns of behavior and those things that allowed them to connect ... and then how hard it was to find the time, space and situation to really connect after.
The author's ability to describe the characters observations in original ways that resonated made the book fresh and relevant. There were numerous areas where minute details stick with me because they were so carefully laid to set up the narration. As a parent, I laughed at how the father thought that the baby really didn't need the special goats milk formula that the mother so carefully procured. I can still think of ten other details that just fit and made the story enjoyable along the way.
I look forward to more books from this author!!!
March 22, 2013
Though very well-written, this is not the hilarious and touching novel that the endorsements claim. The characters do not evoke any sympathy at all. John and Veronica’s alternating chapters reveal a couple who are both incredibly self-involved, selfish and overly analytical about their own thoughts and actions. They are difficult to identify with, and though they are certainly drawn with great detail, it amounts to the sort of people I, at least, would not want to be friends with.
The premise (husband, John, takes his six-month-old daughter to Barbados without telling his wife) has an interesting hook, but because it is so hard to care about the characters, the interest quickly fades. Maybe some New Yorkers will take pleasure in recognizing the setting and can connect with the novel on that level... Veronica, in particular, is actually detestable. Her actions throughout the book only make her worse and worse. Even the resolution does not bring about any positive grown or hope. The problems the plot introduces are more glossed over than satisfactorily resolved. With characters like these, this feels like a waste of good writing talent.
The premise (husband, John, takes his six-month-old daughter to Barbados without telling his wife) has an interesting hook, but because it is so hard to care about the characters, the interest quickly fades. Maybe some New Yorkers will take pleasure in recognizing the setting and can connect with the novel on that level... Veronica, in particular, is actually detestable. Her actions throughout the book only make her worse and worse. Even the resolution does not bring about any positive grown or hope. The problems the plot introduces are more glossed over than satisfactorily resolved. With characters like these, this feels like a waste of good writing talent.
April 14, 2013
Read my full review here: http://mimi-cyberlibrarian.blogspot.c...
My daughter called me the other day, "Mom, can you come over? I just need a moment." I empathize with her because she copes daily with a toddler's incessant chatter and an infant clamoring for the breast every hour or so. I trotted over to her house to offer some relief. She thrust the baby in my arms, grabbed the car keys, and said, "I'll be back in an hour." Sometimes, parenting is just too much.
Certainly that is the case for Veronica and John in Thea Goodman's debut novel, The Sunshine When She's Gone. She writes: "Sleep--for both of them--had become a precious commodity, worthy of fetish." Veronica had a very difficult delivery and even though baby Clara is now six months old, Veronica is still deeply depressed and John keeps trying to make things better. One morning, in an effort to allow Veronica to sleep in for a while, he takes Clara out of the apartment, and before he knows it, the two of them are on a plane for Barbados, a favorite vacation spot of the couple's. When Veronica wakes up after a lovely night's sleep, she discovers them gone, and she has no idea where they went.
In alternating chapters, one parent in New York, the other in Barbados, the story evolves. Veronica thinks that John and the baby have gone to John's mother's house out in the suburbs. John tries to call but they keep missing each other. The reader is both sympathetic to their plight and horrified at the decisions that they make while they are apart. Veronica finds herself doing things that she hasn't done for months, some appropriate and some not so appropriate. We are appalled, too, at John's behavior. No one is acting admirably.
Many reviewers have called the observations of parenting in the book "astute." That is a good word to describe it because certainly every parent wants on occasion to just leave. But herein lies the mystery of parenting. Veronica desperately needs some relief, but the moment she doesn't have Clara with her, she longs to be with her. Meanwhile, John, in an attempt to do the right thing for the baby that he has so rudely abducted, is searching all over the island for goat's milk because that is all Clara's tummy can tolerate. This temporary separation helps both of them find the essence of what they had lost in Clara's difficult birth.
One reviewer I read suggests that Goodman lets the couple off lightly because in the end, they forgive each other and life returns to the normal chaos of family life. I think, however, they both came to the conclusion that rather than abandon the idea of family, they are willing to accept the vagrant weekend as a crazy sleep-deprived anomaly.
On a side note, I was about driven crazy by the title of the book, The Sunshine When She's Gone, because my musician head kept singing the song over and over all the while the book sat on my desk and beside my bed. I finally looked up the words to the song, took them to the piano and banged out the song, singing at the top of my voice. Once that was done, I felt better, and the song stopped ringing through my brain. The words, by the way, are completely appropriate to the book.
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone,
It' s not warm when she's away.
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone,
And she's always gone too long
Anytime she goes away.
Wonder this time where shes gone
Wonder if she's gonna stay
Ain't no sunshine when shes gone
And this house just ain't no home
Anytime she goes away
Here is Thea Goodman's website: http://www.theagoodman.com/
The Sunshine When She's Gone appeared as a winter "book of the week" at Oprah.com.
My daughter called me the other day, "Mom, can you come over? I just need a moment." I empathize with her because she copes daily with a toddler's incessant chatter and an infant clamoring for the breast every hour or so. I trotted over to her house to offer some relief. She thrust the baby in my arms, grabbed the car keys, and said, "I'll be back in an hour." Sometimes, parenting is just too much.
Certainly that is the case for Veronica and John in Thea Goodman's debut novel, The Sunshine When She's Gone. She writes: "Sleep--for both of them--had become a precious commodity, worthy of fetish." Veronica had a very difficult delivery and even though baby Clara is now six months old, Veronica is still deeply depressed and John keeps trying to make things better. One morning, in an effort to allow Veronica to sleep in for a while, he takes Clara out of the apartment, and before he knows it, the two of them are on a plane for Barbados, a favorite vacation spot of the couple's. When Veronica wakes up after a lovely night's sleep, she discovers them gone, and she has no idea where they went.
In alternating chapters, one parent in New York, the other in Barbados, the story evolves. Veronica thinks that John and the baby have gone to John's mother's house out in the suburbs. John tries to call but they keep missing each other. The reader is both sympathetic to their plight and horrified at the decisions that they make while they are apart. Veronica finds herself doing things that she hasn't done for months, some appropriate and some not so appropriate. We are appalled, too, at John's behavior. No one is acting admirably.
Many reviewers have called the observations of parenting in the book "astute." That is a good word to describe it because certainly every parent wants on occasion to just leave. But herein lies the mystery of parenting. Veronica desperately needs some relief, but the moment she doesn't have Clara with her, she longs to be with her. Meanwhile, John, in an attempt to do the right thing for the baby that he has so rudely abducted, is searching all over the island for goat's milk because that is all Clara's tummy can tolerate. This temporary separation helps both of them find the essence of what they had lost in Clara's difficult birth.
One reviewer I read suggests that Goodman lets the couple off lightly because in the end, they forgive each other and life returns to the normal chaos of family life. I think, however, they both came to the conclusion that rather than abandon the idea of family, they are willing to accept the vagrant weekend as a crazy sleep-deprived anomaly.
On a side note, I was about driven crazy by the title of the book, The Sunshine When She's Gone, because my musician head kept singing the song over and over all the while the book sat on my desk and beside my bed. I finally looked up the words to the song, took them to the piano and banged out the song, singing at the top of my voice. Once that was done, I felt better, and the song stopped ringing through my brain. The words, by the way, are completely appropriate to the book.
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone,
It' s not warm when she's away.
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone,
And she's always gone too long
Anytime she goes away.
Wonder this time where shes gone
Wonder if she's gonna stay
Ain't no sunshine when shes gone
And this house just ain't no home
Anytime she goes away
Here is Thea Goodman's website: http://www.theagoodman.com/
The Sunshine When She's Gone appeared as a winter "book of the week" at Oprah.com.
June 16, 2017
This novel provides an interesting concept: a married couple has had a baby and there are lingering after-effects: the husband feels useless and confused because his wife has yet to recover from a birth that resulted in a hysterectomy and was Cesarean, both unanticipated. Their daughter, Clara, is an average baby except that her mother insists on feeding her only goat’s milk with herbs. This becomes important when John takes Clara out for a stroll one Saturday morning and ends up in Barbados. Veronica, missing messages and preoccupied with her own unexpected loneliness, decides to cope by meeting a good friend and eventually going north to John’s home where she believes he has taken Clara to visit his parents. Since John and Clara are in Barbados, everything gets more and more confused. John takes Clara to a cricket match and, heading for the concession stand, still looking for goat’s milk, he gets hit by a stray ball and rendered unconscious. Friends give Clara cow’s milk and her relative instability is blamed on that, rather than the fact that she is a baby of barely six months and upset by travel to Barbados. Veronica allows herself to indulge in her old lifestyle a bit more than she planned as John struggles to get back home. There are strange things going on, such as a six-month old saying “da-da” and the whole milk thing, but in general this is an incisive look at a dysfunctional couple who, one hopes, are headed for divorce court at the end since his weakness and her sloth become neither of them.
May 7, 2013
**Spoiler alert**
The PM sent me the hardback copy of this book and I really wanted to like it. It has a great title and the cover was very eye-catching. However, the characters were somewhat boring and the entire plot was just weird. I can understand the wife, Veronica, not being interested in having sex with her husband--She just had a baby and a hysterectomy. Ok, it's awesome that the husband, John, takes the baby out for awhile so she can get some much-needed and deserved rest. I don't really understand why she freaks out about it--her husband has just as much of a duty to take care of the baby as she does and she should just chill out and let him do his thing. But then, when he leaves the COUNTRY with their baby, I lose all hope for him. Has he lost his mind!? First of all...the baby has been on a strict diet since birth and he actually gives the child cow's milk!? She isn't even able to sit up by herself, how is she supposed to digest cow's milk? Absurd. And how crazy do you have to be to take your daughter to another country without letting her mother know beforehand?! Who does that?! Then he smokes pot? I just can't even comprehend what an idiot this guy is.
Just to make this short and because I have better things to do: I didn't like the book. I didn't like the characters, couldn't relate to them, and the ending was vague. Did I mention the title had nothing to do whatsoever, with what happened in the book?
The PM sent me the hardback copy of this book and I really wanted to like it. It has a great title and the cover was very eye-catching. However, the characters were somewhat boring and the entire plot was just weird. I can understand the wife, Veronica, not being interested in having sex with her husband--She just had a baby and a hysterectomy. Ok, it's awesome that the husband, John, takes the baby out for awhile so she can get some much-needed and deserved rest. I don't really understand why she freaks out about it--her husband has just as much of a duty to take care of the baby as she does and she should just chill out and let him do his thing. But then, when he leaves the COUNTRY with their baby, I lose all hope for him. Has he lost his mind!? First of all...the baby has been on a strict diet since birth and he actually gives the child cow's milk!? She isn't even able to sit up by herself, how is she supposed to digest cow's milk? Absurd. And how crazy do you have to be to take your daughter to another country without letting her mother know beforehand?! Who does that?! Then he smokes pot? I just can't even comprehend what an idiot this guy is.
Just to make this short and because I have better things to do: I didn't like the book. I didn't like the characters, couldn't relate to them, and the ending was vague. Did I mention the title had nothing to do whatsoever, with what happened in the book?
January 28, 2013
I got this advance copy from the early reviewer's program through Library Thing. I don't want to say too much about the plot line, because I hate to give anything away. But anyone who has ever had a baby, and six months later looked at their husband and said "who is THAT guy" --- or looked at themselves and said "who am *I*" for that matter, will love this book. She captures so well that first year of parenthood and the way everything shifts on it's axis and we re-invent ourselves and come out different people.
April 26, 2013
Aside from the baby, everyone in this book was horrible. Just... ugh.
May 3, 2013
I would have given this two stars but the writing was really very good. The problem was the story was preposterous, the characters ridiculous and extremely unlikable. So, the husband takes off with a 6 months old baby from NYC to Barbados on Friday and the mother doesn't even notice something is amiss until Sunday? And he brings no diapers and formula for the baby, just completely spontaneously leaves and "wings it"? Then lies to her about where he is when he leaves a message - tells her he's at his mother's house. But never even calls his own mother to warn her about this lie?
And the wife, Veronica, was such an unsavory character. I mean, I liked Patrick Bateman in American Psycho better than I liked this chick. What did she spend her first baby-free weekend doing? Carousing with her friends, taking ecstasy (she is mid 30's) and sleeping with her ex-boyfriend! Lovely! And she kept dropping little bombs during the story that made me dislike her (such as: Veronica went to pick up her prescription for pain medicine at 10 weeks postpartum and was told most people quit taking the pain meds 1-2 weeks after the c-section and was offended. Most of my c-section patients cut down on the meds by the 3-4 day after the surgery. Then at a different part, her husband gets hit in the head with a baseball and gets some pain medicine (in Barbados) and recognizes the painkiller he was given as the ones Veronica had and remembers - and I quote - she "really liked them" Uh...yeah..you think?
Other things that made me dislike her: she wasn't able to breastfeed because of "double mastitis" (too much milk and ducts get plugged and infected) but could only pump less than an ounce so quit nursing immediately because of low supply (well did she have too much or too little?) Why don't people just say they don't want to breastfeed and be done with it. Yet this whacked out woman doesn't "trust" commercial formulas and feeds her baby organic goat milk with random "herbs" mixed in that she makes herself - that baby is barely 6 months old. And some people were saying "sleep deprived" people make bad decisions? Read it again folks - the baby is bottle fed and six months old. It was stated clearly that during this time frame Clara is 6 mos old and sleeping through the night, bottlefed and has a nanny. Sleep deprivation? What sleep deprivation?
It was said she had a c-section and a hysterectomy because of bleeding after 30 hours of receiving pitocin after an induction. As a long time ob/gyn nurse I can tell you this is not the cause from what was described. The two conditions I have seen that might have resulted in that outcome were HELLP syndrome with DIC, or possibly a placenta accreta. I realize this is not a pregnancy manual for moms to be but I felt this armchair diagnosis might scare women were reading this book unnecessarily.
The dad was just sort of a harmless well meaning doof so he wasn't so awful but the woman - my God - I liked the pedophile in "The End of Alice" better than this hideous self absorbed obnoxious woman. I hope this author uses her talent to write a better book with better characters next time. If it's a farce, I didn't see it. And I fear for anyone who "relates" to this couple, especially this mother, as a parent. Really? Just...wow....I am sad for anyone who relates to Veronica, she was just vile. As for the author I hope she uses her considerable writing talent and tries again.
And the wife, Veronica, was such an unsavory character. I mean, I liked Patrick Bateman in American Psycho better than I liked this chick. What did she spend her first baby-free weekend doing? Carousing with her friends, taking ecstasy (she is mid 30's) and sleeping with her ex-boyfriend! Lovely! And she kept dropping little bombs during the story that made me dislike her (such as: Veronica went to pick up her prescription for pain medicine at 10 weeks postpartum and was told most people quit taking the pain meds 1-2 weeks after the c-section and was offended. Most of my c-section patients cut down on the meds by the 3-4 day after the surgery. Then at a different part, her husband gets hit in the head with a baseball and gets some pain medicine (in Barbados) and recognizes the painkiller he was given as the ones Veronica had and remembers - and I quote - she "really liked them" Uh...yeah..you think?
Other things that made me dislike her: she wasn't able to breastfeed because of "double mastitis" (too much milk and ducts get plugged and infected) but could only pump less than an ounce so quit nursing immediately because of low supply (well did she have too much or too little?) Why don't people just say they don't want to breastfeed and be done with it. Yet this whacked out woman doesn't "trust" commercial formulas and feeds her baby organic goat milk with random "herbs" mixed in that she makes herself - that baby is barely 6 months old. And some people were saying "sleep deprived" people make bad decisions? Read it again folks - the baby is bottle fed and six months old. It was stated clearly that during this time frame Clara is 6 mos old and sleeping through the night, bottlefed and has a nanny. Sleep deprivation? What sleep deprivation?
It was said she had a c-section and a hysterectomy because of bleeding after 30 hours of receiving pitocin after an induction. As a long time ob/gyn nurse I can tell you this is not the cause from what was described. The two conditions I have seen that might have resulted in that outcome were HELLP syndrome with DIC, or possibly a placenta accreta. I realize this is not a pregnancy manual for moms to be but I felt this armchair diagnosis might scare women were reading this book unnecessarily.
The dad was just sort of a harmless well meaning doof so he wasn't so awful but the woman - my God - I liked the pedophile in "The End of Alice" better than this hideous self absorbed obnoxious woman. I hope this author uses her talent to write a better book with better characters next time. If it's a farce, I didn't see it. And I fear for anyone who "relates" to this couple, especially this mother, as a parent. Really? Just...wow....I am sad for anyone who relates to Veronica, she was just vile. As for the author I hope she uses her considerable writing talent and tries again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2013
The writing in this book is exquisite and the characters are psychologically complicated. I am in the minority of fans of this book. I found the story interesting and I could totally relate to it. If the reader hasn't experienced the same or similar situations and feelings as the characters in this book, then the reader just won't get it and will most likely hate it. One aspect of this writer's work I admired was the fact that when she wrote about a character, she would describe the character and the character's world through a trait of the character. For example, one of the protagonist whose name is Veronica whom a lot of readers really hate, but I personally find her relatable, has a preoccupation with food. She is concerned whether it's organic or not and if it's local. She even plans menus for a school district for a living. When she describes her world, she uses food to illustrate the environment that surrounds her. The author shows how Veronica is rich in money, but poor in love. Her mother is cold and distant. Her mother shows no physical affection or attention which I think is the reason for Veronica's food obsession. Veronica uses food as a means to feel in control and to nurture herself, plus to fill herself up with the love she didn't get from her family of origin. I think the people who don't get this book, don't realize that this is a very emotional and complex book. There is much psychological anguish going underneath the surface within all the characters, but the naysayers failed to see this from their subjective point of view. I believe in order to love this book, the reader has to allow the author to take them a long for the ride through crazy decisions, pent up emotions, and dysfunctional histories of characters that are at a turning point in their lives. The reader needs to step into a character's shoes and at the same time, stay objective without judgment, then the reader will see the beauty of the words and feel the power and reality of emotion after a painful and immobilizing loss demonstrated by these frozen characters as they create and experience cathartic upheaval and the rebuilding of something new through their radical and controversial choices.
April 8, 2013
Admittedly, I may be a bit biased in this review, because the author is a friend of mine and I think the publication of this book is tremendously well-deserved for her. That said, it's a highly enjoyable read, as much for the tight, perceptive writing as for the page-by-page unfolding of a domestic drama. Some have criticized the novel for an unrealistic, too far-fetched plot (a father spontaneously takes his infant to Barbados for 48 hours without his wife knowing, under the premise of "letting her rest" but really because he is starting to question his marriage); but isn't this why we read fiction, to play out our fantasies and move outside our own inhibitions? And actually, I didn't find the behaviors of both characters, however we might judge them, all that unbelievable, especially seen through the hazy filter of sleep deprivation, where too often life can start taking on the guise of a dreamlike existence. And Goodman does a tremendous job of playing out the characters' actions, no easy feat for a complicated premise, and still keeping them just within the realm of plausibility. My own criticism is that both protagonists still emerge largely two dimensional and unlike-able (albeit relatable) at the end. This might well be Goodman's intent, a novel that's ultimately more of a commentary, even a parody, of young marriage and early parenthood. It certainly made me think.
December 10, 2012
I got a pre-release copy of this book as part of an Elle Readers panel, and I was so excited read it, thinking I would completely relate to. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. I assume that Goodman intends this book to be a cautionary tale for couples with young children to find the balance between marriage and children; however, for someone like me who is debating if I want to bring children in to my marriage, this book comes off as a terrible warning.
At first I found the husband to be sweet in his love for his daughter and his spontaneous adventure, but as the book went on, I had trouble with suspending my belief and some of the details bothered me. I know the story line was supposed to represent thing spiraling out of control, but my belief (and interest) waned and it just seemed awkward to me.
At first I found the husband to be sweet in his love for his daughter and his spontaneous adventure, but as the book went on, I had trouble with suspending my belief and some of the details bothered me. I know the story line was supposed to represent thing spiraling out of control, but my belief (and interest) waned and it just seemed awkward to me.
January 29, 2013
This was not enjoyable. Maybe it wasn't meant to be. If so, mission accomplished. The story is that John and Veronica are new parents and Veronica's delivery was pretty traumatic. She's really not the same since, and one morning, John decides to take the baby out for breakfast and let Veronica sleep. He doesn't stop at breakfast and flies to Barbados, all on a whim. Veronica at first relishes the alone time and then starts to miss them. John realizes the magnitude of the responsibility he's undertaken. Other things happen with goat's milk and alcohol.
These people are jaded and entitled and there's a bitterness that doesn't feel like it belongs to this story. Perhaps I'm playing armchair psychologist, but it feels like the author is working out some personal issues in this book. This book didn't work for me.
These people are jaded and entitled and there's a bitterness that doesn't feel like it belongs to this story. Perhaps I'm playing armchair psychologist, but it feels like the author is working out some personal issues in this book. This book didn't work for me.
May 7, 2013
The title of the book drew me in, and as it was an easy and quick read I finished it in no time, but it definitely was not as good as I had hoped. Yes having a baby is stressful, yes having to have an c-section and then an emergency hysterectomy would most definitely raise that stress level up several rungs on the ladder, but John and Veronica let these stresses pull them apart rather than try to work together on things. After all, what dad, taking the baby out for the morning so mom could rest, would even consider getting on a plane and taking a 6 month old to Barbados without letting his wife know. Sure he left a note saying he was taking the baby out for breakfast...but to Barbados?!
Things continue to go downhill from there for this sad couple. Not much sunshine at all in my mind!
Things continue to go downhill from there for this sad couple. Not much sunshine at all in my mind!
April 27, 2013
Someone commented that this book is a skewed example of the plight of urban parenting. Hah. It is an example of the plight of our self centered entitled population. If one reads this book and thinks that this type of behavior is acceptable, our society is really in trouble. I hope this was meant to be a fantasy. I realize that one does not read novels for parenting advice, but this was just so far off base.
July 18, 2014
The Sunshine When She's Goneis finished. The jacket spoke of humor but it was humorless. The main couple had few redeeming qualities and I don't think they would be relate-able to most people.
Really this takes ordinary problems and explores them through the eyes of the 1%. Much ado about nothing.
Really this takes ordinary problems and explores them through the eyes of the 1%. Much ado about nothing.
January 18, 2013
This was a fast, intense read. I was stressed out the whole time I read it; I imagined all the terrible things that could be about to happen in the book. The plot was unique and I couldn't help but fly through the book. I would recommend it to people who liked Gone, Girl. I read an ARC of this book.
April 9, 2013
To be honest to skipped half the book. It got a little long and boring. But managed to finish it.
July 11, 2013
I liked it. I remember what having a baby in the house is like. I couldn't believe what daddy did. I'd have killed him! I'm glad I won it.
June 2, 2020
I started this book multiple times only to abandon it every time. Given the author is from Chicago, I wanted to give her a chance. I wanted to delve into and finish it.
I did.
And it was ok, good, then really good only to end like blah. Why?!!
It's an Ok, quick read. Thea Goodman is a good, solid writer but parts of it were unrealistic and just drawn out. The dad tried his best with the baby. What parent is perfect and this is his first time around. Some dads struggle while at home for a couple of hours imagine him and where he was at. Was it responsible for him make that initial decision, probably not. On the other hand, new mom, Veronica is a bit of a bitch and I feel bad for dear John, new dad. I think he was desperate and felt unwanted . It seems as if she may have been like that even before the baby was born. I'm a mom and I know the mental and emotional struggle after having a baby. It's exhausting for the mom, especially. Although it seems they were never a match from the beginning.
All in all, I expected more twists and turns. Then the guy he meets once he gets ”there” received, what I think to be, too much page space. I wanted him to meet someone where it would have become a bit racy, even if it was on an emotional level. I say this given Veronica was not exactly sitting at home after work waiting for his sns Clara’s arrival. She was quite opportunistic. And no, I will not judge her. I can see why.
Read it! It will not take up much of your time. None of the characters are really likable, except the Clara, the baby. The few and brief descriptions of her gestures, cooing or crying were soothing in description.
What I liked most about this book was it was not the usual plot. A bit bizarre. The issue of kidnapping was briefly brought up and was the very thing that I found disappointing since I felt as if this book had so much more potential but failed to live up to it and instead, ended in a vanilla tone.
I did.
And it was ok, good, then really good only to end like blah. Why?!!
It's an Ok, quick read. Thea Goodman is a good, solid writer but parts of it were unrealistic and just drawn out. The dad tried his best with the baby. What parent is perfect and this is his first time around. Some dads struggle while at home for a couple of hours imagine him and where he was at. Was it responsible for him make that initial decision, probably not. On the other hand, new mom, Veronica is a bit of a bitch and I feel bad for dear John, new dad. I think he was desperate and felt unwanted . It seems as if she may have been like that even before the baby was born. I'm a mom and I know the mental and emotional struggle after having a baby. It's exhausting for the mom, especially. Although it seems they were never a match from the beginning.
All in all, I expected more twists and turns. Then the guy he meets once he gets ”there” received, what I think to be, too much page space. I wanted him to meet someone where it would have become a bit racy, even if it was on an emotional level. I say this given Veronica was not exactly sitting at home after work waiting for his sns Clara’s arrival. She was quite opportunistic. And no, I will not judge her. I can see why.
Read it! It will not take up much of your time. None of the characters are really likable, except the Clara, the baby. The few and brief descriptions of her gestures, cooing or crying were soothing in description.
What I liked most about this book was it was not the usual plot. A bit bizarre. The issue of kidnapping was briefly brought up and was the very thing that I found disappointing since I felt as if this book had so much more potential but failed to live up to it and instead, ended in a vanilla tone.
June 28, 2020
I can see how this book seems unbelievable to those who have not spent time with babies that don't sleep, but as a mom of a colicky baby, I see that both parent viewpoints in the book hold some truths in their feeling and fears. You'd be amazed what 'makes sense' in a sleep deprived mind. Yes dad's choices may seem absolutely insane and mom's choices may seem quite selfish/self destructive, but the exaggeration of their choices offer reassurance to those muddling through parenthood that no matter what you 'think' you have done wrong..there are still worse decisions you could have made. So while it might not be an award winning book viewed as a classic in the future, it is a book that given the right audience can help people struggling with relationship change see that maybe it's OK to trust his judgement and maybe it's OK to ask for help and it's definitely a BAD idea to lie about where you are for a week-end.
July 19, 2018
The premise of the book is intriguing and I was indeed intrigued for the first 60 or so pages. Who in the world spontaneously jumps on a flight to Barbados with a less than 6 month old baby? With no prior planning? And, oh, doesn't mention it to the mother who's sleeping in. Crazy town. The premise was new and it had possibilities for comic mayhem to ensue but it was written, it seemed to be taken seriously. Shallow characters, odd friendships and an unsatisfying ending between the couple.
June 19, 2020
John and Veronica had the perfect marriage until baby Clara came along. Now they are both sleep deprived and working full time jobs and Veronica has postpartum depression. One frigid January morning, John wants to surprise Veronica by giving her a few hours extra sleep. He plans to take Clara out for breakfast, but ends up traveling with her to Barbados. Feeling guilty, he tells Veronica they are visiting his mother. It looks like their marriage may not survive the weekend.
January 21, 2020
Any mother who has ever ever been frustrated by the lack of equal parenting and understanding they get from the newborn's father will enjoy this read. Its not deep, its filled with #firstworldproblems and #whitepriviledge. But its an amusing book you can finish in less than 24 hours on the right plane or beach!
April 5, 2024
What freaking boring book. Such a chore to read, but after getting 100 pages in and still nothing major happening, I felt invested and obligated to read. But it was so hard to. I appreciate the nod to what it’s like with a newborn and the strain all the change can put onto a relationship, but that’s literally it. That’s the only decent thing I can say about this book.
September 25, 2019
Too many better books out there...DNF. I'm not interested in reading about a lying husband who takes his infant out of the country without his wife, little food (goat's milk with added herbs), diapers, etc., buys pot and liquor for himself.— in other words, an irresponsible parent.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2021
The summary of this book says it is funny but I didn't find any humor in it. This book was more dramatic than humorous. I was actually very mad at this book because of the wife/mother and how she reacted to finding her baby is gone.
December 26, 2023
Honestly can't believe I finished it. Two of the most self-absorbed people, married and raising a baby, putting that sweet girl through so much crap because they're idiots. It's not written very well, doesn't have a clear cut ending, nothing. Meh.
June 12, 2020
Why did I keep reading?! Uggg😂
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