The Opposite Shore

by Maryanne Stahl

Which would be losing your husband or your only sister? Rose, a forty-something wife and mother, has never asked herself this question. But one Saturday afternoon, she comes upon her husband, William, and her sister, Anna, locked in a fiery kiss. And the answer to this question rings in her worse still would be to lose one to the other.

Devastated by the betrayal, Rose moves with her teenage daughter to Shelter Island for the summer. As she struggles to build a new life as an artist, Rose grows ever more isolated from her sister and her husband. Until an unexpected storm brings her face to face with the two people she loves and hates the most...

Genres: Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Maryanne Stahl lives in Thunderbolt, Georgia with a man, a dog, and two cats.

Reviews

[Dinjolina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh what ever....he married the wrong person? True love? Give me a brake.
He could have married the sister he 'loved' easily. This whole 'plot' is out of this world stupid. And the fact that all is forgiven in the end makes me mark this book as something that is going in to the fireplace come winter.

[Carol Brill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughtful writing and evocative pacing that pulled me in from the first page.
After an afternoon of sailing with her husband, daughter, and sister, Rose returns home to learn one of her paintings has won first place in a contest. Excited to share her news, she returns to the marina to tell her husband and sister. Her world turns inside out when she catches them kissing. Unable to forgive their betrayal, she takes her daughter to Shelter Island to figure out what she wants.
Ms. Stahl seamlessly shifts point of view and reveal four nuanced, realistic, and sympathetic characters.

This is a beautifully, never over written story of love, betrayal, and self discovery.

[Jennifer]

affecting story of a woman at a crossroads...betrayed by her husband and her sister, she is devastated and tries to move on with her life...very good story. i really liked it

[Jennifer Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would of rated a 4 if the cheating husband and sister died in the boat fire.

[Carisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too repetitive. I get the author was trying to convey sympathy but I was over it. Towards the end it was confusing going back and forth between all the characters giving their perspective.

[Cc · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's books like this that has led to a generation of children that don't trust anyone. This book espouses "hey, it's a learning experience- It's ok if ppl cheat as long as they learn." It's books like this that so called therapists use to excuse immoral and hateful behavior as "you must be true to yourself - eff the other person - they'll grow too, it'll all be ok that you ripped the heart out of your kid and wife and sister. Go...be in peace."

I love cheating books, have no problem with them. But this isn't a cheating/angsty fictional fun. This is flat out telling ppl it's all ok as long as you feel ok. '70's moral quagmire that has led to the mess we live in daily. Smh, the author shouldn't be proud of this work. It's this crap that has led to the breakdown of the family and the unraveling of the safety net of society.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

2+

[Tricia Cassavaugh · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 - 3

[Lu Bielefeld · Rating 2 out of 5]

Não gostei... gostei....

Eu não aceitaria de maneira alguma a traição que a protagonista desta história sofreu por parte do marido e da irmã.

Simplesmente é demais para a minha cabeça aceitar passivamente que um casamento de tantos anos seja descartado pelo marido e pela irmã desta maneira... pessoas que mereciam a confiança e que tinham laços fortes com a personagem principal e com a filha do casal.

Ela aceita muito facilmente as explicações e tudo mais... sei lá... acho muito difícil imaginar um casal que supostamente foi feliz no casamento e que o marido sempre desejou a irmã... Apesar de que a protagonista muito "inocentemente" nunca notou nada... mesmo que a vida sexual do casal fosse um droga...

Minha avó que era uma mulher sábia e que foi uma "corna" de carteirinha sempre dizia que era para vigiar as amigas e irmãs perto do marido, kkkkk! Acho que serve de lição.

Mesmo assim o livro prende a atenção, pois queremos saber o rumo que os personagens vão seguir e qual o final da história.

[Tabatha Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy read, a lazy read. Not much action but plenty of emotion and growing. Overall I enjoyed it.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Losing your own sister to your husband? How's that for betrayal! Rose finds herself looking through a porthole, capturing in her mind a fiery kiss shared between her husband and her sister. Rose is devastated, packs up and summers on Shelter Island with her daughter Miranda.

Turning to her painting and sorting through her emotions of pain, hurt and betrayal, dealing with a daughter who blames her for her families break up, Rose learns forgiveness.

Another page-turning read from Maryanne Stahl.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

With beautiful prose and luminous descriptions, the author explores relationships - between husbands and wives, parents and children, siblings, friends, and what happens when a man realizes that he married the wrong sister.

The characters are complex and fully realized, their voices never seem forced or fake. I look forward to reading the author's other novel "Forgive the Moon". A very satisfying read.

[Aetuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good summer beach read is how I would rate this book. Loved the details about Shelter Island and would like to visit sometime. The book is about a sister finding her husband being unfaithful with her own sister. This then involves a daughter who doesn't understand why her parents are separating and they decide not to tell her to protect her. A very quick read.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rose, Anna, William, & Miranda. A man in love with 3 women for 3 very different reasons. He makes his choices based on what would be best for himself and leaves a path of pain and heartache in his path.

Though the book is truly about forgiveness and learning to love unconditionally, it also about your past and the choices you make that lead you here.

[Maryanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote this book and would love to receive comments from readers. thanks.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about marrying the wrong person and how that ruins lives later on.

[Maryanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

mass market edition of my book.

[Avital · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maryanne is a good, compassionate writer.