The Woman Who Was Not All There: A Novel

by Paula Sharp

After divorcing her husband, Marjorie LeBlanc struggles to raise and support her four children and find her own identity.

Genres: Fiction, Novels, Literary Fiction

340 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1988

About the author

Paula Sharp is an American author whose fictional works focus on the American family and explore themes of social injustice.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Jessaka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books, not from the perspective of the mother but from the children, reminding me of how my own childhood was in many ways, and also reminding me of another favorite book of mine, "Fried Green Tomatoes." I can't recall much of the book now because I have not read it again in years. If I do I will come back and give a better review of it.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5 stars. I found some of this book very good and other parts dragged. Part of the book was about friendships that last through the years, part of the book was about motherhood and losing your identity to your children, part of the book was about kids growing up, the bonds they have with each other, the way they can be completely different from each other and how they find themselves as they get older.
During the story, often the focus is on one of the characters, which is a nice way for the story to get told.
Pleasurable book, but not a real "wow".

[Rainbowgardener · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5. Pretty much all the characters are hopelessly self-centered. Very Me Generation. Generations of women whom we are supposed to take as feminist because they abandon their children in order to "find themselves." They do grow and develop through the book and find resolution, but the resolutions are very sappy, true love conquers all, all is forgiven no matter how much you have hurt people. Good writing though, poetic and very sharply observed.

[Sarah Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is beautifully written. Follows the stories of various women in the Durham, NC of the early 1970s, to whom men gradually become irrelevant, furthering the women’s character development. There is a fair bit of matter of fact lesbianism, but I would not call the book self-consciously centered around the second wave of the women’s movement. It is observational, and character driven.

[Grace Olivia Rangel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cozy book of chosen family, the adventures of childhood, and watching such develop as a mother. Every tragedy along the way fills the reader with sorrow, but the very end wraps things up with a nice bow made of love.

[Catibug]

loved the ending!

[Judith Raese · Rating 2 out of 5]

San Francisco Chronicle need to know what “wildly energetic” really means. Boring. Couldn’t finish.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend got attached to this book because of its first line. When she passed it to me I expected the first line to take me someplace different (and faster). I had to slow myself and change my expectations on this book. After getting into it, sucked in by either Marjorie or one of her children (maybe around the time she gave away the dog) I was hooked. The stories sometimes ambled but once I put my trust in the author I wanted to go on the ride. She created so many believable characters, in all their craziness sometimes. I miss them. I think I went to the carnival that day. After trust came appreciation and then regret that I would be separated from Bertha, the neighbor, the descriptions of the what it's like to be lonely. This novel took me by surprise. I'd heard of Paula Sharp but never read her. This was her first novel. Be still my heart. I wish I was a screenwriter because I'd love to try to film this. I'll just say that the episode with the hats - the fez. Perfection.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

mildly amusing

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read - a 'coming of age' story proving it's never to late to find yourself so don't stop looking :>}

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sharp's writing is extremely enjoyable, and her characters are fascinating, but this just never really goes anywhere.