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Cappadora Family #1
The Deep End of the Ocean
'Mitchard's novel... possesses a whitewater momentum nearly as dynamic as its emotional pull... beautifully timed, wrenchingly told...' - BOSTON GLOBE 'Riveting' - DETROIT FREE PRESS 'A blockbuster read... A universal tale of traumatic loss and its effects on individuals and families, an astute inquiry into the wellsprings of identity and a parable of redemption through suffering and love... Impossible to put down.' - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY It's the moment every mother dreads - three-year-old Ben is gone, and no one can find him. Despite a police search that will turn into a nation-wide obsession, Ben has vanished, seemingly without a trace. His disappearance will leave Beth frozen on a knife-edge of suppressed agony for nine years and drive a shattering wedge through her marriage to Pat. Then something so unexpected happens, it changes everything that once seemed true or possible. And perhaps, only perhaps, it will give Beth what she thought was gone a reason to live.
594 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
928 people are currently reading
35161 people want to read
About the author
Jacquelyn Mitchard
81 books1,243 followersJacquelyn Mitchard’s first novel, The Deep End of the Ocean, was named by USA Today as one of the ten most influential books of the past 25 years – second only to the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (but second by a long shot, it must be said.)
The Deep End of the Ocean was chosen as the first novel in the book club made famous by the TV host Oprah Winfrey, and transformed into a feature film produced by and starring Michelle Pfeiffer.
Most of Mitchard’s novels have been greater or lesser bestsellers – and include The Most Wanted, A Theory of Relativity, Twelve Times Blessed, The Breakdown Lane, The Good Son, and Cage of Stars. Critics have praised them for their authentic humanity and command of story. Readers identify because they see reflected, in her characters – however extreme their circumstances – emotions they already understand.
Mitchard also has written four novels for young adults.
The first, Now You See Her, from HarperTeen, is the story of a pampered, driven young actress who fakes her own abduction.
All We Know of Heaven told the story of lifetime best friends Bridget and Maureen, who are just sixteen when a fatal crash on an icy road and a poignant case of mistaken identity divide their small Minnesota town forever.
The Midnight Twins was the first in a trilogy of teen mysteries about identical twin sisters born on New Year’s Eve – one a minute before and a minute after midnight – Meredith and Mallory Brynn learn on the night they turn thirteen that their psychic abilities will force them to intervene in dire events, although one twin can see only the future and one can see only the past. The Midnight Twins is in development as a TV series by Kaleidoscope Entertainment.
Mitchard's newest novel for adult, A Very Inconvenient Scandal, out in November 2023 from Mira/HarperCollins, is the story of an acclaimed young underwater photographer whose famed marine biologist father shatters their family by marrying her best friend., a woman 35 years his junior.
At the local coffee shop, Mitchard is best-known as the mother of Rob, Dan, Marty, Francie, Mia, Will and Atticus , as the grandma of Hank and Diana and the wife of handsome Chris Brent.
Her favorite color is periwinkle blue; her favorite holiday is Halloween; her favorite flower is freesia; her favorite word is "smite," and her second favorite is "Massachusetts"; her lucky number is 119 (anyone who can guess where that comes from wins free first editions of her novels for life). She lives in her favorite place on earth, Cape Cod, summering in a villa on the Amalfi Coast. (Guess which part of that sentence is fiction.)
Her essays have appeared in publications including the New York Times, Chicago Tribune Magazine and Reader's Digest, and are widely anthologized and used in school curricula. She has taught in MFA programs in Vermont, Ohio, and Massachusetts, and is part of the faculty at the Summer Writers Institute at Yale University. She is a member of the Tall Poppies Writers and has been a fellow at the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, and the Ragdale Foundation.
Her pet peeves are known authors and editors who cannot and will not learn the difference between “lie” and “lay” and family signs pluralized with apostrophes.
She would love to appear on just ONE episode of any incarnation of ‘Law and Order,’ as has everyone else in America. She still is willing to play the role of a murder victim – except one found by earth-moving equipment in a landfill – though she would do that in a pinch.
Mitchard would like to have a swimming pool, because, although she lives near the ocean, she is afraid of the dark water and hates sand. She would love to have a clawfoot tub, or any tub.
She believes that stories are the ways that human beings make sense of life and that our stories will save us.
The Deep End of the Ocean was chosen as the first novel in the book club made famous by the TV host Oprah Winfrey, and transformed into a feature film produced by and starring Michelle Pfeiffer.
Most of Mitchard’s novels have been greater or lesser bestsellers – and include The Most Wanted, A Theory of Relativity, Twelve Times Blessed, The Breakdown Lane, The Good Son, and Cage of Stars. Critics have praised them for their authentic humanity and command of story. Readers identify because they see reflected, in her characters – however extreme their circumstances – emotions they already understand.
Mitchard also has written four novels for young adults.
The first, Now You See Her, from HarperTeen, is the story of a pampered, driven young actress who fakes her own abduction.
All We Know of Heaven told the story of lifetime best friends Bridget and Maureen, who are just sixteen when a fatal crash on an icy road and a poignant case of mistaken identity divide their small Minnesota town forever.
The Midnight Twins was the first in a trilogy of teen mysteries about identical twin sisters born on New Year’s Eve – one a minute before and a minute after midnight – Meredith and Mallory Brynn learn on the night they turn thirteen that their psychic abilities will force them to intervene in dire events, although one twin can see only the future and one can see only the past. The Midnight Twins is in development as a TV series by Kaleidoscope Entertainment.
Mitchard's newest novel for adult, A Very Inconvenient Scandal, out in November 2023 from Mira/HarperCollins, is the story of an acclaimed young underwater photographer whose famed marine biologist father shatters their family by marrying her best friend., a woman 35 years his junior.
At the local coffee shop, Mitchard is best-known as the mother of Rob, Dan, Marty, Francie, Mia, Will and Atticus , as the grandma of Hank and Diana and the wife of handsome Chris Brent.
Her favorite color is periwinkle blue; her favorite holiday is Halloween; her favorite flower is freesia; her favorite word is "smite," and her second favorite is "Massachusetts"; her lucky number is 119 (anyone who can guess where that comes from wins free first editions of her novels for life). She lives in her favorite place on earth, Cape Cod, summering in a villa on the Amalfi Coast. (Guess which part of that sentence is fiction.)
Her essays have appeared in publications including the New York Times, Chicago Tribune Magazine and Reader's Digest, and are widely anthologized and used in school curricula. She has taught in MFA programs in Vermont, Ohio, and Massachusetts, and is part of the faculty at the Summer Writers Institute at Yale University. She is a member of the Tall Poppies Writers and has been a fellow at the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, and the Ragdale Foundation.
Her pet peeves are known authors and editors who cannot and will not learn the difference between “lie” and “lay” and family signs pluralized with apostrophes.
She would love to appear on just ONE episode of any incarnation of ‘Law and Order,’ as has everyone else in America. She still is willing to play the role of a murder victim – except one found by earth-moving equipment in a landfill – though she would do that in a pinch.
Mitchard would like to have a swimming pool, because, although she lives near the ocean, she is afraid of the dark water and hates sand. She would love to have a clawfoot tub, or any tub.
She believes that stories are the ways that human beings make sense of life and that our stories will save us.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,523 reviews
October 27, 2021
The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacqueline Mitchard is a 1996 Penguin publication.
Absorbing family drama…
Three-year-old Ben goes missing when his mother travels to Chicago for a class reunion. The fallout is placed under an intense microscope as a family is torn apart by the loss of their child…
It’s funny what minutiae is stored in my brain sometimes. Years ago, I was looking through the clearance table at my local paperback swap store, when I happened across this book. It triggered a memory in my mind of a colleague telling me they had stayed up late one night watching a movie called ‘The Deep End of the Ocean’ which starred Michelle Pfeiffer. They described it as ‘absorbing’.
So, I decided I would see what the book was like, especially after reading the synopsis.
Unfortunately, the book has been sitting on my shelf all these years, and every time I considered reading it, I changed my mind. Now, as many of you have heard me explain, recently, I’m culling through my massive TBR pile and making some tough choices.
Any book that has been on the list longer than five years is automatically on the chopping block- so I had to decide. Read it right now… or box it up and donate it to the library…
So here we are…
The story starts off like any other book centered around a missing child. Beth is attending her class reunion and decided to take her children along. Her three-year-old son vanishes in a crowded hotel lobby, never to be seen or heard from again.
While normally this trope crops up in crime fiction this book does not even remotely fall into that category, in my opinion.
This is a heavy drama that explores the aftermath of losing a child and the effect it has on a family, a marriage, and the remaining children, examining the coping mechanisms each resort to in order to get by.
The damage is horrifying and profound. It’s easy to judge, to take sides, the feel sympathy and empathy, anger, and frustration- sometimes all at once. Each character is flawed, or damaged and they go through years of emotional trauma before a miraculous turn of events opens an entirely new avenue of bittersweet hope and pain.
The novel was published in the mid/late nineties, and it shows in many ways. Some outdated attitudes and stereotypes must be tolerated- some of which are offensive at times. But the main thing to keep in mind is that this is not a missing persons investigation- it is a family drama-and as a result, the pacing at times moved at a snail’s pace. I read two or three chapters a night, then changed over to another book never struggling to put the book down, until somewhere around the half-way mark when I found myself becoming much more invested- until finally, one night I picked it up and literally could not tear my eyes off the pages.
It took a while to get there, but once all the chips were on the table it was riveting.
Now, this scenario has been explored, even before this book was written, and countless times since, but the internal turmoil the story explored is especially profound and emotional, but also frightening, and very, very sad. The characters were not always likeable- in fact, often I wanted to scream at all of them!! Still, the situation demands that judgment be withheld and so I watched from a distance as events unfolded and felt all the emotions the characters did, but from a more analytical perch. It was hard, depressing, in many ways, but also very thought provoking.
The saga does continue with a follow-up book, and I was pleased to discover the author delves deeper into this family drama, though I do hope it is not quite as bleak as this wrenching story.
Overall, I am glad I didn’t box this book up just yet. It will still find its way to a new home, where I hope another reader will someday find themselves entrenched in this realistic, heart-rending story, and that it will stay with them, as it will certainly stay with me.
4 stars
Absorbing family drama…
Three-year-old Ben goes missing when his mother travels to Chicago for a class reunion. The fallout is placed under an intense microscope as a family is torn apart by the loss of their child…
It’s funny what minutiae is stored in my brain sometimes. Years ago, I was looking through the clearance table at my local paperback swap store, when I happened across this book. It triggered a memory in my mind of a colleague telling me they had stayed up late one night watching a movie called ‘The Deep End of the Ocean’ which starred Michelle Pfeiffer. They described it as ‘absorbing’.
So, I decided I would see what the book was like, especially after reading the synopsis.
Unfortunately, the book has been sitting on my shelf all these years, and every time I considered reading it, I changed my mind. Now, as many of you have heard me explain, recently, I’m culling through my massive TBR pile and making some tough choices.
Any book that has been on the list longer than five years is automatically on the chopping block- so I had to decide. Read it right now… or box it up and donate it to the library…
So here we are…
The story starts off like any other book centered around a missing child. Beth is attending her class reunion and decided to take her children along. Her three-year-old son vanishes in a crowded hotel lobby, never to be seen or heard from again.
While normally this trope crops up in crime fiction this book does not even remotely fall into that category, in my opinion.
This is a heavy drama that explores the aftermath of losing a child and the effect it has on a family, a marriage, and the remaining children, examining the coping mechanisms each resort to in order to get by.
The damage is horrifying and profound. It’s easy to judge, to take sides, the feel sympathy and empathy, anger, and frustration- sometimes all at once. Each character is flawed, or damaged and they go through years of emotional trauma before a miraculous turn of events opens an entirely new avenue of bittersweet hope and pain.
The novel was published in the mid/late nineties, and it shows in many ways. Some outdated attitudes and stereotypes must be tolerated- some of which are offensive at times. But the main thing to keep in mind is that this is not a missing persons investigation- it is a family drama-and as a result, the pacing at times moved at a snail’s pace. I read two or three chapters a night, then changed over to another book never struggling to put the book down, until somewhere around the half-way mark when I found myself becoming much more invested- until finally, one night I picked it up and literally could not tear my eyes off the pages.
It took a while to get there, but once all the chips were on the table it was riveting.
Now, this scenario has been explored, even before this book was written, and countless times since, but the internal turmoil the story explored is especially profound and emotional, but also frightening, and very, very sad. The characters were not always likeable- in fact, often I wanted to scream at all of them!! Still, the situation demands that judgment be withheld and so I watched from a distance as events unfolded and felt all the emotions the characters did, but from a more analytical perch. It was hard, depressing, in many ways, but also very thought provoking.
The saga does continue with a follow-up book, and I was pleased to discover the author delves deeper into this family drama, though I do hope it is not quite as bleak as this wrenching story.
Overall, I am glad I didn’t box this book up just yet. It will still find its way to a new home, where I hope another reader will someday find themselves entrenched in this realistic, heart-rending story, and that it will stay with them, as it will certainly stay with me.
4 stars
October 11, 2021
I'm hesitant to outline the book's plot for fear of giving out too much information. However, since most reviews of the book give away the plot and because the story has also been made into a movie, I'll proceed. Be aware, though, that possible spoilers lie ahead.
SPOILER ALERT!!! SPOILER ALERT!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!
Beth Cappadora, excited about her 15-year high school reunion, packs up her three kids (Vincent, 7; Ben, 3; and infant Kerry) and her niece/babysitter and drives from Madison, Wisconsin to the Chicago hotel that's hosting the festivities.
While Beth is doing some business at the hotel's busy reception desk Ben disappears. Police, family, and friends search all over for days, but Ben is simply gone.
Beth and her husband Pat are shattered by the loss, and their remaining two children suffer from their parents' distraction.
In time Pat is more or less able to go on with his life and his job - helping run his uncle's restaurant in Madison. Beth, however, can't seem to recover at all. She sleeps most of the time and, even when she's awake, Beth isn't really there.
The Cappadoras try attending a support group, which is of very limited assistance.
Vincent, who was supposed to be keeping an eye on Ben when he vanished, develops serious behavior problems. These become worse as he approaches adolescence and Vincent becomes a bully, gets into fights, and repeatedly gets into trouble at school.
Vincent is sent to a therapist but does all he can to avoid addressing his real issues - thinking he's pulling the wool over his therapist's eyes.
After a health crisis the Cappadoras move back to Chicago, where their extended family still lives. And miracle of miracles - nine years after he vanished - Ben shows up on the Cappadora's doorstep looking for a lawn-mowing job.
The reunion isn't the total blessing Beth and Pat would have hoped for however. Ben doesn't remember them at all and has a fierce attachment to his 'new family' - the woman who kidnapped him (now severely mentally ill) and her husband George. To top it off George is a complete innocent in all this; he accepted Ben as his wife's child, 'adopted' him, and dearly loves the boy.
The latter part of the book is especially heart-rending as Ben's 'two families' must cope with everything that's happened. What's everyone supposed to do now? Are Vincent and Kerry going to welcome their 'new' sibling? How does Ben cope with being a stranger in his own family?
How does Pat deal with 'another dad' in the picture?
What's going to happen to the kidnapper?
The book tells a compelling story, the writing is good, and the characters seem more or less true to life. I had great sympathy for Beth but didn't like her much. She wallows in her grief for too long and makes (almost) no attempt to 'be there' for the family she still has. The other characters, especially Pat, seem to do the best they can in very difficult circumstances.
In the end I felt the book was too long and overly melodramatic.
The story reminded me of an afternoon special on Lifetime TV. The story rates 3 stars for me but - to be completely fair - I think some other readers might like the book better.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
August 23, 2007
It's been a while since I first read this but I read it on a trip to visit my mother, finished it at her house and flung it across the room. I left it behind and she read it and called me to berate me for leaving it for her to read! So count this as TWO negative reviews. The climax happens about halfway through the book and then the next 200 or so pages are padding that you end up hating yourself for reading.
August 9, 2011
This is quite possibly one of the worst books I have ever read. It was artistically abysmal and I would not have finished it if it weren't for the library book club I read it for. The characters (particularly the parents) are thin and unlikeable characters. The plot left unpleasantly dangling threads in several places where the author would take us to a location or revelation and then stop talking about it - including a pointless affair that did not contribute to the overall plot in any way. It was the type of book that if I was just an emotional girl and not a thinking person I might have really liked and been sucked in by; but, as it stands, I found it unsatisfying and contrived. Mitchard invites comparisons to Picoult, who is by far the superior author. Picoult's "My Sister's Keeper" explores similar family dynamic to this book but in a much more effective way. Avoid this book unless you just want a heaping pile of emotion with no rational thought.
September 6, 2015
1.5 stars
I usually compare the book to its film, and almost always the book wins. Not this time. NOPE.
I've watched the film tons of times, and I loved it, and I cry every single time. With the book, only a couple of tears. And I adore the characters.
The characters here were unlikable, specially Beth Cappadora, the mother. I didn't like her from the start. As for the rest, I only liked Vincent/Reese a little. I get that all of them were really affected and damaged when tragedy striked, but most were just annoying.
And the ending was too much for me.
SPOILERS HERE: Baby boy just knocking on the door like that? Beth forgiving the crazy lady who took her baby? Giving him up when you finally get him back? I felt really sorry for his "other dad", I admit I cried with this, but I guess they could've worked something out.
So excuse me, but I'll go back to watching the film, curled up in my bed.
I usually compare the book to its film, and almost always the book wins. Not this time. NOPE.
I've watched the film tons of times, and I loved it, and I cry every single time. With the book, only a couple of tears. And I adore the characters.
The characters here were unlikable, specially Beth Cappadora, the mother. I didn't like her from the start. As for the rest, I only liked Vincent/Reese a little. I get that all of them were really affected and damaged when tragedy striked, but most were just annoying.
And the ending was too much for me.
SPOILERS HERE: Baby boy just knocking on the door like that? Beth forgiving the crazy lady who took her baby? Giving him up when you finally get him back? I felt really sorry for his "other dad", I admit I cried with this, but I guess they could've worked something out.
So excuse me, but I'll go back to watching the film, curled up in my bed.
May 15, 2015
4.5 stars
I actually read this book 15 years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter. It has stayed with me all these years. I thought it was a great book. Depressing and sad given the subject but very well written and easy to read. I read it very quickly over a couple of days.
I actually read this book 15 years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter. It has stayed with me all these years. I thought it was a great book. Depressing and sad given the subject but very well written and easy to read. I read it very quickly over a couple of days.
November 13, 2019
I read this in 1996. That was the time of the Oprah book club and Oprah likes the drama.
I appreciated the story from what I remember. I wanted to like it because Oprah did, but looking back it was an Okay story. It's about a woman who goes through divorce and a life change. It's well done, but not my favorite kind of story.
I haven't read it since, but I saw someone talk about it and I was like, hey, I read that so I put it in my list.
I did own this book, but I got rid of it along the way.
I appreciated the story from what I remember. I wanted to like it because Oprah did, but looking back it was an Okay story. It's about a woman who goes through divorce and a life change. It's well done, but not my favorite kind of story.
I haven't read it since, but I saw someone talk about it and I was like, hey, I read that so I put it in my list.
I did own this book, but I got rid of it along the way.
July 24, 2010
The kid is found and he's fine. That's not a spoiler; you can read it on the jacket. However, I had to skip to the second half to see for myself, and I read in other reviews that other people did, too. I really didn't want to be reading a book about a child being kidnapped and killed or abused. And that's not what it was at all, so rest assured.
The first half of the book is about what happens with a family when their middle child, a three-year-old, is kidnapped. The second half is about what happens with them when he comes back, nine years later. They're a dysfunctional family either way, and the most interesting question for me that this story raises is whether they would have been like that even if the boy hadn't been kidnapped (and whether the boy wasn't in fact better off having been raised by his kidnappers). It really made me stop and think about my own performance as a mother, whether I'm giving my kids enough attention or am going through life in a self-centered haze.
The (slightly) negative points for me were, first, the sometimes too long introspective passages from the mother's point of view. I skipped over some of those. We already know her mindset and her self-reproach and self-absorbedness fairly early on, and I felt that it was repeated too often. The other thing that bothered me a bit was the too tidy coincidence of so many key characters from the past either being dead or having memory loss due to Alzheimer's or catatonia. It was only nine years, not fifty. It's obvious that the author simply didn't want to have to get deeply into the kidnapper's motivation, or was advised by her editor to cut out 100 pages somewhere, and this was a quick way to avoid those issues. I really would have been interested to have at least one scene where the kidnapper spoke, if only in an internal monologue.
The first half of the book is about what happens with a family when their middle child, a three-year-old, is kidnapped. The second half is about what happens with them when he comes back, nine years later. They're a dysfunctional family either way, and the most interesting question for me that this story raises is whether they would have been like that even if the boy hadn't been kidnapped (and whether the boy wasn't in fact better off having been raised by his kidnappers). It really made me stop and think about my own performance as a mother, whether I'm giving my kids enough attention or am going through life in a self-centered haze.
The (slightly) negative points for me were, first, the sometimes too long introspective passages from the mother's point of view. I skipped over some of those. We already know her mindset and her self-reproach and self-absorbedness fairly early on, and I felt that it was repeated too often. The other thing that bothered me a bit was the too tidy coincidence of so many key characters from the past either being dead or having memory loss due to Alzheimer's or catatonia. It was only nine years, not fifty. It's obvious that the author simply didn't want to have to get deeply into the kidnapper's motivation, or was advised by her editor to cut out 100 pages somewhere, and this was a quick way to avoid those issues. I really would have been interested to have at least one scene where the kidnapper spoke, if only in an internal monologue.
September 21, 2011
Well, obviously I did not like it.
The abstract is that a three year old boy child vanishes, while in the care of his mother and watched by his seven year old brother. Family torn apart, police search, ect ect. Nine years later the boy is found by accident. This is a scenario that should make for a great book, how could all those dynamic elements go wrong?
Here’s how;
The literary style is very poor; so much so that the subject matter is obscured by the sickly sentimental and poorly edited writing. After a couple of chapters one has to put it down for a while and go do something more mentally stimulating like scrub the bathroom.
The characters are poorly defined; three days after completing it I can barely remember any of the characters. The author spends a couple of paragraphs or pages defining someone and then ignores them utterly until one hundred pages latter they surface briefly at a Christmas party.
The exceptions to this are the female, Jewish, lesbian police officer who the author is clearly very fond of and who gives the author a chance to establish how regrettably middle class conservative and bigoted she is. I suspect that she thinks is demonstrating the opposite, she isn’t.
The main character for the first third of the novel is 'the mother' Beth. She is emotionaly superfical and deeply unlikable and consequently I was completely unable to bond with the character. Beth is phenomenally self centred, self absorbed and unwilling to give a shred of consideration to ANYONE else in her extended family or in any way admit that the lose of 'her' Ben may be affecting them too. She whinges her dysfunctional way through the novel until the last fifty pages, where she suddenly displays a bit of character and backbone which is by then, completely unbelievable. Beth is written as a deeply unsympathetic moron and I kind of wish someone would slap her heartily.
No other character is in any way convincing “the husband’ is two dimensional, ‘The rebellious son’ is a stereotype which gives the author yet another chance to prove her ability in stereotyping and her conservative opinions.
All in all, a travesty of a book. I regret the trees that were cut down to provide the paper. And I just noticed that the online book calls it “Cappadora family #1” you mean there are more of these? I think I can see the overall intelligence level of the planet visibly dropping.
The abstract is that a three year old boy child vanishes, while in the care of his mother and watched by his seven year old brother. Family torn apart, police search, ect ect. Nine years later the boy is found by accident. This is a scenario that should make for a great book, how could all those dynamic elements go wrong?
Here’s how;
The literary style is very poor; so much so that the subject matter is obscured by the sickly sentimental and poorly edited writing. After a couple of chapters one has to put it down for a while and go do something more mentally stimulating like scrub the bathroom.
The characters are poorly defined; three days after completing it I can barely remember any of the characters. The author spends a couple of paragraphs or pages defining someone and then ignores them utterly until one hundred pages latter they surface briefly at a Christmas party.
The exceptions to this are the female, Jewish, lesbian police officer who the author is clearly very fond of and who gives the author a chance to establish how regrettably middle class conservative and bigoted she is. I suspect that she thinks is demonstrating the opposite, she isn’t.
The main character for the first third of the novel is 'the mother' Beth. She is emotionaly superfical and deeply unlikable and consequently I was completely unable to bond with the character. Beth is phenomenally self centred, self absorbed and unwilling to give a shred of consideration to ANYONE else in her extended family or in any way admit that the lose of 'her' Ben may be affecting them too. She whinges her dysfunctional way through the novel until the last fifty pages, where she suddenly displays a bit of character and backbone which is by then, completely unbelievable. Beth is written as a deeply unsympathetic moron and I kind of wish someone would slap her heartily.
No other character is in any way convincing “the husband’ is two dimensional, ‘The rebellious son’ is a stereotype which gives the author yet another chance to prove her ability in stereotyping and her conservative opinions.
All in all, a travesty of a book. I regret the trees that were cut down to provide the paper. And I just noticed that the online book calls it “Cappadora family #1” you mean there are more of these? I think I can see the overall intelligence level of the planet visibly dropping.
July 1, 2007
This book relies heavily on coincidence, which is usually a sign of bad writing. In this case, however, the coincidence is more of a result of a "what if" question, rather than a "how can I loop this all together" scenario. I think its an interesting idea, what happens when the little boy is found, but the bad guys feel like the good guys and the good guys don't feel like anything?
One thing that struck me about this book was how self-centered the main character was. I can't comprehend what she went through, of course, but on some level it just wasn't about her anymore, I would think. Ehh, read it and see what you think.
One thing that struck me about this book was how self-centered the main character was. I can't comprehend what she went through, of course, but on some level it just wasn't about her anymore, I would think. Ehh, read it and see what you think.
January 11, 2022
I read this book the first time back in the 90’s when it came out, and I really
loved it and I would have given it 5 stars. For some reason, I wanted to reread it 25 years later. It was different this time around, interestingly. Back then I was the mother of a 10 year old and was about the same age as the main character, Beth. I empathized with her and wrung my hands with her. This time, I am retired and a grandmother to two. I did not like it as well as the first time, though I did like it a lot! First off, it is somewhat dated, as far as social mores go, which is not uncommon, but I find that I sort of dislike Beth, and I feel a bit judgmental regarding her. Not one of us could say how we would be after having a child lost, disappeared, gone-for 9 years. Even the healthiest of families can unravel when a disaster happens. There are just some things that occur in the book that go beyond crazy grief. My heart ached for the eldest child, Vincent. ACHED. Do I have to like Beth to like the story? No, not at all. The story is compelling, well told. I rooted for this family, and invested in them. The relationships were interesting, the dynamics were realistic. It was definitely a family drama, not a police procedural. There were moments I laughed out loud. There were a couple of times I teared up. I definitely am glad I reread it and I want to read more by this author. Strangely enough, being the avid reader that I am, I have not read another by her. I plan to remedy this!
loved it and I would have given it 5 stars. For some reason, I wanted to reread it 25 years later. It was different this time around, interestingly. Back then I was the mother of a 10 year old and was about the same age as the main character, Beth. I empathized with her and wrung my hands with her. This time, I am retired and a grandmother to two. I did not like it as well as the first time, though I did like it a lot! First off, it is somewhat dated, as far as social mores go, which is not uncommon, but I find that I sort of dislike Beth, and I feel a bit judgmental regarding her. Not one of us could say how we would be after having a child lost, disappeared, gone-for 9 years. Even the healthiest of families can unravel when a disaster happens. There are just some things that occur in the book that go beyond crazy grief. My heart ached for the eldest child, Vincent. ACHED. Do I have to like Beth to like the story? No, not at all. The story is compelling, well told. I rooted for this family, and invested in them. The relationships were interesting, the dynamics were realistic. It was definitely a family drama, not a police procedural. There were moments I laughed out loud. There were a couple of times I teared up. I definitely am glad I reread it and I want to read more by this author. Strangely enough, being the avid reader that I am, I have not read another by her. I plan to remedy this!
October 9, 2007
just can't read it... hits too close to home for me as a mom (a three year old is kidnapped) I had to read the ending to see if the kid is ever found alive. I tried skimming a few pages, but when I got to the part where they had to identify a small child in the morgue, I put the book down. I just can't do it.
yeah, I'm a puss.
yeah, I'm a puss.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2013
What a depressing book! I could actually say I have a lot in common with this book being
#1 a bereaved parent (although my child died, he did not disappear)
#2 being an adopted child who found and contacted the birth family as an adult and made an effort to fit into that family and have two families. I've been a quasi member of the birth family for years now, very quasi.
Three year old Ben, youngest member of a large Italian family from his father's side and Irish family from his mother's side, disappears from a crowded hotel lobby. His family tries to hold together but has a very hard time, no duh. When Ben is found 9 years later he is happily ensconced in the family of the woman who abducted him and has no memory of his birth family. The family is torn apart further.
I've noticed a lot of reviewers are critical of Beth, the mother of kidnapped Ben. Want to say, don't judge unless you have been in her shoes. My child died and I am a different person than I was. It took me about 6 years to rebuild the identity and personality I lost when my child died. How much worse would it be if you had no idea what happened to your child? If you could not know if they were in pain, what they might have suffered or might still be suffering; I think your life would be a waking nightmare. And she knew her husband and family blamed her for Ben's disappearance, she blamed herself. That kind of guilt must be completely crushing. Was she selfish? Yes. The little of her that was left after Ben disappeared had to be used to survive. That made her selfish. All her energies were devoted inwardly. The affair stuff, well... She had an interest in Nick before she lost Ben. I think that possibility was in her mind when she went to Chicago. Grief magnifies those things that are already wrong with a person. That she followed through on her interest is not that surprising. I was glad to see her struggle with it though, it seemed a very human and likely struggle to me. She is also blamed by reviewers for Vincent's problems. But Vincent's problem was guilt, much like his mother. He was not the person he was because his mother ignored him although I'm sure that did not help, he was that person because of guilt.
#1 a bereaved parent (although my child died, he did not disappear)
#2 being an adopted child who found and contacted the birth family as an adult and made an effort to fit into that family and have two families. I've been a quasi member of the birth family for years now, very quasi.
Three year old Ben, youngest member of a large Italian family from his father's side and Irish family from his mother's side, disappears from a crowded hotel lobby. His family tries to hold together but has a very hard time, no duh. When Ben is found 9 years later he is happily ensconced in the family of the woman who abducted him and has no memory of his birth family. The family is torn apart further.
I've noticed a lot of reviewers are critical of Beth, the mother of kidnapped Ben. Want to say, don't judge unless you have been in her shoes. My child died and I am a different person than I was. It took me about 6 years to rebuild the identity and personality I lost when my child died. How much worse would it be if you had no idea what happened to your child? If you could not know if they were in pain, what they might have suffered or might still be suffering; I think your life would be a waking nightmare. And she knew her husband and family blamed her for Ben's disappearance, she blamed herself. That kind of guilt must be completely crushing. Was she selfish? Yes. The little of her that was left after Ben disappeared had to be used to survive. That made her selfish. All her energies were devoted inwardly. The affair stuff, well... She had an interest in Nick before she lost Ben. I think that possibility was in her mind when she went to Chicago. Grief magnifies those things that are already wrong with a person. That she followed through on her interest is not that surprising. I was glad to see her struggle with it though, it seemed a very human and likely struggle to me. She is also blamed by reviewers for Vincent's problems. But Vincent's problem was guilt, much like his mother. He was not the person he was because his mother ignored him although I'm sure that did not help, he was that person because of guilt.
June 13, 2013
Wes’ book review: Deep End of the Ocean. 2.5 stars. Meh, what a mixed bag. This book was a great idea that could have been executed much better by another writer with more experience in my opinion. (This was the author’s debut novel and I think it showed.) While it was a quick page turner, one is left feeling a little cheated by what could have been an absolutely stunning novel in the hands of someone with more control over their craft.
PROS:
1. Great idea and initial plot development. (A 3 year old child is kidnapped at a college reunion. This is TRULY a nightmare scenario and it is the lynchpin at the core of the novel.)
2. Nice writing style when describing emotions and broad relationship concepts
3. Realistic portrayal of stages of family turmoil and resolve over time
4. Creates a great sense of deeply felt empathy for certain family members
CONS:
The main character is so devastated by grief that she comes off as unlikeable, narcissistic and cold.
Cheesy, melodramatic dialogue during certain passages that make those sections feel like a corny made for tv movie.
3. A few side stories that added nothing and actively took away (A shallow affair for instance.)
4. There were a few coincidences and revelations that were so far fetched, they simply took you right out of the story completely. When complicated scenarios are handled in this manner, it reveals an inability to create a more complete and well formed solution.
I would be ambivalent about recommending this to others, but I don’t want to say “steer clear” either as there were some genuine flashes of really excellent writing and storytelling in there. If you pick it up, just know what you are getting into before you do.
PROS:
1. Great idea and initial plot development. (A 3 year old child is kidnapped at a college reunion. This is TRULY a nightmare scenario and it is the lynchpin at the core of the novel.)
2. Nice writing style when describing emotions and broad relationship concepts
3. Realistic portrayal of stages of family turmoil and resolve over time
4. Creates a great sense of deeply felt empathy for certain family members
CONS:
The main character is so devastated by grief that she comes off as unlikeable, narcissistic and cold.
Cheesy, melodramatic dialogue during certain passages that make those sections feel like a corny made for tv movie.
3. A few side stories that added nothing and actively took away (A shallow affair for instance.)
4. There were a few coincidences and revelations that were so far fetched, they simply took you right out of the story completely. When complicated scenarios are handled in this manner, it reveals an inability to create a more complete and well formed solution.
I would be ambivalent about recommending this to others, but I don’t want to say “steer clear” either as there were some genuine flashes of really excellent writing and storytelling in there. If you pick it up, just know what you are getting into before you do.
January 9, 2008
I've read and reread this book a thousand times over. I get lost in the sorrow I feel for this family. Everytime I read this story I feel differently about the choices this family makes. I don't have children so it is hard to imagine the heart break of having one kidnapped. I think it is impossible to not get attached to these characters.
January 1, 2012
This book was just ok. The plot-line was interesting but, honestly, the only character I liked was Reese/Vincent. Sam/Ben I liked, as well, but, since we did not really get to know him too well, this was a minor interest for me. I actually had a fondness for Reese. That poor kid! Anyone interested in psychology might find Reese and his struggles fascinating. And I strongly disliked Beth. For the main character that we followed in the book, that is not a good thing.
I also felt the book was a tad long. While I get the approach of dwelling on things like Beth was (really in her mindset), it was too much for me many times. . .and, again, led to me not liking Beth. I wanted her to pull herself together and/or get help. I got excited about mid-book and then started checking out again.
Overall, the Reese and Sam relationship was the most intriguing to me and I felt that the story/plot could have been told in a way that allowed me to connect better.
I also felt the book was a tad long. While I get the approach of dwelling on things like Beth was (really in her mindset), it was too much for me many times. . .and, again, led to me not liking Beth. I wanted her to pull herself together and/or get help. I got excited about mid-book and then started checking out again.
Overall, the Reese and Sam relationship was the most intriguing to me and I felt that the story/plot could have been told in a way that allowed me to connect better.
January 2, 2015
The story of a family in the wake of a tragedy. When Ben, a three year old boy, disappears in a crowded hotel lobby, his family begins to slowly come apart. Nine years later, the boy is miraculously found and restored to the family, safe and unhurt. Unfortunately, it is not the happy homecoming everyone wanted. Ben does not remember his birth family. To him, the Cappadoras are rank strangers he is forced to live with while the father who raised him lives right down the street. The pain of all concerned is palpable as the family struggles to come to terms with guilt, anger, loss, and who "family" actually is.
This story puts me in mind of King Solomon and the two women fighting over the baby. Will the "real"parents please stand up. What and who is "family?" The only parallel I can think of in real life are the cases where a child is given up for adoption and years later the birth parents decide they want the child back. I can't imagine a more selfish decision than to rip a child away from the only family they have ever known and force it to live with complete strangers.
The author did a pretty fair job of getting into the heads of the Cappadora's as they slowly unravel as a family.
This story puts me in mind of King Solomon and the two women fighting over the baby. Will the "real"parents please stand up. What and who is "family?" The only parallel I can think of in real life are the cases where a child is given up for adoption and years later the birth parents decide they want the child back. I can't imagine a more selfish decision than to rip a child away from the only family they have ever known and force it to live with complete strangers.
The author did a pretty fair job of getting into the heads of the Cappadora's as they slowly unravel as a family.
June 28, 2010
Paperback: 464 pages
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (October 1, 1999)
Language: English
My Rating - 5
This book for me was beautiful and scary. Imagine losing your child..the horror of it! It can ruin happy families apart, it can ruin marriages..This is what the book is about ,how the disappearance of a child completely changes the family dynamics and the lasting psychological impact of it.This one is quite a tearjerker. I myself wept quite a bit while reading it. However I have to say I found myself disliking the mother quite a bit especially her selfishness and the way she ignored the other son.However I do realize it her behavior was understandable in the situation.
This is a story about how a happy "normal" family can be completely destroyed..how happiness hangs on such a delicate thread, read to break anytime.
Overall
Haunting, hard-hitting and a heartbreaking novel
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (October 1, 1999)
Language: English
My Rating - 5
This book for me was beautiful and scary. Imagine losing your child..the horror of it! It can ruin happy families apart, it can ruin marriages..This is what the book is about ,how the disappearance of a child completely changes the family dynamics and the lasting psychological impact of it.This one is quite a tearjerker. I myself wept quite a bit while reading it. However I have to say I found myself disliking the mother quite a bit especially her selfishness and the way she ignored the other son.However I do realize it her behavior was understandable in the situation.
This is a story about how a happy "normal" family can be completely destroyed..how happiness hangs on such a delicate thread, read to break anytime.
Overall
Haunting, hard-hitting and a heartbreaking novel
April 5, 2009
Oprah's Book Club: A mother's 3 year old son was kidnapped while her back was turned checking into a hotel. I related most with the brother that didn't watch his brother like the mother asked. This was the subplot that held the book together. The mother recognizes her lost son 9 years later mowing lawns. He was innocent in the whole thing and it was sad for him to have two families and to feel torn between having to choose between them.
February 23, 2013
I saw the movie, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, years ago and always had in the back of my mind that I'd like to read the book. I'm glad I did. Jacquelyn Mitchard did a masterful job writing this book. The characters are rich, complex and fully developed. The plot has plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. And not everything gets explained or tied up in a neat bow - much like life.
The first two sections of the story are told from a single point of view and the rest of the book alternates between Beth's (the mother) and her son Vincent's point of view. That in itself was clever and made the story feel more complete and complex.
The characters aren't likeable all the time - just like real people. But I found myself wanting them to find healing and to connect with one another in a healthy way. I felt sad when that didn't happen and relieved when it did.
I recommend this to anyone who wants a story that is challenging and thought provoking. I don't think of it as a beach read - kind of mindlessly entertaining. It engaged much more of my brain and emotions.
The first two sections of the story are told from a single point of view and the rest of the book alternates between Beth's (the mother) and her son Vincent's point of view. That in itself was clever and made the story feel more complete and complex.
The characters aren't likeable all the time - just like real people. But I found myself wanting them to find healing and to connect with one another in a healthy way. I felt sad when that didn't happen and relieved when it did.
I recommend this to anyone who wants a story that is challenging and thought provoking. I don't think of it as a beach read - kind of mindlessly entertaining. It engaged much more of my brain and emotions.
February 12, 2017
I'm traumatized. Child gets kidnapped. Family completely falls apart & remaining kids are neglected. Everyone is messed up and struggling to live day by day. Fast forward a bunch of years. Older kidnapped kid is found & taken from his not-really family. He doesn't fit in with his real family and everyone is tragically messed up. They work a few things out, but everyone is emotionally scarred and yes, messed up for life.
What the heck? Oprah likes her book club to be super duper sad. All the time.
What the heck? Oprah likes her book club to be super duper sad. All the time.
May 19, 2008
This book is about a kidnapping. It is told from the mother's point of view and the kidnapped child's brother. The characters really weren't that developed (and for me to notice that is saying something). The plot was predictable and I didn't even like the parents in the story, so I wasn't rooting for them. I only finished the book because I was hoping that something great would happen. It didn't.
May 29, 2023
I read this many years ago and didn't realize I'd never included it in my "read" list. I liked it quite a lot but began to develop whiplash from the plot twists and turns. I've actually heard of a story similar to this one - at least in its development - so it's not as far-fetched and impossibly miraculous or solomonic as it might seem. One of the Oprah books that I actually liked - that it in itself could be considered miraculous!
July 8, 2013
THE DEEP END of the OCEAN by Jacquelyn Mitchard
I decided to read this book because it was recommended by my mum as i didn't know what to read for my book reports.
The category i chose for this book is 'A book with a female main character'. This was interesting because the female main character was the mother of Ben the boy who went missing in this book and it showed us the pain she had for losing her son and how her family got torn apart.
My favourite quote from the book is "Where's Ben" because it was the quote that really started off the book for me and it made you want to read on to find out where Ben is and what has happened to him.
Something new i learned from this book is to always be aware of your family and don't ignore them because one day it could be the last time you ever see them again.
A character i found interesting in this book was Beth Cappadora who is also the female main character in this book.I found her interesting because since Ben was lost ( kidnapped ) Beth became a totally different person. She hardly did anything at all she just sat on the couch or sat in her room without saying a word and she completely ignored her other two kids. I find this interesting because you would think now that she has lost one kid she would hold her other two kids tightly and always make sure they are okay but she didn't.
I decided to read this book because it was recommended by my mum as i didn't know what to read for my book reports.
The category i chose for this book is 'A book with a female main character'. This was interesting because the female main character was the mother of Ben the boy who went missing in this book and it showed us the pain she had for losing her son and how her family got torn apart.
My favourite quote from the book is "Where's Ben" because it was the quote that really started off the book for me and it made you want to read on to find out where Ben is and what has happened to him.
Something new i learned from this book is to always be aware of your family and don't ignore them because one day it could be the last time you ever see them again.
A character i found interesting in this book was Beth Cappadora who is also the female main character in this book.I found her interesting because since Ben was lost ( kidnapped ) Beth became a totally different person. She hardly did anything at all she just sat on the couch or sat in her room without saying a word and she completely ignored her other two kids. I find this interesting because you would think now that she has lost one kid she would hold her other two kids tightly and always make sure they are okay but she didn't.
April 3, 2022
This was a heartbreaking story of a lost 3 year old boy. His mother who already treated his older brother badly, literally fell apart after Ben was kidnapped. So the novel expounds ad nauseam on all the particulars of how the FBI and the cops searched for the child, for many years. The end was a little bit settled but not really.
April 19, 2022
Mình mua sách dựa theo cảm tính nhiều. Cũng như lúc nghe nhạc vậy. Mỗi thời điểm lại thích một bài khác nhau, (mà nhiều lúc không biết là mình thích gì :)) )khó tính đến múc cứ dò dò ở cái playlist mãi để tìm một bài để gán cho nó là "Song of the day", thiếu nước nhái các bạn post lên instagram với hashtag #ootd thôi.
Truyện này lúc nhìn thấy ở kệ sách tầng 2 phố Đinh Lễ, mình đã gục ngay rồi. Lần này thì em phải thuộc về chị nha. Cuối cùng thì được bạn mua tặng. (Hai quyển sách mở hàng đầu năm 2016 là hai quyển được tặng. Và là hai quyển mình ưng.)
Trước hết phải nói đến cái review của Tạp chí US, in ngay bìa của truyện: "Hãy hít thật sâu trước khi đọc nhé...Câu chuyện lôi cuốn này không cho bạn rời ra lúc nào để thở đâu." Tuổi trên giấy khai sinh còn trẻ nhưng với cái tâm hồn già khú để như những bà già từng trải với cái sự lừa lọc ở đời (=)) ), đọc xong lời này mình cười (khẩy), marketing lộ liễu quá pa.
Ai dè nó đúng. Cầm lên đọc một lèo từ 10h tối tới 7h sáng mà không bỏ xuống được. Thành tâm mà nói, câu chuyện thực sự không quá xuất sắc, cũng không có nhiều phần hồi hộp, ấy vậy mà nó lại cuốn hút. Như anh chàng Jung Hwan trong Reply 1988 ấy, chả có gì đặc sắc, nổi trội ấy thế mà các chị em gái cứ đổ đứ đừ.
Đọc truyện, mình cảm thông với Beth. Có người bảo con người Beth kì quá, lãnh cảm quá, xa lạ quá, làm họ không kết nối được. Cái đau đớn mất con họ muốn được "đọc thấy" cơ. Họ phải đọc được cô khóc lóc, quằn quại rồi như điên như dại tìm con như thế nào ý. Sao lại đòi hỏi đau đớn phải khải dập khuôn như vậy? Cô đau theo cách của cô mà. Đau lắm, đến nỗi tiềm thức cô tách biệt khỏi cái thế giới hiện tại mà cô đang sống, vô hồn chống chọi với cái vết thương vẫn khiến cô đau nhói qua từng giây, từng phút kể từ khi bé Ben mất tích. Cô tự trách mình như tội đồ lớn nhất của sự đau thương này. Mười phút thôi, hay năm phút? Thời gian ngắn ấy có thể cứu rỗi cả gia đình họ khỏi khoảng thời gian địa ngục chín năm ấy. Nhưng thời gian đâu có quay trở lại. Sự day dứt đau thương ấy là song sắt kiên cố nhốt cô ở lại trong "căn phòng tối", ở một cái thế giới không hề có hiện tại, không hề có gia đình mà cô yêu thương với những đứa trẻ mà cô vẫn luôn tự hào kheo với mọi người rằng cô với Pat "tạo ra chúng từ những thứ" họ có thôi ấy.
Ben trở về, sau chín năm dài đằng đẵng, bằng một sự tình cờ kì diệu. Nhưng em không còn là Ben nữa rồi. Em đã trở thành Sam còn Vincent đã trở thành Reese. Mẹ Beth thì về với hiện tại. Mặc cho thế giới tung hô, hoan hỉ trước cái sự trở về của em, thế giới của Ben và gia đình Cappadora có đầy những cảm xúc lẫn lộn mà bản thân mình cũng không định hình nổi, chỉ le lói trong lòng một cảm giác tiếc nuối bâng quơ. Cảm giác cái khoảng cách trong gia đình họ sao mà xa vời vợi. Cái mối liên kết giữa họ sao mà mong manh đến đau lòng. Chín năm mà, chín năm thật dài đã khiến cho mọi thứ thay đổi thật bi ai.
Trong cái hiện thực đó, Vincent đã trở thành điểm sáng mà mình thích nhất ở trong truyện. Em thông minh, hiểu chuyện, yêu gia đình, nhưng em luôn mặc cảm tội lỗi khi để lạc mất Ben, để rồi nổi loạn và tách biệt khỏi những người mà em yêu thương. Ben trở về khiến cho Vincent lại một lần nữa trở lại là Vincent (mình thực sự không thích họ chú thích chap cuối là Reese, phải là Vincent chứ?). Em lại một lần nữa trở thành một người anh tuyệt vời, là một người anh đáng tin cậy mà Ben biết rằng em "sẽ đến và tìm" nó, "ở nơi sâu thẳm trong tâm hồn ���y". Dù cho có là lúc hai đứa còn bé tí khi Ben trốn trong cái rương tủ hay khi là lúc em bỏ trốn về nhà bố George, Vincent vẫn đến và tìm được em, dẫn em-là chính Ben- trở về. Cái kết để mở với một Vincent trầm tư, lặng lẽ ở chỗ trường kỷ, chờ đợi buổi bình minh tới viết nên trang truyện mới cho cuộc đời gia đình Cappadora. Em đã trưởng thành lên nhiều hơn hẳn cái tuổi 16 của mình. Tương lai, chắc chắn em sẽ trở thành một người tốt, một người tuyệt vời.
**Có lẽ truyện này sẽ được năm sao nếu như Vincent có được cái kết trọn vẹn hơn, khi biết rằng mình cũng được mẹ yêu thương và là một phần quan trọng không thể thiếu của gia đình.
Truyện này lúc nhìn thấy ở kệ sách tầng 2 phố Đinh Lễ, mình đã gục ngay rồi. Lần này thì em phải thuộc về chị nha. Cuối cùng thì được bạn mua tặng. (Hai quyển sách mở hàng đầu năm 2016 là hai quyển được tặng. Và là hai quyển mình ưng.)
Trước hết phải nói đến cái review của Tạp chí US, in ngay bìa của truyện: "Hãy hít thật sâu trước khi đọc nhé...Câu chuyện lôi cuốn này không cho bạn rời ra lúc nào để thở đâu." Tuổi trên giấy khai sinh còn trẻ nhưng với cái tâm hồn già khú để như những bà già từng trải với cái sự lừa lọc ở đời (=)) ), đọc xong lời này mình cười (khẩy), marketing lộ liễu quá pa.
Ai dè nó đúng. Cầm lên đọc một lèo từ 10h tối tới 7h sáng mà không bỏ xuống được. Thành tâm mà nói, câu chuyện thực sự không quá xuất sắc, cũng không có nhiều phần hồi hộp, ấy vậy mà nó lại cuốn hút. Như anh chàng Jung Hwan trong Reply 1988 ấy, chả có gì đặc sắc, nổi trội ấy thế mà các chị em gái cứ đổ đứ đừ.
Đọc truyện, mình cảm thông với Beth. Có người bảo con người Beth kì quá, lãnh cảm quá, xa lạ quá, làm họ không kết nối được. Cái đau đớn mất con họ muốn được "đọc thấy" cơ. Họ phải đọc được cô khóc lóc, quằn quại rồi như điên như dại tìm con như thế nào ý. Sao lại đòi hỏi đau đớn phải khải dập khuôn như vậy? Cô đau theo cách của cô mà. Đau lắm, đến nỗi tiềm thức cô tách biệt khỏi cái thế giới hiện tại mà cô đang sống, vô hồn chống chọi với cái vết thương vẫn khiến cô đau nhói qua từng giây, từng phút kể từ khi bé Ben mất tích. Cô tự trách mình như tội đồ lớn nhất của sự đau thương này. Mười phút thôi, hay năm phút? Thời gian ngắn ấy có thể cứu rỗi cả gia đình họ khỏi khoảng thời gian địa ngục chín năm ấy. Nhưng thời gian đâu có quay trở lại. Sự day dứt đau thương ấy là song sắt kiên cố nhốt cô ở lại trong "căn phòng tối", ở một cái thế giới không hề có hiện tại, không hề có gia đình mà cô yêu thương với những đứa trẻ mà cô vẫn luôn tự hào kheo với mọi người rằng cô với Pat "tạo ra chúng từ những thứ" họ có thôi ấy.
Ben trở về, sau chín năm dài đằng đẵng, bằng một sự tình cờ kì diệu. Nhưng em không còn là Ben nữa rồi. Em đã trở thành Sam còn Vincent đã trở thành Reese. Mẹ Beth thì về với hiện tại. Mặc cho thế giới tung hô, hoan hỉ trước cái sự trở về của em, thế giới của Ben và gia đình Cappadora có đầy những cảm xúc lẫn lộn mà bản thân mình cũng không định hình nổi, chỉ le lói trong lòng một cảm giác tiếc nuối bâng quơ. Cảm giác cái khoảng cách trong gia đình họ sao mà xa vời vợi. Cái mối liên kết giữa họ sao mà mong manh đến đau lòng. Chín năm mà, chín năm thật dài đã khiến cho mọi thứ thay đổi thật bi ai.
Trong cái hiện thực đó, Vincent đã trở thành điểm sáng mà mình thích nhất ở trong truyện. Em thông minh, hiểu chuyện, yêu gia đình, nhưng em luôn mặc cảm tội lỗi khi để lạc mất Ben, để rồi nổi loạn và tách biệt khỏi những người mà em yêu thương. Ben trở về khiến cho Vincent lại một lần nữa trở lại là Vincent (mình thực sự không thích họ chú thích chap cuối là Reese, phải là Vincent chứ?). Em lại một lần nữa trở thành một người anh tuyệt vời, là một người anh đáng tin cậy mà Ben biết rằng em "sẽ đến và tìm" nó, "ở nơi sâu thẳm trong tâm hồn ���y". Dù cho có là lúc hai đứa còn bé tí khi Ben trốn trong cái rương tủ hay khi là lúc em bỏ trốn về nhà bố George, Vincent vẫn đến và tìm được em, dẫn em-là chính Ben- trở về. Cái kết để mở với một Vincent trầm tư, lặng lẽ ở chỗ trường kỷ, chờ đợi buổi bình minh tới viết nên trang truyện mới cho cuộc đời gia đình Cappadora. Em đã trưởng thành lên nhiều hơn hẳn cái tuổi 16 của mình. Tương lai, chắc chắn em sẽ trở thành một người tốt, một người tuyệt vời.
**Có lẽ truyện này sẽ được năm sao nếu như Vincent có được cái kết trọn vẹn hơn, khi biết rằng mình cũng được mẹ yêu thương và là một phần quan trọng không thể thiếu của gia đình.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2013
As the mother of small children, I didn't think I would have the stomach for the subject matter. But Mitchard is so good at slowly doling out the tidbits of info and clues, that I was compelled to keep going. As the product of an Italian-Irish union I found the extended families entirely relatable, and I thought the character of Candy was especially great. There were times when i didn't really understand Beth's behavior. If one of my kids went missing I think I would be personally turning over every rock...at least in the beginning. I couldn't understand why Beth was not running throughout the hotel screaming Ben's name and running around the nearby streets, instead of slumping into a ball in the lobby. I was also a little disappointed that all the loose ends were not exactly tied up at the end with regard to the central mystery (what exactly transpired with Ben in the hotel lobby before he disappeared, why the return of the second shoe?) Regardless, I found myself sobbing at the end, and not for the reasons I expected. I was especially moved by the sibling relationship and reminded of how intense and important it is.
February 13, 2016
This book was like solving a 50 piece jigsaw puzzle, gathering all the pieces together. It was really hard to wrap my head around all the characters and the central story. However to my surprise, I really enjoyed the novel, it was provocative about a mother losing her absent minded son. Vincent her older son left a memorable impression on me as well, although he was ignored by Beth (his mother) who was only concerned about Ben and his whereabouts. Three three characters saved this book average rating, so that is always a good thing.
I felt that there were so many things happening at once,but the characters were developed. Maybe not entirely but enough for me to determine whether they contributed the story or not.The writing style was good, not exceptional but it was easy reading. I will admit that I skimmed a lot of irrelevant details but again the central characters stuck out to me.
The ending was a huge letdown but that is probably my own fault judging by the pages I skipped.
Nevertheless, it was a good novel but I can't really recommend if cause I did not really understand what direction the book was going in.
I felt that there were so many things happening at once,but the characters were developed. Maybe not entirely but enough for me to determine whether they contributed the story or not.The writing style was good, not exceptional but it was easy reading. I will admit that I skimmed a lot of irrelevant details but again the central characters stuck out to me.
The ending was a huge letdown but that is probably my own fault judging by the pages I skipped.
Nevertheless, it was a good novel but I can't really recommend if cause I did not really understand what direction the book was going in.
April 19, 2019
Held my attention. I had seen the movie before reading this. A bit soap opera like and I knew where the story was going to go but well written and still an enjoyable read.
I would suggest if you are going to read this maybe start with the book before seeing the movie so you are going in knowing as little as possible. I kind of wish I had done that though I still enjoyed this.
I will say when I first saw the movie I did not even know it was based on a book. I found this book by chance and that is what clued me in. I think the book is better then the movie.
3.5 stars.
I would suggest if you are going to read this maybe start with the book before seeing the movie so you are going in knowing as little as possible. I kind of wish I had done that though I still enjoyed this.
I will say when I first saw the movie I did not even know it was based on a book. I found this book by chance and that is what clued me in. I think the book is better then the movie.
3.5 stars.
January 12, 2017
Its beautifully written and the characters are mostly believable, but its not a happy story. As a parent, I found it a disturbing story to read. But it explores the way child abduction can affect an entire family in a thorough and thoughtful way.
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