One for Sorrow, Two for Joy

by Elise Juska

For two quietly unhappy years, linguist Claire Gallagher has been living deep in the New Hampshire woods, enduring a polite but strained marriage to a highly respected scientist. Once a determined overachiever and academic star in her own right, she now spends her days avoiding her stalled dissertation and creating EZ crossword puzzles. But for all Claire's knowledge of words and their meanings, the meaning in her own life eludes her. One bleak morning in winter, she announces that she's leaving. By nightfall, at the urging of her younger sister Noelle, Claire finds herself heading to the last place she thought she would ever Ireland -- the birthplace of her abrasive, chronically ill mother and the country Noelle, a college dropout, now calls home. In a small town on the Irish coast, Claire's struggle to move ahead with her life takes her deep into the puzzles of her past -- in a world in which there are no simple answers, and the only questions that matter are those of the heart.

Genres: Fiction, Novels

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 5, 2007

About the author

Elise Juska's new novel, Reunion, was released by HarperCollins in May 2024 and named one of People Magazine's "Best New Books." Her previous novels include If We Had Known and The Blessings, which was selected for Barnes & Noble's Discover Great New Writers series, featured on Entertainment Weekly's "Must List," and named one of the Philadelphia Inquirer's Best Books of the Year.

Juska's short fiction and nonfiction have appeared in Ploughshares, The Gettysburg Review, The Missouri Review, Electric Literature, The Hudson Review and elsewhere. She was awarded the Alice Hoffman Prize for Fiction from Ploughshares and her work has been cited by the Best American Short Stories and Pushcart Prize anthologies. She teaches creative writing at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The linguistics were exquisite and often witty, the content sophisticated, the character development very good. Good insights and expressions. But. I didn't really like it. One reader said it was blah and that's how it came across--proving that the parts do not equal the sum. Basically a blah and depressing-type (not really depressing) book with a negative outlook and uninspired message. The book was as dreary as the main character's marriage and the rainy Ireland landscape--this time proving, I suppose, that you can't write about drab experiences and expect to have a satisfying book. The one set of interactions I continually appreciated was with the Dad, who was thoughtful, kind and loving. The sister also had her moments.

[Siobhan Fallon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about Claire, a linguistics PhD student, who leaves her husband in their snow bound cottage and heads to Ireland to reassess her life. The language is everything you want from a narrator who creates crossword puzzles, beautiful and loaded with double meanings and puns, and the scenes of Irish life will make you yearn for the Emerald Isle. But the backstory of Claire's relationship with her difficult, sickly mother and her erractic sister will having you making amends with all the people in your life that you (perhaps begrudgingly) love.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took me a while to read and finish this book. I just couldn't get into it. The storyline went back and forth between the present and the past and it was hard to know when it moved until you read into the words more. The book just didn't make sense to me in certain spots and some things weren't explained. The ending wasn't really an ending to me. It just stopped like the author didn't know how to end it so she ended it mid thought.

[Chesh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dropped after half-way. Not memorable at all apparently

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a lover of words myself, I really enjoyed that Claire was so firmly entrenched in the world of words and their meanings. I liked that she was constantly running it through her head when a word came up and the definitions were those that described her life and her situation.

The main reason I bought it (at the thrift store) was that I liked the author's "Getting Over Jack Wagner". Of course, the fact that the book was set in Ireland sold me completely. Great descriptions of scenery and I want to go to the pub where Claire's sister Noelle works - sounds like fun.

Enjoyable read and a nice change of pace from some of the more "frivolous" books in this genre.

[Bandit · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not my usual fare, but the author came highly recommended to me. I can see why, Juska can write and well if this book is any indication...the problem with it though was that just about nothing happened. Just a slice of life story about a disfunctional (is there really any other kind worth writing about) family. It's more serious and sincere and deeper than chicklit as the cover might mislead, but to me it lacked the excitement of pure escapism, fun, adventure, page turning wow factor I, as a reader, enjoy.

[Marisa McClellan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been in something of a reading slump over the past few months. I picked up my copy of this book back in the fall and late last week it caught my eye on my shelf. Determined to finally read something I sat down with it and dug in. While I never fell too deeply into it, it was an interesting and satisfying story and it felt good to read a book (as opposed to newspapers, magazines or the internet) again.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

It would be impossible for me not to love a novel that mentions midnight mass at Saint Cecilias (memories of driving up Jeannes Street - "Saint Cecilia Pray For Us" emblazoned along the top of that off-white wall) but all goofiness aside, Elise Juska understands family better that any twenty of the current experts; and to think I lived in the same building as her sister for years and never appreciated the nuance of that old neighborhood the way I do after reading her novel.

[Abby · Rating 2 out of 5]

It felt... lacking. The ending didn't feel like an ending at all.

Also, I didn't see any point to it. I mean, it was merely narrating, not storytelling. It was a description, a documentation of sorts of the week in Ireland the lead had and of her flashbacks, but there was nothing more to it. It was a little too depressing.

I liked the words though. At least, the character was being consistent in being a lover of language.

[M&M · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried hard to finish this book but when I figured out that I dreaded having to read it, I knew it was time to give up. I'm an avid reader, usually getting to a book the minute I can, no matter if I am not likening it much. So to find out that I actually was avoiding reading because of this book, well, I just gave up. I hate giving up on books especially since I have liked another of this author's work, but I refuse to give up reading!

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know why, but this book took me forever to get through....I love all things linguistic...and Ireland...and I guess I hoped too much. I can't really remember how it ends...which explains how blah it is. :(

A book about a girl who runs away from her marriage to Ireland for her sister's wedding.

[Jadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I liked this book just a tad bit less than Jack Wagner, but still found Juska to be a good study of character. I think she writes women very well, especially their nuerosis, and I think she gets the men right as well. Her stories are a satsifying length.

[Brianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story, not cutesy like most books of this genre tend to be. The story takes place in IRELAND, so that's basically why I bought it and was pleasantly surprised by it's not-to-cuteness. Quick read and really enjoyable.

[Barb Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this at the 99-cent store tonight, and figured...why not?

Later: Wow, what a pleasant surprise. This book is so much of things I love: superstitions, introspection, dissecting words. I really enjoyed it.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a difficult book for me to get into. I read it during a camping trip and maybe I just kept getting interupted, but I think the character development left something to be desired. I couldn't get attached to any of the characters enough to care what happened to them. Bummer.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Made me want to go back to Ireland!!!!!

[courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

very sweet, great summer kind of book. i want my sister to read it!

[Gaurett · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun book, good characters

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

sort of like eat, love, pray but with less traveling and less life lessons. also, it is fiction.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved this book...Juska has a great way of having a conversation with the reader instead of just pouring details down a reader's throat. I want to go to Ireland now.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was into it whike reading it, but have already forgotten it two days later. So, 3 stars from me.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it. Maybe a case of right book at the right time? Claire's marriage ending as I have just experienced the end of a three-year relationship.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun book that strangely includes lupus in it...
made me feel smart reading "chick lit"

[Maggie Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with this book. You don't know what you're missing. It's an easy favorite.