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Split-Level
In Split-Level, set as the nation recoils from Nixon, Alex Pearl is about to commit the first major transgression of her life. But why shouldn’t she remain an officially contented, soon-to-turn-thirty wife? She’s got a lovely home in an upscale Jersey suburb, two precocious daughters, and a charming husband, Donny. But Alex can no longer deny she craves more—some infusion of passion into the cul-de-sac world she inhabits.
After she receives a phone call from her babysitter’s mother reporting that Donny took the teen for a midnight ride, promising he’d teach her how to drive, Alex insists they attend Marriage Mountain, the quintessential 1970s “healing couples sanctuary.” Donny accedes—but soon becomes obsessed with the manifesto A Different Proposition and its vision of how multiple couples can live together in spouse-swapping bliss. At first Alex scoffs, but soon she gives Donny much more than he bargained for. After he targets the perfect couple to collude in his fantasy, Alex discovers her desire for love escalating to new heights—along with a willingness to risk everything. Split-Level evokes a pivotal moment in the story of American matrimony, a time when it seemed as if an open marriage might open hearts as well.
After she receives a phone call from her babysitter’s mother reporting that Donny took the teen for a midnight ride, promising he’d teach her how to drive, Alex insists they attend Marriage Mountain, the quintessential 1970s “healing couples sanctuary.” Donny accedes—but soon becomes obsessed with the manifesto A Different Proposition and its vision of how multiple couples can live together in spouse-swapping bliss. At first Alex scoffs, but soon she gives Donny much more than he bargained for. After he targets the perfect couple to collude in his fantasy, Alex discovers her desire for love escalating to new heights—along with a willingness to risk everything. Split-Level evokes a pivotal moment in the story of American matrimony, a time when it seemed as if an open marriage might open hearts as well.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2019
14 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
About the author
Sande Boritz Berger
4 books23 followersAfter two decades as a scriptwriter and video/film producer for Fortune 500 companies, Sande Boritz Berger returned to her passion: writing both fiction and non-fiction full time. Her stories and essays have been published in The Rambler Magazine, Every Woman Has a Story by Warner Books, Ophelia's Mom by Crown Publishing, Aunties: Thirty-five Writers Celebrate Their Other Mother by Ballantine and others. Sande received an M.F.A. in Writing and Literature from Stony Brook Southampton College where she received the Deborah Hecht Memorial prize for fiction. The Sweetness was a semi-finalist in Amazon's Breakthrough Novel awards. The author lives with her husband in Manhattan. She has two daughters.
(source: Amazon)
(source: Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
May 6, 2019
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
Thank you to the publisher She Writes Press who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
I was drawn to this book because of its setting in the 70s, the decade in which I primarily grew up. I love both the music and films from this decade. I also love reading about stay-at-home mothers, because I always wished to be one of those but couldn't. However, I'd be lying if I didn't confess to being lured in by the provocative nature of this storyline- a married couple experiencing the 7-year itch, and both deciding to scratch it.
Donny and Alexandra Pearl have lived in their own home for three years in the suburban mecca of Wheatley Heights, New Jersey. Donny is a gifted piano player, but through financial necessity works for his father's bra company. The couple has two young daughters, Lana and Becky, and mom Alex is a stay-at-home mom (as most were in the seventies). Alex has an art teaching degree, but now creates decorated tee-shirts for some extra money. Alex also paints on canvas, when she can harness the inspiration. She and Donny met when they were counselors at a summer camp. After seven years of marriage, Alex has covertly purchased a book in the hopes of spicing up their love life, "A Sensuous Life in 30 Days."
The marriage hits the first major bump in the road when Alex receives a phone call from her babysitter's mother informing Alex that she will no longer allow her daughter to babysit for the Pearls. Apparently, Donny crossed a line in appropriate behavior while driving the babysitter home late one Saturday night.
Circumstances evolve where the Pearls befriend another couple who live in Wheatley Heights... Charles and Paula Bell. In the most deliciously slow unravelling of a plotline, these couples cross the boundary into a sexual relationship with each other's spouses. This momentous event occurs about 50% into the story, and its repercussions echo throughout the remainder of the book. This wasn't a trashy erotica escapade; this was a well-written and thought-provoking journey of a marriage.
Thank you to the publisher She Writes Press who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
I was drawn to this book because of its setting in the 70s, the decade in which I primarily grew up. I love both the music and films from this decade. I also love reading about stay-at-home mothers, because I always wished to be one of those but couldn't. However, I'd be lying if I didn't confess to being lured in by the provocative nature of this storyline- a married couple experiencing the 7-year itch, and both deciding to scratch it.
Donny and Alexandra Pearl have lived in their own home for three years in the suburban mecca of Wheatley Heights, New Jersey. Donny is a gifted piano player, but through financial necessity works for his father's bra company. The couple has two young daughters, Lana and Becky, and mom Alex is a stay-at-home mom (as most were in the seventies). Alex has an art teaching degree, but now creates decorated tee-shirts for some extra money. Alex also paints on canvas, when she can harness the inspiration. She and Donny met when they were counselors at a summer camp. After seven years of marriage, Alex has covertly purchased a book in the hopes of spicing up their love life, "A Sensuous Life in 30 Days."
The marriage hits the first major bump in the road when Alex receives a phone call from her babysitter's mother informing Alex that she will no longer allow her daughter to babysit for the Pearls. Apparently, Donny crossed a line in appropriate behavior while driving the babysitter home late one Saturday night.
Circumstances evolve where the Pearls befriend another couple who live in Wheatley Heights... Charles and Paula Bell. In the most deliciously slow unravelling of a plotline, these couples cross the boundary into a sexual relationship with each other's spouses. This momentous event occurs about 50% into the story, and its repercussions echo throughout the remainder of the book. This wasn't a trashy erotica escapade; this was a well-written and thought-provoking journey of a marriage.
June 9, 2019
This book is a marriage tale from the 70s with suburbia and open marriage and guilt and consequences.
All of it is from one of the women's points of view as she juggles motherhood and a "hobby" (ie: creative job that brings in extra cash) while worrying about her relationship. It was strange how instead of the open marriage feeling empowering, it felt like something happening TO her, orchestrated by the men. It felt pretty anti-feminist in the context of the book, and I definitely didn't like that.
It had traces of the pieces I liked from Light Years by James Salter, but I far prefer the writing in that novel.
The book came out June 7; I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
All of it is from one of the women's points of view as she juggles motherhood and a "hobby" (ie: creative job that brings in extra cash) while worrying about her relationship. It was strange how instead of the open marriage feeling empowering, it felt like something happening TO her, orchestrated by the men. It felt pretty anti-feminist in the context of the book, and I definitely didn't like that.
It had traces of the pieces I liked from Light Years by James Salter, but I far prefer the writing in that novel.
The book came out June 7; I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
May 5, 2019
Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals...
--Anais Nin
This was such an interesting, captivating read...one I won't quickly forget. The emotional upheaval it caused almost made me feel like an angsty teenager in high school.
Come on, don't play coy--you know exactly what I mean.
Those moments when everything felt so very important and life-altering. Those moments when you felt your emotions so deeply and intensely. Those moments when you just knew your life was ruined because of some guy/girl/friend/lover/parent/teacher.
Split-Level brings all those feelings (and more) to the surface. I can't say it was an enjoyable read because, frankly, I actually felt dreadfully uncomfortable reading certain sections. I kept thinking to myself, "Why are you doing this? Why are you allowing him to do this? What good could possibly come from this?" Yet the book kept chugging along, satisfyingly engrossing, while the characters kept making one poor decision after another.
Normally, the characters' actions would have ruined the story for me...but, because this was set in the 70s (which I loved), it absolutely worked. Attitudes were different then. Life was different then. Marriages were different then. Having said that, I felt intense dislike for Donny, his parents, Paula...even poor Rona. And while I found many of Alex's thoughts and choices to be utterly ridiculous, I, oddly enough, found myself sympathizing with her at the same time.
I guess, what I'm trying to say with this long, rambling review thus far...the writing is absolutely fantastic.
This is a slow-burning, character-driven novel, told strictly in first person by our protagonist, Alex (short for Alexandria). Set in an affluent New Jersey community, the entire cast is complex and flawed--maybe even dysfunctional? But man...I couldn't help but cheer as Alex came into her own as a woman, wife, mother, daughter, and friend. There isn't a woman on Earth who couldn't relate to her in one way or another.
I'd recommend this to any reader who enjoys a thought-provoking novel, and appreciates the blatantly honest dissection of marriage.
**Thanks to NetGalley, She Writes Press, and Sande Boritz Berger for the ARC.
Publication date: May 7, 2019
Reviewed on Goodreads: May 4, 2019
July 28, 2019
Set in the 1970's world of pot roasts,tupperware and avocado kitchen appliances.
Can a New Jersey couple make an open marriage work?
Published May 7th 2019 by She Writes Press.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
Can a New Jersey couple make an open marriage work?
Published May 7th 2019 by She Writes Press.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
May 7, 2019
Fabulous read!
Alex Pearl is almost thirty. Has a beautiful home, two beautiful girls and a loving husband. Yet, Alex longs for more. For some excitement in her hum drum New Jersey neighborhood. She craves passion. She wants to feel alive. When she and her husband Donny attend Marriage Mountain, a couples sanctuary after an incident with baby sitter,Donny becomes obsessed with the idea that couples can live together, swapping spouses and live happily ever after. After all it is the swinging 1970's. It's after their retreat that Alex discovers desire. This was a fabulous read. I loved being transported back to the 1970's. This was smart, the characters feelable. A sexy story of wanting more, the risk of it all,the down fall from it and the rise back up. Heartfelt and whitty. I enjoyed.
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte Review
Novels N Latte Book Club
Hudson Valley NY
Alex Pearl is almost thirty. Has a beautiful home, two beautiful girls and a loving husband. Yet, Alex longs for more. For some excitement in her hum drum New Jersey neighborhood. She craves passion. She wants to feel alive. When she and her husband Donny attend Marriage Mountain, a couples sanctuary after an incident with baby sitter,Donny becomes obsessed with the idea that couples can live together, swapping spouses and live happily ever after. After all it is the swinging 1970's. It's after their retreat that Alex discovers desire. This was a fabulous read. I loved being transported back to the 1970's. This was smart, the characters feelable. A sexy story of wanting more, the risk of it all,the down fall from it and the rise back up. Heartfelt and whitty. I enjoyed.
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte Review
Novels N Latte Book Club
Hudson Valley NY
May 6, 2019
I did not enjoy this book. I am a child of the 70s and thought that the nostalgia would be fun, but I couldn't get past the fact that the characters were so unlikable. I found the main couple to be whiny and immature, with very little perspective on how to deal with problems (in a relationship, on the job, finding one's identity) without involving very young children. While I understand that "swinging" was thing for some back then, and I don't want to tells others how to live their lives, I again come back to thinking of the children. How is an affair going to make things MORE stable in the home -- even if everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) knows about it? And then, you don't even think about birth control?? Wow, self-centered behavior at its best. Pass.
Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this book to read and review. All opinions above are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this book to read and review. All opinions above are my own.
May 7, 2019
Review:
Split-Level By Sande Boritz Berger
A young wife in the mid-seventies tries to mend a marriage in desperate ways while making sure her children are the top priority in this heartwrenching drama by the renowned scriptwriter and author, Sande Boritz Berger. Split-Level highlights what it means to make desperate attempts to make a marriage work when all else fails. During a time of free love, multiple partners, marriage retreats, swingers and partner swapping, the Pearls find that maybe they can “fix” their marriage by following in the footsteps of another couple.
Alex Pearl wants to be the perfect wife, the perfect mother, the perfect housekeeper. However, when she receives a frightening phone call that alerts her to the fact that all is not well in the Pearl household. She is sent reeling. Searching for answers and a means to “fix” these problems, she takes it upon herself to visit a mountain retreat for troubled marriages with her husband Donny.
It would not be until a fateful meeting with another couple, and a dreaded book Donny inherited from another man at the retreat, that Alex would be confronted with the idea that something other than conventional marriage was in the cards for her.
However, Alex find she too has a penchant for another man but is it real?
The story follows Alex and Donny as they navigate the swinger lifestyle with another couple and find the grass may or may not always be greener on the other side. There will be love, heartache, and tears.
A fabulous ride and a sad one. This is a book for the ages and one that tells the truth about what sacrifices some will make in order to patch up a troubled marriage.
Writing:
Well written and textured nicely. I enjoyed the storytelling very much. Though this book spoke to me in a way that seemed familiar, I was pleased with how it was told, how it was put together.
This is a great book.
Plot:
Cleverly paced and Put together well, this is a predictable book. There are, however, things in this book that are not predictable. I did enjoy the story well enough. The end was also, very surprising.
What I Liked:
The progression of the character Alex as she went through the motions of a wife who is desperate to find a loving husband in the man she married. I felt this is a relatable tale and one that many should read should they find themselves in a similar predicament.
What I Didn’t Like:
The story was predictable as I stated before. I typically do not read dramas for this reason. I knew it would follow the same path as I thought and things would happen just as I thought they would.
Overall Impression:
I liked Split-Level By Sande Boritz Berger and felt the heartache of the main character, Alex. WIth the desperation of a woman on the edge of sanity, I think this was a story that played out exactly as I thought. It was well written, cleverly paced and plotted in a good way. I am very pleased with the book and would like to read more from this author. I rated this book a 4.0.
Split-Level By Sande Boritz Berger
A young wife in the mid-seventies tries to mend a marriage in desperate ways while making sure her children are the top priority in this heartwrenching drama by the renowned scriptwriter and author, Sande Boritz Berger. Split-Level highlights what it means to make desperate attempts to make a marriage work when all else fails. During a time of free love, multiple partners, marriage retreats, swingers and partner swapping, the Pearls find that maybe they can “fix” their marriage by following in the footsteps of another couple.
Alex Pearl wants to be the perfect wife, the perfect mother, the perfect housekeeper. However, when she receives a frightening phone call that alerts her to the fact that all is not well in the Pearl household. She is sent reeling. Searching for answers and a means to “fix” these problems, she takes it upon herself to visit a mountain retreat for troubled marriages with her husband Donny.
It would not be until a fateful meeting with another couple, and a dreaded book Donny inherited from another man at the retreat, that Alex would be confronted with the idea that something other than conventional marriage was in the cards for her.
However, Alex find she too has a penchant for another man but is it real?
The story follows Alex and Donny as they navigate the swinger lifestyle with another couple and find the grass may or may not always be greener on the other side. There will be love, heartache, and tears.
A fabulous ride and a sad one. This is a book for the ages and one that tells the truth about what sacrifices some will make in order to patch up a troubled marriage.
Writing:
Well written and textured nicely. I enjoyed the storytelling very much. Though this book spoke to me in a way that seemed familiar, I was pleased with how it was told, how it was put together.
This is a great book.
Plot:
Cleverly paced and Put together well, this is a predictable book. There are, however, things in this book that are not predictable. I did enjoy the story well enough. The end was also, very surprising.
What I Liked:
The progression of the character Alex as she went through the motions of a wife who is desperate to find a loving husband in the man she married. I felt this is a relatable tale and one that many should read should they find themselves in a similar predicament.
What I Didn’t Like:
The story was predictable as I stated before. I typically do not read dramas for this reason. I knew it would follow the same path as I thought and things would happen just as I thought they would.
Overall Impression:
I liked Split-Level By Sande Boritz Berger and felt the heartache of the main character, Alex. WIth the desperation of a woman on the edge of sanity, I think this was a story that played out exactly as I thought. It was well written, cleverly paced and plotted in a good way. I am very pleased with the book and would like to read more from this author. I rated this book a 4.0.
July 23, 2019
I really enjoyed this flash back to the 70's. Remember things like wall phones, and console TVs, and pot-smoking/music listening neighborhood parties, and uhhhh wife-swapping? Okay, so maybe I don't remember the wife-swapping part so much. This was, however, a very engaging read. It's the story of Alex, who is kind of the perfect 70's mom. 2 awesome well-adjusted kids, lovely home, seemingly perfect marriage. Just a little something is missing. A bit of restlessness. Then she finds out her husband may have done something just slightly inappropriate with the baby-sitter (at least slightly inappropriate based on the time - nowadays no one would have even batted an eye). She decides their marriage needs a bit of a refresh, and she and her husband go to a Marriage Encounter type weekend. Unfortunately, her husband befriends someone at the Marriage Retreat that points him in the direction of the joys of swapping couples. Back in their daily life, still unbeknownst to her, Alex's husband to steer them toward a couple swapping situation. That's when things really start to become blurred and take a bad turn for all parties involved. It's a great, eye-opening look at something that was so popular back then, and all the unintended problems and consequences. This is truly Alex's story and how she learns and grows and comes into her own - and I loved it.
July 28, 2019
I don’t doubt that it was difficult to be a young adult in the 1970s. Children of the Greatest Generation, all grown up but living in a totally new world, one where the old rules had been discarded by the wayside.
Alex and Donny have been married for seven years and have two small daughters. Afraid of the 7-year-itch, Alex signs them up for a marriage retreat to reconnect. There her husband is given a book on wife-swapping by another of the participants, and it is this that sends the Pearls down a self-destructive slide into swinging and smoking pot and being very irresponsible when it comes to their children.
I’m not wholly certain why the author wrote this book. Was it about Alex finally learning who she is a person and being strong enough to go it alone after she realizes how little her husband values her? Was the swinging the plot device that leads her to realize this, or was it a titillating feature meant solely to interest readers in her very dull book? All of the characters are so bland that it’s impossible for me to envision them in my head. About the only person I could see in my mind’s eye was Charlie, but the rest of them felt so two-dimensional and superficial.
Alex and Donny have been married for seven years and have two small daughters. Afraid of the 7-year-itch, Alex signs them up for a marriage retreat to reconnect. There her husband is given a book on wife-swapping by another of the participants, and it is this that sends the Pearls down a self-destructive slide into swinging and smoking pot and being very irresponsible when it comes to their children.
I’m not wholly certain why the author wrote this book. Was it about Alex finally learning who she is a person and being strong enough to go it alone after she realizes how little her husband values her? Was the swinging the plot device that leads her to realize this, or was it a titillating feature meant solely to interest readers in her very dull book? All of the characters are so bland that it’s impossible for me to envision them in my head. About the only person I could see in my mind’s eye was Charlie, but the rest of them felt so two-dimensional and superficial.
May 8, 2019
This had a very juicy premise: swinging couples in the 70s. This is subject matter ripe for exploration, but we never go deep with anything. The MC, Alex, and her husband are incredibly unlikable. She has zero personality and I have no idea how she inspired a book to be written in first person. We never truly get to know her. She’s full of random quips and we get lots of flowery, overwritten sentences in the middle of sparse writing. Inconsistent is the word for this book.
The husband, Donny, is a total jackass. We get some flashbacks that should have been foreshadowing to how he is incredibly self centered he is and how he will never settle down with anyone... somehow Alex misses this. And what was with the scene of her losing her virginity in his PARENT’S bed??? That made no sense and it was a major red flag. Ew. His parents were bizarre. Alex talks about how close she is with his mom, but they aren’t truly close—Alex clearly has no idea how real relationships (platonic or otherwise) work. Case in point: the flooded basement and what happens to her belongings. Each MC has siblings but they are just casually mentioned and never appear in the book, another odd thing as we follow these characters for over a year (through a timeline that is very inconsistent).
Alex also does quite a bit of random flying to FL. Her children are barely featured and when they are, their actions/voices are older than their true age. But then she calls them babies. The other couple... OMG. I never understood the appeal of Paula; she was just a female version of Donny I suppose, but without any charisma. She was written as an automaton... always confused and pale. I didn’t get it. The only character I liked and was rooting for was the other husband, Charlie... except he deserved better than any of these people he ended up saddled with, including his jerk kids!
A lot of big things happen in this book (demotions, death, plane crashes) and it all slips by with a shrug. Nothing is fleshed out here. The first few chapters feature gratuitous product mentions to try and set the time/place. THIS IS THE 1970S! If you didn’t know, let me tell you about Family Circle, my Bulova watch, my bellbottoms, the shag carpet... I could go on. We were beaten over the head with this... but aside from that, we don’t get the sense of this being in the 1970s at all.
Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The husband, Donny, is a total jackass. We get some flashbacks that should have been foreshadowing to how he is incredibly self centered he is and how he will never settle down with anyone... somehow Alex misses this. And what was with the scene of her losing her virginity in his PARENT’S bed??? That made no sense and it was a major red flag. Ew. His parents were bizarre. Alex talks about how close she is with his mom, but they aren’t truly close—Alex clearly has no idea how real relationships (platonic or otherwise) work. Case in point: the flooded basement and what happens to her belongings. Each MC has siblings but they are just casually mentioned and never appear in the book, another odd thing as we follow these characters for over a year (through a timeline that is very inconsistent).
Alex also does quite a bit of random flying to FL. Her children are barely featured and when they are, their actions/voices are older than their true age. But then she calls them babies. The other couple... OMG. I never understood the appeal of Paula; she was just a female version of Donny I suppose, but without any charisma. She was written as an automaton... always confused and pale. I didn’t get it. The only character I liked and was rooting for was the other husband, Charlie... except he deserved better than any of these people he ended up saddled with, including his jerk kids!
A lot of big things happen in this book (demotions, death, plane crashes) and it all slips by with a shrug. Nothing is fleshed out here. The first few chapters feature gratuitous product mentions to try and set the time/place. THIS IS THE 1970S! If you didn’t know, let me tell you about Family Circle, my Bulova watch, my bellbottoms, the shag carpet... I could go on. We were beaten over the head with this... but aside from that, we don’t get the sense of this being in the 1970s at all.
Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2019
2.5 stars rounded up because I loved the nostalgia and it got me remembering my 70's childhood. The "open marriage" trend I could do without. Judy Blume has done this already--remember reading Wifey when you were 14?? I did like Sande Boritz Berger's writing style, she gives good details and the writing flows. However, I did not like the main characters-not a one.. nor any of the minor characters. Alex and Donny's kids were the only ones I liked and they are small children tossed around between the actions of two very immature parents. I felt so sorry for them that they had two dingle berries/knuckleheads for parents--yeesh. I am on the fence about recommending this book but if you like marriage melodrama set in the early 70's I think you would like to read this book. Otherwise, read "Wifey" by Judy Blume.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.
October 21, 2019
Sande Boritz Berger hits it on the mark with her latest novel. "Split-Level" details the seventies and all the intricacies of the human heart that go with it. When two couples with children fall into a "swapping partners" game, complications arise that confuse, irritate and exhilarate them. What Berger does is take this novel to a higher level via suspense on the page. She turns what could have been a hum-drum cliche and twists it into a tension-filled, anticipatory narrative. Her writing pops off the page! It's easy to see that Berger knows how to tell a story. Without compromise, she boosts the story of a woman who realizes her needs and works to fulfill them, even when heartbreak obstructs a clear path. Berger engages restraint when she writes - a wonderful trait for a novelist to have. Read this and you'll see what I mean.
May 4, 2019
What makes a book “wow, what an amazing story! You have to read this!” For me, it can be an unforgettable character, a page-turning thriller, or a creative non-fiction that teaches me something new. Then there are those special books that delight me because of the writing- the fresh way the author chooses each word, unexpected, new and keenly correct. Words that open me up to both old memories and new feelings and thoughts. This is such a book- a story where word gems create a treasure chest of riches for the reader.
Alex, short for Alexandra, tells us her story in the first person. The way she thinks and shares her life is similar to her artwork- filled with carefully selected details that both charm and alarm us. The 1970’s, a time of swift cultural changes, is when we meet Alex in suburban New Jersey as she deals with the day-to-day of her married-with-two-kids life. Will an unexpected phone call disrupt everything?
The title of this book got me thinking. A split-level reminds me of the Brady Bunch house- happy kids, happy wife, happy life. This doesn’t seem to describe the real life of Alex. As Alex shares her past and copes with her runaway present, I could see that there were many ways that Alex was “split”. She is a daughter, wife, mother, friend, Jewish woman. She is split by her roles and she is split by her feelings and her desires. Will she split from her marriage? Will she put herself back together?
I don’t mean to make this story sound too heavy. As I read it, I was laughing, entertained and captivated. Alex’s words and observations are so creative and unexpected. One humorous scene is when Alex recalls meeting her husband’s parents for the first time. Her husband works in the family women’s foundations business. As Alex is introduced, her husband and father immediately remark on her bra cup size. That’s what they do! So funny! Or is it?
Yes, there are many layers to this story and much to ponder.This book is good on so many levels Highly recommend.
I received a digital review copy, thanks to NetGalley and She Writes Press. This is my honest review.
Alex, short for Alexandra, tells us her story in the first person. The way she thinks and shares her life is similar to her artwork- filled with carefully selected details that both charm and alarm us. The 1970’s, a time of swift cultural changes, is when we meet Alex in suburban New Jersey as she deals with the day-to-day of her married-with-two-kids life. Will an unexpected phone call disrupt everything?
The title of this book got me thinking. A split-level reminds me of the Brady Bunch house- happy kids, happy wife, happy life. This doesn’t seem to describe the real life of Alex. As Alex shares her past and copes with her runaway present, I could see that there were many ways that Alex was “split”. She is a daughter, wife, mother, friend, Jewish woman. She is split by her roles and she is split by her feelings and her desires. Will she split from her marriage? Will she put herself back together?
I don’t mean to make this story sound too heavy. As I read it, I was laughing, entertained and captivated. Alex’s words and observations are so creative and unexpected. One humorous scene is when Alex recalls meeting her husband’s parents for the first time. Her husband works in the family women’s foundations business. As Alex is introduced, her husband and father immediately remark on her bra cup size. That’s what they do! So funny! Or is it?
Yes, there are many layers to this story and much to ponder.This book is good on so many levels Highly recommend.
I received a digital review copy, thanks to NetGalley and She Writes Press. This is my honest review.
May 1, 2019
Linda's Book Obsession Reviews "Split Level" by Sande Boritz Berger, She Writes Press, May 2019
Sande Boritz Berger , Author of "Split-Level" has written a unique, thought-provoking and entertaining novel. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction and Women's Fiction. The timeline for this story is in the 1970s after Nixon was President. The story takes place mostly in an affluent community in New Jersey. The author describes her dysfunctional cast of characters as complex and complicated.
This is a Novel that questions what marriage should be. Alex Pearl will soon be thirty, has two young children, is very artistic, and seems to have it all. She has a family, a beautiful house, yet there are certain questions that are bothering her. Somehow, she has doubts about her husband Donny. After a certain incident, Alex insists that she and Donny go to a Marriage Encounter of sorts. It appears that Donny is obsessed with the idea of more of an open marriage. Alex is conflicted what she wants.
I appreciate that the author discusses the concept of marriage, communication, honesty. family, friends, love, and hope. The author also mentions the use of alcohol and drugs, which seems to play a part in decision-making. When is it time to grow up and take responsibility? What happens if you try to change tradition? I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a though-provoking novel.
Sande Boritz Berger , Author of "Split-Level" has written a unique, thought-provoking and entertaining novel. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction and Women's Fiction. The timeline for this story is in the 1970s after Nixon was President. The story takes place mostly in an affluent community in New Jersey. The author describes her dysfunctional cast of characters as complex and complicated.
This is a Novel that questions what marriage should be. Alex Pearl will soon be thirty, has two young children, is very artistic, and seems to have it all. She has a family, a beautiful house, yet there are certain questions that are bothering her. Somehow, she has doubts about her husband Donny. After a certain incident, Alex insists that she and Donny go to a Marriage Encounter of sorts. It appears that Donny is obsessed with the idea of more of an open marriage. Alex is conflicted what she wants.
I appreciate that the author discusses the concept of marriage, communication, honesty. family, friends, love, and hope. The author also mentions the use of alcohol and drugs, which seems to play a part in decision-making. When is it time to grow up and take responsibility? What happens if you try to change tradition? I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a though-provoking novel.
May 3, 2019
This was a good, quick read with some fun 1970's nostalgia. The author touched on the popular trends of couples retreats to strengthen relationships and "swinging" parties to swap spouses.
The characters and dialogue was realistic - I grew up in NJ & NY around that time period, so I can attest to that.
It was interesting to see how the protagonist grew from a young newly wed and matured into an independent woman in the '70's.
Overall, it was a good book, but I couldn't help thinking that if she had a real job instead of painting t shirts when she felt like it, she might have had a better perspective on her life and perhaps would have matured a little sooner.
Also, I don't want to give anything away, but the outcome of the spouse swapping seemed pretty unbelievable to me, but it was a fun read.
The characters and dialogue was realistic - I grew up in NJ & NY around that time period, so I can attest to that.
It was interesting to see how the protagonist grew from a young newly wed and matured into an independent woman in the '70's.
Overall, it was a good book, but I couldn't help thinking that if she had a real job instead of painting t shirts when she felt like it, she might have had a better perspective on her life and perhaps would have matured a little sooner.
Also, I don't want to give anything away, but the outcome of the spouse swapping seemed pretty unbelievable to me, but it was a fun read.
May 23, 2019
Split-level by Sande Bortiz Berger is set in the 70's and features Alex Pearl, a woman who is struggling with feeling quite different than everyone else. Swinging is slowly introduced into their lives. Alex and her husband Donny are often hard to understand or like in this novel that is more appropriate for beach reads than in depth thought. Although there are times that Alex is hard to relate to, there are other times when she is easy to relate to.
Overall, I thought the pace was slow, there didn't seem to be as much chemistry as I would have expected for a book about swinging in the 70's. I did like that there was plenty of time to get to know Alex, what she thought about herself and her place in the world. Her journey is why this book is 4 stars and not 3.
Overall, I thought the pace was slow, there didn't seem to be as much chemistry as I would have expected for a book about swinging in the 70's. I did like that there was plenty of time to get to know Alex, what she thought about herself and her place in the world. Her journey is why this book is 4 stars and not 3.
June 7, 2019
Set in the 1970s a wife named Alex find out what it means to be in an open marriage. Can a marriage stand this transgression from both Alex and her husband Donny?
May 7, 2019
"But I am just a housewife, I remind myself -- a housewife painting in torn underwear, worn inside out. I throw off my robe and grab the blue denim work shirt hanging on the back of the door. I've kept this ragged shirt since college -- a promise to myself I'd never give up." -Alex Pearl
Sande Bortiz Berger takes us on a journey into the Pearls' last-ditch effort to salvage their quickly staling marriage where instead we find a delightful coming of age story of Alex Pearl, a housewife fighting for a greater sense of purpose.
Split-Level presents itself as a look at a marriage in the post-Nixon era. The Pearls, married seven years with two children, take a dive into the swinging lifestyle that tantalized suburban couples of the seventies and gets more than they bargained for. And it is mostly about that. We meet Alex and Donny Pearl at a crucial point in their marriage- demonstrated early through Alex's speedy enrollment of the couple into a weekend workshop called "Marriage Mountain" after she finds out that Donny has been giving late night driving lessons to the cute babysitter. This seems almost too obvious of a plot line to take, but Berger does not keep us here long.
The idea of attending Marriage Mountain makes us feel like everything is okay...until we actually get to Marriage Mountain. Berger makes it apparent pretty quickly that this is the final chance to save their marriage. I honestly wish I had cared about the fate of the Pearls (as a unit) more, but Alex Pearl became my main interest pretty quickly.
Alex is entering her 30's. She is an artist, but she dismisses it as a hobby feigning that being a mother gives her all the satisfaction she needs. Similarly, her husband Donny Pearl, works in the family business making ladies undergarments- all the while wishing he had gone back to school and pursued his passion. Berger builds this tension between the Pearls slowly increasing the pressure that both Donny and Alex feel as individuals in their personal endeavors, driving a wedge between them. Donny is immature, self-conscious, and doesn't get the validation he desperately desires from Alex or his boss-father. Hence, the late night driving lessons with the babysitter. Berger draws Donny and Alex further apart with the stark difference in their motivations- Donny's desperate need for validation from others and Alex's need for validation from within.
When Donny and Alex dip their toes in the open marriage pool, they officially don't feel like the Pearls anymore. By opening up this world of curiosity in our characters that they truly have no idea how to navigate, both Alex and Donny's lives- in general- begin to change. Donny gets a demotion at work, Alex sees success in her side hustle and finds new inspiration for her art. All of a sudden, Alex can see herself as a 3-dimensional person with thoughts and feelings and desires and that reflects in the art she creates. Donny seems as if he's simply hopped from one relationship to another with Paula Bell (the female counterpart of their partner couple).
The details of the Pearls' relationship with the Bells was so auxiliary to me (and I don't want to ruin it for you!!!) that I almost don't even want to mention it other than that it was a vehicle. It gave me drama and helped drive Alex to destination self, which was all I could've asked. I will note, though, that Berger did a really important and smart thing by having the messy navigation of swinging reflected in the Pearls' and Bells' children. This was a major grounding moment for Alex seeing that this lifestyle change wasn't as simple as sending the kids away for a weekend and trying to be secretive. A similar moment is when Alex finds out later that so many more people knew about their arrangement with the Bells than she thought, and what TRUTH! The realness of this situation was so good.
Alex Pearl's story arc was dynamic, real, and invigorating to experience. It's easy to tell the sexy story of the swinging couple that gets off on the idea of swapping partners, but it is daring and brave to tell the story of the couple that tries and fails in a time where failing is not an option.
Sande Bortiz Berger takes us on a journey into the Pearls' last-ditch effort to salvage their quickly staling marriage where instead we find a delightful coming of age story of Alex Pearl, a housewife fighting for a greater sense of purpose.
Split-Level presents itself as a look at a marriage in the post-Nixon era. The Pearls, married seven years with two children, take a dive into the swinging lifestyle that tantalized suburban couples of the seventies and gets more than they bargained for. And it is mostly about that. We meet Alex and Donny Pearl at a crucial point in their marriage- demonstrated early through Alex's speedy enrollment of the couple into a weekend workshop called "Marriage Mountain" after she finds out that Donny has been giving late night driving lessons to the cute babysitter. This seems almost too obvious of a plot line to take, but Berger does not keep us here long.
The idea of attending Marriage Mountain makes us feel like everything is okay...until we actually get to Marriage Mountain. Berger makes it apparent pretty quickly that this is the final chance to save their marriage. I honestly wish I had cared about the fate of the Pearls (as a unit) more, but Alex Pearl became my main interest pretty quickly.
Alex is entering her 30's. She is an artist, but she dismisses it as a hobby feigning that being a mother gives her all the satisfaction she needs. Similarly, her husband Donny Pearl, works in the family business making ladies undergarments- all the while wishing he had gone back to school and pursued his passion. Berger builds this tension between the Pearls slowly increasing the pressure that both Donny and Alex feel as individuals in their personal endeavors, driving a wedge between them. Donny is immature, self-conscious, and doesn't get the validation he desperately desires from Alex or his boss-father. Hence, the late night driving lessons with the babysitter. Berger draws Donny and Alex further apart with the stark difference in their motivations- Donny's desperate need for validation from others and Alex's need for validation from within.
When Donny and Alex dip their toes in the open marriage pool, they officially don't feel like the Pearls anymore. By opening up this world of curiosity in our characters that they truly have no idea how to navigate, both Alex and Donny's lives- in general- begin to change. Donny gets a demotion at work, Alex sees success in her side hustle and finds new inspiration for her art. All of a sudden, Alex can see herself as a 3-dimensional person with thoughts and feelings and desires and that reflects in the art she creates. Donny seems as if he's simply hopped from one relationship to another with Paula Bell (the female counterpart of their partner couple).
The details of the Pearls' relationship with the Bells was so auxiliary to me (and I don't want to ruin it for you!!!) that I almost don't even want to mention it other than that it was a vehicle. It gave me drama and helped drive Alex to destination self, which was all I could've asked. I will note, though, that Berger did a really important and smart thing by having the messy navigation of swinging reflected in the Pearls' and Bells' children. This was a major grounding moment for Alex seeing that this lifestyle change wasn't as simple as sending the kids away for a weekend and trying to be secretive. A similar moment is when Alex finds out later that so many more people knew about their arrangement with the Bells than she thought, and what TRUTH! The realness of this situation was so good.
Alex Pearl's story arc was dynamic, real, and invigorating to experience. It's easy to tell the sexy story of the swinging couple that gets off on the idea of swapping partners, but it is daring and brave to tell the story of the couple that tries and fails in a time where failing is not an option.
May 1, 2019
Linda's Book Obsession Reviews "Split Level" by Sande Boritz Berger, She Writes Press, May 2019
Sande Boritz Berger , Author of "Split-Level" has written a unique, thought-provoking and entertaining novel. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction and Women's Fiction. The timeline for this story is in the 1970s after Nixon was President. The story takes place mostly in an affluent community in New Jersey. The author describes her dysfunctional cast of characters as complex and complicated.
This is a Novel that questions what marriage should be. Alex Pearl will soon be thirty, has two young children, is very artistic, and seems to have it all. She has a family, a beautiful house, yet there are certain questions that are bothering her. Somehow, she has doubts about her husband Donny. After a certain incident, Alex insists that she and Donny go to a Marriage Encounter of sorts. It appears that Donny is obsessed with the idea of more of an open marriage. Alex is conflicted what she wants.
I appreciate that the author discusses the concept of marriage, communication, honesty. family, friends, love, and hope. The author also mentions the use of alcohol and drugs, which seems to play a part in decision-making. When is it time to grow up and take responsibility? What happens if you try to change tradition? I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a though-provoking novel.
Sande Boritz Berger , Author of "Split-Level" has written a unique, thought-provoking and entertaining novel. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction and Women's Fiction. The timeline for this story is in the 1970s after Nixon was President. The story takes place mostly in an affluent community in New Jersey. The author describes her dysfunctional cast of characters as complex and complicated.
This is a Novel that questions what marriage should be. Alex Pearl will soon be thirty, has two young children, is very artistic, and seems to have it all. She has a family, a beautiful house, yet there are certain questions that are bothering her. Somehow, she has doubts about her husband Donny. After a certain incident, Alex insists that she and Donny go to a Marriage Encounter of sorts. It appears that Donny is obsessed with the idea of more of an open marriage. Alex is conflicted what she wants.
I appreciate that the author discusses the concept of marriage, communication, honesty. family, friends, love, and hope. The author also mentions the use of alcohol and drugs, which seems to play a part in decision-making. When is it time to grow up and take responsibility? What happens if you try to change tradition? I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a though-provoking novel.
May 18, 2019
In Sande Boritz Berger’s own words, Split-Level is the “tale of a young woman lost in the mire of ideas others had conjured for her future.”
Alex Pearl lives what seems an idyllic 1970s housewife life. She did all the “right” things and even has a small business to keep her artistic side happy, but at nearly 30, Alex seems naive about the way the world really works and dissatisfied with the path her life has taken.
The book begins rather slow, building the picture of what I imagine life was like for many middle class Jewish women who filled their roles well but felt something was missing. Drugs, music, and infidelity are prevalent, but at its core this book is about Alex discovering the world and herself.
I think this one will resonate most with women who lived similar lives, but I feel the central theme of women pleasing others and living lives they may not have ever actually wanted is one that will resonate with many readers across generations.
Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Alex Pearl lives what seems an idyllic 1970s housewife life. She did all the “right” things and even has a small business to keep her artistic side happy, but at nearly 30, Alex seems naive about the way the world really works and dissatisfied with the path her life has taken.
The book begins rather slow, building the picture of what I imagine life was like for many middle class Jewish women who filled their roles well but felt something was missing. Drugs, music, and infidelity are prevalent, but at its core this book is about Alex discovering the world and herself.
I think this one will resonate most with women who lived similar lives, but I feel the central theme of women pleasing others and living lives they may not have ever actually wanted is one that will resonate with many readers across generations.
Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 6, 2019
Split-Level captured my attention because of the way it's written. It's from the point of view of Alex Pearl, a housewife whose relationship with her husband is turbulent at best. Although it is a little slow paced, I didn't mind spending the time with Alex's thoughts. It's extremely well-written. I didn't live through the 70s, but I could vividly picture every moment with the minute details that add just the right amount of description. It has a small number of characters and they leave strong impressions. These are the characters that you get to know deeply and understand on some level, even to the point where you can see what decisions they'll make before it's revealed.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a peek at a complicated relationship written with beautiful prose. It was a quick read and the ending was extremely satisfying.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a peek at a complicated relationship written with beautiful prose. It was a quick read and the ending was extremely satisfying.
July 24, 2019
As a child of the 70's, I wanted to read Split-Level. What happens when a married couple decide to have an "open" marriage and become swingers? Will it survive. Back in the 70's things were a bit different.. but still in today's world. About the same.
Alex, tells us her story in the first person. The writing was great, I really enjoyed this book, my first time reading from this Author.
It will bring you back to that ERA, and always the spouse wants to sway away from his marriage or try something, so in order to please her spouse Donny, changes start happening. Is it for the good or the bad?
Great read. Enjoy it!
I received a free copy from NetGalley for an honest review!
Alex, tells us her story in the first person. The writing was great, I really enjoyed this book, my first time reading from this Author.
It will bring you back to that ERA, and always the spouse wants to sway away from his marriage or try something, so in order to please her spouse Donny, changes start happening. Is it for the good or the bad?
Great read. Enjoy it!
I received a free copy from NetGalley for an honest review!
May 13, 2019
Split-Level is a world that seems to have that hazy filter that so many movies of the 70s had. Think about how glowy The Stepford Wives or Carrie was - that's what reading this was like. Additionally, Wifey by Jude Blume already talked about marriage and the sexual revolution - and that book blew my mind the first time I ready it ....at age 14.
Split-Leve...did not. While the story is familiar - family, 1970s, wife-swapping, etc etc etc - it just kind of was blah for me. It just kind of gave me buzzwords - shag carpeting, wallpaper, Family Circle, etc etc. Both Alex and Donny were kind of the worst - and their children were more of an afterthought.
Again - Wifey did it better.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Split-Leve...did not. While the story is familiar - family, 1970s, wife-swapping, etc etc etc - it just kind of was blah for me. It just kind of gave me buzzwords - shag carpeting, wallpaper, Family Circle, etc etc. Both Alex and Donny were kind of the worst - and their children were more of an afterthought.
Again - Wifey did it better.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 24, 2019
As a child of the 70's, I wanted to read Split-Level. What happens when a married couple decide to have an "open" marriage and become swingers? Will it survive. Back in the 70's things were a bit different.. but still in today's world. About the same.
Alex, tells us her story in the first person. The writing was great, I really enjoyed this book, my first time reading from this Author.
It will bring you back to that ERA, and always the spouse wants to sway away from his marriage or try something, so in order to please her spouse Donny, changes start happening. Is it for the good or the bad?
Great read. Enjoy it!
I received a free copy from NetGalley for an honest review!
Alex, tells us her story in the first person. The writing was great, I really enjoyed this book, my first time reading from this Author.
It will bring you back to that ERA, and always the spouse wants to sway away from his marriage or try something, so in order to please her spouse Donny, changes start happening. Is it for the good or the bad?
Great read. Enjoy it!
I received a free copy from NetGalley for an honest review!
September 3, 2019
Thank you to net galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this Arc. However I just couldn’t get into it. It’s not my normal type of read but I wanted to branch out and I’m disappointed that I didn’t enjoy it.. i know it’s about a different time a whole different socioeconomic period but I just couldn’t relate. The main character I found annoying and a little maybe paranoid Also just a bit submissive and dumb. The writing was ok and the flow of the story was good but I just couldn’t connect and after about 55% threw I just felt like if I didn’t finish it would be even more disappointing. So it’s a good story just not for me.
May 6, 2019
This was a quick read for me and kept me occupied on a 4-hour train ride. The setting and plot have a lot of promise, and I love the era the book was set in, but unfortunately it felt quite unpolished. I could never get a handle on the husband--or really, any of the main characters. I think they were fully formed in the author's mind, but something just didn't translate to the page for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2019
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Set in the 70’s, 2 couples explore wife swapping. The story is told through one wife, who is conflicted about this arrangement. In this story we see her find her voice and take control of her choices. I wasn’t empathetic toward any of the characters and did not like them. But the writing kept me engaged in the story, I wanted them all to find their way by the end.
May 1, 2019
What I liked best about this novel was the early 1970s setting. But aside from a few random mentions of Tab and Fresca, the venue could have been in any decade of the last forty years. Alex is a housewife who is dissatisfied in her marriage. She and her husband decide to swap partners with another married couple with irreparable changes. Although I read this book very quickly, I didn't really care for any of the characters. They all seem very self absorbed and uncaring about the consequences of their actions. I liked the two little Pearl girls the best. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read.
June 11, 2019
I was given the opportunity to review Split-Level by Sande Boritz Berger and found the description to be interesting as I was newly married in the early '70s. I did not live in a split-level house but I know the kind of house it is. It is the kind of house that Alex Pearl and her family live in in the New Jersey suburbs.
Alex feels that she is missing passion in her life and marriage, she is happily married though with two daughters and a charming husband. She receives a call from her babysitter's mom that Donny has taken her daughter on a midnight ride. Alex is upset by this even though Donny says he was teaching the girl how to drive. Not sure whether to believe him or not she insists that they go to Marriage Mountain, a couple healing sanctuary.
Donny at first is reluctant but once they started going but learns the 'manifesto' a spouse-swapping idea that at first Alex does not want to do but eventually capitulates and they meet a couple that they do the 'swap' with. As you can imagine, this is not always what it is cracked up to be. Problems emerge that can put their marriage at risk.
As I said, I was newly married in the early '70s and among the free love and smoking pot, a lot of things happened that probably would not happen today. I am sure that there are still couples that 'swap' but you just don't hear about it. This book was not only about marriage but of a woman coming into her own, finding out what she wanted out of life and a dull marriage was not one of the things. She finally came to realize what she wanted and went after it.
At first, I thought I would be bored with the story but that was not the case. I totally enjoyed it. Something a bit different from what I typically read and I really liked it. The author's writing was easy to follow, writing about an open marriage I imagine can be challenging!
Thanks to JKS Communications for my copy of the book, it was for review purposes only
Alex feels that she is missing passion in her life and marriage, she is happily married though with two daughters and a charming husband. She receives a call from her babysitter's mom that Donny has taken her daughter on a midnight ride. Alex is upset by this even though Donny says he was teaching the girl how to drive. Not sure whether to believe him or not she insists that they go to Marriage Mountain, a couple healing sanctuary.
Donny at first is reluctant but once they started going but learns the 'manifesto' a spouse-swapping idea that at first Alex does not want to do but eventually capitulates and they meet a couple that they do the 'swap' with. As you can imagine, this is not always what it is cracked up to be. Problems emerge that can put their marriage at risk.
As I said, I was newly married in the early '70s and among the free love and smoking pot, a lot of things happened that probably would not happen today. I am sure that there are still couples that 'swap' but you just don't hear about it. This book was not only about marriage but of a woman coming into her own, finding out what she wanted out of life and a dull marriage was not one of the things. She finally came to realize what she wanted and went after it.
At first, I thought I would be bored with the story but that was not the case. I totally enjoyed it. Something a bit different from what I typically read and I really liked it. The author's writing was easy to follow, writing about an open marriage I imagine can be challenging!
Thanks to JKS Communications for my copy of the book, it was for review purposes only
November 9, 2019
First, I would like to thank She Writes Press and NetGalley for providing me with a free Kindle ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Reading the synopsis, I imagined that this book would be edgy and push the limits of matrimonial morality. I imagined overwhelming lust and emotion, edge-of-your-seat passion and discord, and controversial sexual freedom pushing back against the patriarchal and traditional nuclear family. Instead, I was dealt immeasurable boredom and exhaustive accounts of Alex’s passive aggression. Her inability to handle confrontations in an adult manner was off-putting. Despite the fact that she indulges in the foursquare tryst, for example, Alex spitefully buries her husband’s adored swingers’ manifesto in the neighbor’s garbage can. Alex is completely incapable of accepting responsibility for ANYTHING and blames Donny for EVERYTHING, even though she is equally culpable for the events that occur. She is also entirely indecisive. She pushes away anyone who would show her attention and although she recognizes the impact of her behavior on her children, she fails to act in a constructive manner to repair what she has damaged. The plot was predictable, and the characters were devoid of depth, so the only thing redeeming this book is its beautiful writing style. If you read this book for no other reason, read it for the writing style. I felt as though there was no true climax, no real conflict, no finite resolution. The ending leaves you questioning what Alex decides and there is nothing worse than a vague conclusion.
#netgalley #split-level
Reading the synopsis, I imagined that this book would be edgy and push the limits of matrimonial morality. I imagined overwhelming lust and emotion, edge-of-your-seat passion and discord, and controversial sexual freedom pushing back against the patriarchal and traditional nuclear family. Instead, I was dealt immeasurable boredom and exhaustive accounts of Alex’s passive aggression. Her inability to handle confrontations in an adult manner was off-putting. Despite the fact that she indulges in the foursquare tryst, for example, Alex spitefully buries her husband’s adored swingers’ manifesto in the neighbor’s garbage can. Alex is completely incapable of accepting responsibility for ANYTHING and blames Donny for EVERYTHING, even though she is equally culpable for the events that occur. She is also entirely indecisive. She pushes away anyone who would show her attention and although she recognizes the impact of her behavior on her children, she fails to act in a constructive manner to repair what she has damaged. The plot was predictable, and the characters were devoid of depth, so the only thing redeeming this book is its beautiful writing style. If you read this book for no other reason, read it for the writing style. I felt as though there was no true climax, no real conflict, no finite resolution. The ending leaves you questioning what Alex decides and there is nothing worse than a vague conclusion.
#netgalley #split-level
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