Going to Bend

by Diane Hammond

In the small coastal town of Hubbard, Oregon, your man may let you down, your boss may let you down, life may let you down . . . but your best friend never will.

Welcome to Hubbard, where Petie Coolbaugh and Rose Bundy have been best friends since childhood. Now in their early thirties, both are grappling to come to terms with their age and station in life. As they struggle to make ends meet and provide for their children and the good-hearted but unreliable men in their lives, they take jobs cooking for a brand-new upscale restaurant, Souperior's Cafe, starting from scratch every morning to produce gallons of fresh soup from local recipes. The proprietors of the cafe, Nadine and Gordon, are fraternal twins from Los Angeles with adjustments of their own to make, but Rose’s warmth and the quality of the women’s soups quickly make them indispensable despite Petie’s abrupt manner and prickly ways.

The strains of daily life are never far, however, and the past takes its toll on the women. Petie’s childhood as the daughter of the town drunk--a subject she won't talk about--keeps her at a distance from even her best friend, until an unexpected romance threatens to crack her tough exterior. And despite Rose's loving personality, the only man in her life is a loner fisherman who spends only a few months of the year in town.

In this fishing village, friends are for life and love comes in the most unexpected ways. As the novel draws together lovers, husbands, employers, friends, and family, each woman finds possibilities for love and even grace that she had never imagined.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Womens Fiction, Book Club

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

For forty-plus years I have tried to describe to other writers and non-writers alike the magic of writing. The way it can make things happen I never intended to make happen; the way it creates images in readers' heads that I can plant there with nothing but words; the way it helps sort me out when I didn't understand myself by thinking, alone.

I feel privileged to be a writer, and much more so to have my work read. I am grateful to every person who chooses to spend time with my words, and to conjure my visions as their own. It is an honor I will never take for granted, or view as less than an incredible act of magic.

Reviews

[RNOCEAN · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the small coastal town of Hubbard, Oregon, your man may let you down, your boss may let you down, life may let you down . . . but your best friend never will.
Welcome to Hubbard, where Petie Coolbaugh and Rose Bundy have been best friends since childhood. Now in their early thirties, both are grappling to come to terms with their age and station in life. As they struggle to make ends meet and provide for their children and the good-hearted but unreliable men in their lives, they take jobs cooking for a brand-new upscale restaurant, Souperior's Cafe, starting from scratch every morning to produce gallons of fresh soup from local recipes. The proprietors of the cafe, Nadine and Gordon, are fraternal twins from Los Angeles with adjustments of their own to make, but Rose's warmth and the quality of the women's soups quickly make them indispensable despite Petie's abrupt manner and prickly ways.The strains of daily life are never far, however, and the past takes its toll on the women. Petie's childhood as the daughter of the town drunk--a subject she won't talk about--keeps her at a distance from even her best friend, until an unexpected romance threatens to crack her tough exterior. And despite Rose's loving personality, the only man in her life is a loner fisherman who spends only a few months of the year in town. In this fishing village, friends are for life and love comes in the most unexpected ways. As the novel draws together lovers, husbands, employers, friends, and family, each woman finds possibilities for love and even grace that she had never imagined.

First book by an author that I hope to read again. I would compare her style of writing to that of Kent Haruf. Rate this 4.5 out of 5.

[Tory · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that it was the simplicity of this book that grabbed me. Not the characters, or their stories, because they weren’t simple. But the style that it was written in. It was very good and had a lot of rather unexpected meaningful commentary. The characters, and their stories, in a tiny nothing town in Oregon, were substantial.

On the book it says, “Advanced Reading Copy. Not for sale.” I think I must have gotten it at a garage sale. It is an uncorrected proof copy. I found all kinds of grammatical errors and it made me think that I would be a perfect candidate for that job. They should send me unedited proofs of new books to read!

[Jenny Hawley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked Diane Hammond's books "Hannah's Dream" and "Friday's Harbour". They were interesting and unique and kept me engaged the whole time. This book was not like either of them. It wasn't bad but it wasn't good either. If you find your life is just too happy and you need to bring yourself down, then definitely start this book

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is the sweetest book! It's about two childhood friends who have grown up in a small town in Oregon, and how the baggage that accumultes as a child in turn changes their lives as adults. It's a good strong story with interesting turns, not the typical woman-friend story.

[Tiffany Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read in a long while. Highly recommend it!

[Stacey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave it a try but just couldn't get into it. After reading some other reviews I decided that I have more than I want to read than trying to get involved in this story. Not for me.

[dana brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

AUDIO BOOK. Starts out as a female "journey to empowerment" story then takes a sharp turn toward hopeless. The women are childlike, cute and occasionally clever but clueless victims every time. The men are cheaters, predators, drinkers, deserters. But gosh, how do you resist a bad man? The only decent men are a gay man dying of aids and an old guy who tells his wife when he sees her, he sees the face of God. And the women.....one clueless distressed , damaged damsel after another. Never again.

[CMG (Mac) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d recommend as this is my kind of book. Charming comes to mind. Or delightful. I enjoyed the characters. Small beach town in Oregon opens a soup restaurant owned by newcomers from LA and supplied by two local ladies who have been lifetime friends. The locals live very basically and many have come from extreme poverty. Some soap opera type shenanigans, some EXTREME brutal abuse, some humor, some tear jerking moments and definitely some feel good moments.

[Kendra Chubbuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading for fun. Lots of sadness in this book. People were dirt-ass poor and really didn't treat their families very well specifically Old Man regarding his wife and daughter. I adored Rose and Petie. I also liked Gordon and Nadine. They were really nice people. Eddie was not so nice. I liked the title of this book. Going to bend and change was finally going to happen for the better - Petie was going to finally have a better life and I was hoping for Rose too.

[Bethel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about 2 women, friends and life in a fictional town on the Oregon coast. i liked the way the story undolded with the ups and downs of these women trying to make a living and the love of their family. I thought the ending was super good!

[Karen Wilczopolski · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a bit to get into this book, but the author built the characters well, it became hard to stop at the end of a chapter.

[Kelly McCloskey-Romero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good-hearted, with multidimensional female characters, but ultimately kind of hokey.

[Carrieuoregon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ended up really enjoying this, despite a lot of skepticism.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite 4 stars but definitely more than 3.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ended up really liking the end of the book but it was really hard to get into and the characters were difficult to like. I read it because it’s an Oregon author but it was not my favorite.

[Christina]

DNF

When I'm 20 pages in and still struggling to keep who's who straight, it becomes a chore. Too many other books in which to be absorbed

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Petie Coolbaugh and Rose Bundy were best friends during grade school. They are 31 years old now and still the best of friends. They are clearly different poeple in every way. Rose is kind, loving, patient and eager to help and please people. Petie is prickly, has no patience and has many past hurts and that have drawn her into herself making her somewhat unlikeabe to others. Once you read her story you find out why. The novel is about these two ladies and the people (for good or bad) who influence their lives.

The novel takes place in the town of Hammond, Oregon. Rose and Petie are just trying to get by, living their lives without too much suffering and poverty and we get to see their small triumphs, moments of survival, and in the end you see the power of friendship and healing.

Author Diane Hammond brings all her characters to life to the point that you feel you are in the story with them. Her writing style is somewhat like that of Fanny Flagg... with one big difference. Diane used profanity all through her novel to the point that I will probably not read another of her books. I got so tired of the F word that I almost put it down but the story was so compelling that I did finish it. None of the characters were without flaws, and most had very big flaws. You learn what down and out means, what living without happiness (ever) means, what good friends can do for you and just what a treasure a good family is. I cried a little knowing that there really are people out there suffering trials just like the characters in "Going to Bend". If you are not offended by swearing of all kinds, you will probably really enjoy this novel. I think I will stick to Fannie Flagg novels.

[Jill Bratcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a Random House Publishing independent bookstore rep who gives a talk a couple of times a year at a fundraiser for the adult literacy program through which I tutor. He talks about/ recommends about a dozen books each time, and a bookstore has the books available to purchase. I bought this book at one of those. I can't remember exactly what he said because it has been on to "to be read" shelf a while.

Every book - almost every one - sounds good as he's describing them. Guess he's just that good at his job.

Well, I admit that, as a Christian, I don't appreciate a lot of foul language in my books, nor do I read a lot of stuff with adultery - even the discussion of the possibility - nor books with a homosexuality theme.

That said, there were times I genuinely laughed out loud at something a character said or thought. I wanted to know how things turned out for Petie, Rose and their friends and family. Hammond has an engaging writing style that, even with coarse speech of the characters, drew me in.

I wouldn't recommend the book to the faint of heart, to readers who can't handle that some people are just broken and/or mean and/or doing the best they know how in a life made almost unbearable by the mean and broken. I disagreed with some things the characters - especially the ones identified as Christian or church-going - said.

But I stuck with the book and gave it a fair read. And if you're of a mind to do the same, I believe I can say it wouldn't be a waste of time.

That said

[Andrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really excited about finally being able to read this since it's been on my TBR list for so long. I love the Oregon coast and anything associated with it. But this book started out confusing and went downhill from there.

From the very first page I felt like I had missed the point of the story which was the soup restaurant opening in Hubbard. When the book begins, the restaurant has already opened. I expected this to happen at least 1/3 of the way through after being introduced to the main characters, not in the first chapter.

And speaking about characters, 12 pages into this before I got so confused by so many characters being thrown at me at once without explanation.

The swearing began about eight pages in and that is what made me take it back to the library. It's too bad because I had high hopes for this one.

[Rhonda Rae Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was an interesting story set in a fictional Oregon coast town, I was hopeing for more "Going to Bend." I enjoyed the characters and the realistic situations they found themselves in. Sometimes it made me laugh out loud and other times I was nervous about what they were going to do. The title didn't fit for me and was the reason I bought the book so I guess it was disappointing even though the writing was really good. I am considering this author's novel following the same town. It has new characters in it and may be pretty good because the town of Hubbard definately grew on me.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't what I'd call a feel-good book, unless perhaps you feel good that you don't live there and you aren't them!
This is about a small fictitious town on the Oregon Coast, the main characters Rose and Petie, their families and lives. To be blunt, their lives pretty much suck. Deadbeat husbands, abuse, lousy weather, living hand to mouth.
I did enjoy the book though, I pretty much read it in one day.
Definitely not a cheerful book, by the end though, things are starting to improve for them.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't start off in love with the characters, it took me a little bit to warm up to them but once I did I found I could really did find myself wanting to know what happened next to them.

The town was interesting enough but really it was a the characters that kept me involved in the book.

Rose and Petie were flawed and lovable and very human people. Their lives, kids, friends, and loves were all very real and left me glad I had met them.

Not always a warm and fuzzy story but very uplifting and a very good take on female friendships.

[Brook · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a slice of life. There were no one great event or accomplishment. We as the reader got a peak into the characters lives. While their lives may be more interesting than the average person's, I think I need a little more purpose to the characters I read about. Don't get me wrong, this book was well written but it just wasn't enough for me. If you want to read something really good by this author, read "Hannah's Dream".

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A predictable read of downtrodden characters in an Oregon coastal town trying to eek out a living. The pot of gold at the end of their rainbow is having a successful restaurant and the loves of their lives work out the way you want them. The characters will all have a grand reunion in Bend, Oregon, where hopefully their lives will improve.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took this book a little while to stick on me, but I really liked it in the end. WARNING: Not a pleasant, light-hearted read. There are some very disturbing episodes, nothing too graphic, but still hard to get through.

I really liked Dawn's review of this book.

[Liesel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fair. It started out very intriguing and I felt like I couldn't put it down but by the time I got about half way through, I lost interest. The story kind of wobbled and didn't give enough detail to keep momentum. The ending seemed like a spur of the moment wrap up rather than a well thought out culmination of the entire plot.

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book about two childhood friends growing up in close to poverty and hard times. Strong women who put their skills together to help a new restaurant owner in town.
Do not like that the author blames alot on God as if He didn't care and all their bad luck was because He didn't care.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Linda lent me this while I was in Oregon. Life lesson: "It's not a sin to be unhappy. It may be a sin to stay unhappy." The story captures life in a small Oregon coastal town. Seemingly small triumphs really are miracles. A feel good book.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked "Hannah's Dream" so thought I try another by the same author. One of the things I most liked about "Going to Bend" is that I got a little more insight into the fact that our experiences have such an impact on how we react to, and interact with, the world.

[Kris Wood · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did "Hannah's Dream". It wasn't bad, I just kept reading to find out what happened to the characters, not because I was enthralled or couldn't put it down. It just didn't "hook" me.