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Between Here and April
When a deep-rooted memory suddenly surfaces, Elizabeth Burns becomes obsessed with the long-ago disappearance of her childhood friend April Cassidy. Driven to investigate, Elizabeth discovers a thirty-five-year-old newspaper article revealing the details that had been hidden from her as a April's mother, Adele, drove with her two young daughters deep into the woods where she killed first them and then herself.
Elizabeth, now a mother herself, tracks down everyone--Adele Cassidy's neighbor, her psychiatrist, her sister--who might give her the insight necessary to understand how a mother could commit such a monstrous crime.
Elizabeth's investigation leads her back to her compromised marriage, her demanding children, her increasing self-doubt, her desire for more out of her own life, and finally to a fearsome reckoning with what it means to be a mother and wife.
Elizabeth, now a mother herself, tracks down everyone--Adele Cassidy's neighbor, her psychiatrist, her sister--who might give her the insight necessary to understand how a mother could commit such a monstrous crime.
Elizabeth's investigation leads her back to her compromised marriage, her demanding children, her increasing self-doubt, her desire for more out of her own life, and finally to a fearsome reckoning with what it means to be a mother and wife.
277 pages, Unknown Binding
First published October 7, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 306 reviews
December 8, 2008
About halfway through, I realized I was really reading for plot more than anything. I really really disliked the main character, even more so as various revelations came out. She was passive and doing so many damaging things to herself, and not confronting her own truths. There were too many threads going on here, and not enough focus. We also learn that all men are evil workaholics with nasty tempers, and all women are depressive, neurotic and unappreciated. (Um, NO. You clearly need to get out more and meet some new people.) And it was a pretty unsatisfying ending too (so reading for plot didn't really pay off, I guess). Some interesting stuff, I guess, but overall I'd say skip it.
September 28, 2008
Well-written and structurally sound, Between Here and April unfolds gradually, like a flower opening or like peeling an onion.
Motherhood is a very difficult thing, and as the book notes, we learn parenting from our own parents -- even though they and their parenting may well have been flawed and damaged. So the bad gets passed on along with the good . . . be it postpartum depression, lack of coping skills, garden-variety depression, marital tensions, or all of the above.
Intense and shocking, yet uplifting, this book examines many of the aspects of parenthood that Just Aren't Talked About, and while it does so with delicacy and compassion, it does not avoid asking the hard questions. Ultimately about redemption, it is not an easy road to get there.
A small complaint: The ending was good, but completely skipping over whatever resolution there must have been to several key plot points (such as specifics about their marital issues) was a mistake, in my opinion. They were clearly significant and seemed to be close to insoluble -- so what happened?
Motherhood is a very difficult thing, and as the book notes, we learn parenting from our own parents -- even though they and their parenting may well have been flawed and damaged. So the bad gets passed on along with the good . . . be it postpartum depression, lack of coping skills, garden-variety depression, marital tensions, or all of the above.
Intense and shocking, yet uplifting, this book examines many of the aspects of parenthood that Just Aren't Talked About, and while it does so with delicacy and compassion, it does not avoid asking the hard questions. Ultimately about redemption, it is not an easy road to get there.
A small complaint: The ending was good, but completely skipping over whatever resolution there must have been to several key plot points (such as specifics about their marital issues) was a mistake, in my opinion. They were clearly significant and seemed to be close to insoluble -- so what happened?
June 25, 2017
This was good but sad. Felt bad that Adele never got the help she desperately needed.
December 8, 2008
The plot was an interesting idea, and the way the main character eventually dealt with April's mystery was unexpected. But there were too many and mostly 2-dimensional characters. And worst of all, the resolution of the main character's life was shocking and appalling. Basically, the moral of her story seems to be "settle for what you've got, even if it's an inattentive, irresponsible husband with an addiction to work and porn who expects you to live out his s-and-m fantasies even though they bring back terrible flashbacks of a gang rape." I don't think this character would have dealt with her marriage this way. I'd like to think NO woman in this situation would deal with her marriage this way.
Skip this book.
Skip this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2015
Funny...a number of my friends (who usually enjoy the same books as I) rated this book very low - where I enjoyed it so much - I had a very hard time putting it down. The protagonist, when haunted by a memory of an early childhood friend who disappeared from her life, starts investigating the 35-year old story. From the book jacket, "Elizabeth's exploration thus leads her ultimately back to herself: her compromised marriage, her increasing self-doubt, her desire for more out of her career and her life, and finally to a fearsome reckoning with what it means to be a wife and mother."
This book touches on so many issues - motherhood and stay-at home mothers, marriage, suicide, war, therapy, gender roles - in a very accurate way for many people. I am married (15 years) with 2 children - and could relate to so much of the narrative. The author writes beautifully - and quoted philosophers in such a way that I looked them up to learn more.
A paragraph from a page I earmarked:(reflecting on the things we learn, study and imagine in school) "For all the pledges of allegiance we gave to a pece of cloth, why didn't we ever discuss the implications of pledging allegiance to another person? Marriage is the one institution I know which doesn't require preparation for matriculation. There are no essays asking us to predict the number of children we will have, if any, and who will take them to the hospital if they bleed. There are no multiple-choice tests forcing us to envisage how our financial partnership might look, or late-night field trips to love's inner sanctums to witness sexual politics in action. There are no textbooks offering tips to what to do when the baby is sick, the sitter's on vacation, and both spouses are on deadline; no four-page syllabi containing his-and-her primary source material. In fact, the only primary source material we're given comes from the most unreliable of sources possible: our own parents. No wonder half of us flunk out." (p.62)
and in reflecting on reporters (and, I think, on our life...): "We do not report the truth. We report on what we see." - Emerson - "there is no
history, only biography." (p. 174)
Again, I think it's a compelling, thought-provoking read. I would recommend it to many - and am looking forward to reading other books by Kogan.
This book touches on so many issues - motherhood and stay-at home mothers, marriage, suicide, war, therapy, gender roles - in a very accurate way for many people. I am married (15 years) with 2 children - and could relate to so much of the narrative. The author writes beautifully - and quoted philosophers in such a way that I looked them up to learn more.
A paragraph from a page I earmarked:(reflecting on the things we learn, study and imagine in school) "For all the pledges of allegiance we gave to a pece of cloth, why didn't we ever discuss the implications of pledging allegiance to another person? Marriage is the one institution I know which doesn't require preparation for matriculation. There are no essays asking us to predict the number of children we will have, if any, and who will take them to the hospital if they bleed. There are no multiple-choice tests forcing us to envisage how our financial partnership might look, or late-night field trips to love's inner sanctums to witness sexual politics in action. There are no textbooks offering tips to what to do when the baby is sick, the sitter's on vacation, and both spouses are on deadline; no four-page syllabi containing his-and-her primary source material. In fact, the only primary source material we're given comes from the most unreliable of sources possible: our own parents. No wonder half of us flunk out." (p.62)
and in reflecting on reporters (and, I think, on our life...): "We do not report the truth. We report on what we see." - Emerson - "there is no
history, only biography." (p. 174)
Again, I think it's a compelling, thought-provoking read. I would recommend it to many - and am looking forward to reading other books by Kogan.
January 16, 2012
Elizabeth, a journalist and mother, is one evening jolted by the memory of a friend from first grade who one day "disappeared" from school. She embarks on a journey to find out what happened to the girl, April, and is forced to explore issues such as postpartum depression, patriarchal bias, and filicide. As she digs deeper into April's story, parallels to her own life and relationships, with her mother, her daughters and her husband, become clear. The result is a story that is both Elizabeth's, and April's, as well as April's mother, Adele's.
At times, I found this depressing and hopeless, but it is just that emotional depth that elevates the writing from something voyeuristic to empathetic. I found myself meditating on my own relationship with my mother in comparison to April's and Elizabeth's. I would imagine if the reader is also a mother, she might find this book even more poignant. Parts of it made me wonder if it wasn't a true story with identifying characteristics changed to protect the innocent/guilty.
Highly recommended.
At times, I found this depressing and hopeless, but it is just that emotional depth that elevates the writing from something voyeuristic to empathetic. I found myself meditating on my own relationship with my mother in comparison to April's and Elizabeth's. I would imagine if the reader is also a mother, she might find this book even more poignant. Parts of it made me wonder if it wasn't a true story with identifying characteristics changed to protect the innocent/guilty.
Highly recommended.
November 30, 2009
Thought provoking story about a woman in crisis. Her marriage is crumbling, her career is in stuck in limbo, and she is haunted by the death of her childhood friend. As she uncovers the truth behind her friend's death, she discovers that she has a lot more in common with her friend's mother than she would care to admit. A woman who committed a horrific crime: taking the lives of her two children and her own. This story really resonates. As a society, we are so quick to judge people, their lives, and their decisions. However, what if we put ourselves in their shoes? How can we be okay picking apart other people's lives, but not try to help them? The author does a wonderful job making both women sympathetic, but not pathetic. I can totally understand where these women come from and why they made the decisions they did. Life is full of grey areas and full of difficult and heartwrenching decisions. This story will stay with you long after you're done reading it.
July 5, 2012
"People wanted to know the truth. Even if it hurt.",
Regarding this review & my relative understanding of the book, I offer because of the other reviews I have read; 1) I am a male, a happily married (and I certainly believe my wife of 10 years feels the same) father of 2 beautiful girls, 2) my wife had severe postpartum depression after the first of our girls was born, & I knew nothing of the condition until that time 3) I seemed to experience some sort of depression related to the birth of our second daughter which lasted about 2 months (I do not claim to understand postpartum depression because of this experience). I mention each of these because I have seen several reviewers found this book disturbing, unrealistic, too realistic or too depressing (metaphorically speaking), but especially because it would seem to be a book read mostly by women, though I certainly don't recommend this only for women.
I found this book to be an intriguing &, although sad & generally discomforting, all-too-true read. This book covers types of sadness & despression that real people experience every day. It deals with the tedium that can claim the life of parents, especially (in this case) stay-at-home moms; unfortunately, women face workforce bias, lower rates of pay than men in the same positions, judgement if they leave their children with sitters or nannies, or judgement if they stay home with their children.
Life, as this book repeatedly points out, is not fair, nor is it always fun. It is a shame that the book is (from what I have seen in reviews) not so well received because of the apparent harshness of the story.
The story, about a woman who, in experiencing her own depression, relates it to the loss of a childhood friend, who was killed by her mother in a murder-suicide, is both inspiring (wake up & help those around you) & dissappointing (why are fathers so easily villified, generally speaking, when a lot of us are doing our best to carry weight when we get home from work. A possible anwer; I just watched "Mary Poppins" with my daughter this morning and a line is appropriate here, the mother sings something like, "although we love men individually, as a group we agree that they're rather stupid"; all too true, unfortunately).
The woman, Elizabeth, tells the story in first person, with the exception of the final chapter, where she is looking forward, which was an excellent literary tool to bring the story to a close.
In researching the death of her friend for a documentary she wants to produce, Elizabeth begins to realize that the event had a major life-long effect on her. Digging deeper, she realizes how close she was to this sort of tragedy; maternal filicide. Elizabeth's mother had been tough to live with, apparently experiencing the same sort of things as the mother who killed her children & herself. Elizabeth begins searching for the truth, a truth that, she finds, does not exist. She fears that she may be facing the same difficulties herself & fears the same outcome.
The author does an excellent job of presenting both past & present through the eyes of the narrator. The story is clear, well-written & intense. Though I certainly do not understand what it is to be a woman, the struggles of monthly cycles & associated mood swings, the hormones that are a physical part of being a woman or the connections, positive & negative, between mother & child. But I do understand the struggles of parenthod & marriage; anything worth having is worth working for (if you'll excuse the cliche) and I don't mean that as a judgement against folks who can't work it out. I most certainly do not understand the depths to which one would sink in order to kill themself and thier children. But I do understand what the author is writing, the skill with which she accomplished her portrayal of pain in life, & the excellent way in which she brought to the forefront the facts of our all too recent understanding of depression of all kinds, & the need for more intense study of the subject.
Though this was certainly not a brighten-up-your-day read, it was definitely a good read & I would recommend it with warnings that it is a sad book, covering sad, disturbing & misunderstood concepts.
I enjoyed reading this book, and I was able to look inside & take something away from it for my own life as husband & father, & I feel a better understanding of the concepts presented (even if not, obviously, a mastery of the topics).
Regarding this review & my relative understanding of the book, I offer because of the other reviews I have read; 1) I am a male, a happily married (and I certainly believe my wife of 10 years feels the same) father of 2 beautiful girls, 2) my wife had severe postpartum depression after the first of our girls was born, & I knew nothing of the condition until that time 3) I seemed to experience some sort of depression related to the birth of our second daughter which lasted about 2 months (I do not claim to understand postpartum depression because of this experience). I mention each of these because I have seen several reviewers found this book disturbing, unrealistic, too realistic or too depressing (metaphorically speaking), but especially because it would seem to be a book read mostly by women, though I certainly don't recommend this only for women.
I found this book to be an intriguing &, although sad & generally discomforting, all-too-true read. This book covers types of sadness & despression that real people experience every day. It deals with the tedium that can claim the life of parents, especially (in this case) stay-at-home moms; unfortunately, women face workforce bias, lower rates of pay than men in the same positions, judgement if they leave their children with sitters or nannies, or judgement if they stay home with their children.
Life, as this book repeatedly points out, is not fair, nor is it always fun. It is a shame that the book is (from what I have seen in reviews) not so well received because of the apparent harshness of the story.
The story, about a woman who, in experiencing her own depression, relates it to the loss of a childhood friend, who was killed by her mother in a murder-suicide, is both inspiring (wake up & help those around you) & dissappointing (why are fathers so easily villified, generally speaking, when a lot of us are doing our best to carry weight when we get home from work. A possible anwer; I just watched "Mary Poppins" with my daughter this morning and a line is appropriate here, the mother sings something like, "although we love men individually, as a group we agree that they're rather stupid"; all too true, unfortunately).
The woman, Elizabeth, tells the story in first person, with the exception of the final chapter, where she is looking forward, which was an excellent literary tool to bring the story to a close.
In researching the death of her friend for a documentary she wants to produce, Elizabeth begins to realize that the event had a major life-long effect on her. Digging deeper, she realizes how close she was to this sort of tragedy; maternal filicide. Elizabeth's mother had been tough to live with, apparently experiencing the same sort of things as the mother who killed her children & herself. Elizabeth begins searching for the truth, a truth that, she finds, does not exist. She fears that she may be facing the same difficulties herself & fears the same outcome.
The author does an excellent job of presenting both past & present through the eyes of the narrator. The story is clear, well-written & intense. Though I certainly do not understand what it is to be a woman, the struggles of monthly cycles & associated mood swings, the hormones that are a physical part of being a woman or the connections, positive & negative, between mother & child. But I do understand the struggles of parenthod & marriage; anything worth having is worth working for (if you'll excuse the cliche) and I don't mean that as a judgement against folks who can't work it out. I most certainly do not understand the depths to which one would sink in order to kill themself and thier children. But I do understand what the author is writing, the skill with which she accomplished her portrayal of pain in life, & the excellent way in which she brought to the forefront the facts of our all too recent understanding of depression of all kinds, & the need for more intense study of the subject.
Though this was certainly not a brighten-up-your-day read, it was definitely a good read & I would recommend it with warnings that it is a sad book, covering sad, disturbing & misunderstood concepts.
I enjoyed reading this book, and I was able to look inside & take something away from it for my own life as husband & father, & I feel a better understanding of the concepts presented (even if not, obviously, a mastery of the topics).
July 7, 2009
Absolutely wonderful. The book is written by a journalist who shares her struggle with settling for entertainment/pop journalism over the more high-risk and high-paced reporting in war zones when she has children. The book weaves stories of her childhood and the death of a friend whose own mother killed her and her sister while taking her own life. She honestly tells the story of generations of women who have struggled with misunderstood maternal psychosis and stereotypes of "good" women from multiple points of view including her own contemporary fears. The author explores the question that every mother fears - can she sympathize, comes to terms with and even understand why her friends mom did what she did?
January 12, 2015
I really enjoyed this novel. It was a little creepy that I was the same age as the main character. The main character was a little annoying at times but that may be my issue because I tend to not like a lot of main characters in books. Lol. It was well written and was very realistic. It shines a light not only on postpartum depression but on the way it was and is treated. It does not justify the murder/suicide but helps you see inside her head a little. It is possible to disagree and sympathize at the same time. I don't think the husbands sexual tendencies were explained and seemed to be thrown in just to justify a what happened the last time she reported on the war and her reason for going to the cabin.
April 25, 2013
never again.
May 15, 2016
Rough topics but amazingly well written; I devoured it in a few hours to the detriment of all the things I wanted to get done today.
January 5, 2024
A slowly revealing novel centred on a journalist and mother experiencing an emotional free fall when she starts to examine her life in relation to her childhood and her experiences of mothering and motherhood.
Critically appraising the idea of truth and narrative, psychology butts up against medicine and societal views of women who kill themselves or worse, their kids.
Do we dare we empathise with monsters? Why is that act of empathy still so taboo? Why is the expression of pain - both the need to cause it or be free of it viewed as so wrong?
Challenging, thoughtful, moving and with characters so easy to slip into, BETWEEN HERE & APRIL is not a beach read, but it is one hell of a book club pick.
Critically appraising the idea of truth and narrative, psychology butts up against medicine and societal views of women who kill themselves or worse, their kids.
Do we dare we empathise with monsters? Why is that act of empathy still so taboo? Why is the expression of pain - both the need to cause it or be free of it viewed as so wrong?
Challenging, thoughtful, moving and with characters so easy to slip into, BETWEEN HERE & APRIL is not a beach read, but it is one hell of a book club pick.
October 31, 2022
2.5 Stars. Why, why did the ending of this book have to be so contrived? The depictions of the main character as a journalist and human being were so well done—her work life of danger in foreign corresponding was so vivid while her life as a mother was so flat—that as a reader, I really wanted her to get to that point of finding her journalistic/meaningful existence again. Using the "mystery" of her missing childhood friend had so much potential as a plot device to get her there. Nothing makes me more upset than a story derails itself in its final pages. The only thing I gained from this book is lingering disappointment.
March 20, 2011
I am not sure why I was drawn to this book. Okay, I am sure. New book in a used book store. $2 price tag. And the fact that the name April was in the title didn't hurt. With words such as "haunting page turner" and "riveting novel that will haunt you" on the back synopsis, I dove in unsure of what to expect.
Elizabeth Burns is the mother of two, a journalist, a wife, a daughter: a woman trying to successfully juggle and wear many different masks throughout the day. And she is having a hard time. She finds herself fainting out of the blue in random places. After her doctor recommends she seek the opinion of a mental health professional she uncovers memories of a long lost friend from second grade who disappeared completely one day. Her psychicatrist suggests maybe there is a connection between her friend's disappearance and her current problems. As memories of the last day she saw her friend April and the days following April's disppearance start to surface, Elizabeth dives into a lengthy investigation to find out the truth behind what really happened. And the investigation and answers turn her life upside down.
A book that thoroughly illustrates what mothers probably experienced before the term "postpartum depression" was given relevance and medical standing. A book that fearlessly examines the everyday challenges and burdens faced by many women and the feelings and struggles of those who can barely manage. A book that tells a story that must be told and discussed. Motherhood is seen as a miracle, a time of supreme happiness and blessing. However, the reality is vastly different from the fantasy often held while pregnant. Sleepless nights, crazy hormones, less than helpful husbands, household responsibilities... it can be overwhelming. To speak poorly of new motherhood is seen as taboo. To say it's not what you expected is to be looked down on or to be seen as ungrateful. Fortunately, postpartum depressioin is now seen as a valid medical condition and treatments have been made readily available. Women are no longer turned away and told to take a nap and shower, or long walk outside.
There is a passage in the book that I found to be incredibly poignant. It discusses the value and societal outlook of physical discomforts/ailments versus mental conditions and the various things people do to relieve such conditions. The visual aid of a physical impairment versus the invisible struggles of a mental illness. While a great deal about mental illness remains taboo and undiscussed, hopefully more novels such as these will bring to light the tragic consequences of silence. And ignorance.
Overall, a good book; however, I feel the discussion sparked by the book is likely much more powerful and moving than the book itself.
Elizabeth Burns is the mother of two, a journalist, a wife, a daughter: a woman trying to successfully juggle and wear many different masks throughout the day. And she is having a hard time. She finds herself fainting out of the blue in random places. After her doctor recommends she seek the opinion of a mental health professional she uncovers memories of a long lost friend from second grade who disappeared completely one day. Her psychicatrist suggests maybe there is a connection between her friend's disappearance and her current problems. As memories of the last day she saw her friend April and the days following April's disppearance start to surface, Elizabeth dives into a lengthy investigation to find out the truth behind what really happened. And the investigation and answers turn her life upside down.
A book that thoroughly illustrates what mothers probably experienced before the term "postpartum depression" was given relevance and medical standing. A book that fearlessly examines the everyday challenges and burdens faced by many women and the feelings and struggles of those who can barely manage. A book that tells a story that must be told and discussed. Motherhood is seen as a miracle, a time of supreme happiness and blessing. However, the reality is vastly different from the fantasy often held while pregnant. Sleepless nights, crazy hormones, less than helpful husbands, household responsibilities... it can be overwhelming. To speak poorly of new motherhood is seen as taboo. To say it's not what you expected is to be looked down on or to be seen as ungrateful. Fortunately, postpartum depressioin is now seen as a valid medical condition and treatments have been made readily available. Women are no longer turned away and told to take a nap and shower, or long walk outside.
There is a passage in the book that I found to be incredibly poignant. It discusses the value and societal outlook of physical discomforts/ailments versus mental conditions and the various things people do to relieve such conditions. The visual aid of a physical impairment versus the invisible struggles of a mental illness. While a great deal about mental illness remains taboo and undiscussed, hopefully more novels such as these will bring to light the tragic consequences of silence. And ignorance.
Overall, a good book; however, I feel the discussion sparked by the book is likely much more powerful and moving than the book itself.
March 1, 2012
I don't know if it's really news to anyone any more that motherhood isn't always sunshine and rainbows and butterflies - and I think we're lucky to be living in a time when that's more out in the open. It can be a struggle for many of us at times, and for some it's a challenge that may just be too much.
Elizabeth Burns' viewing of a production of Medea triggers a memory of her childhood friend April Cassidy, who was rumored to have been killed by her own mother in a murder/suicide. Once it comes back to her, Elizabeth can't shake her thoughts of April, and her journalist background spurs her to dig into the story and try to find out what really happened. But it's not the what of the story that turns out to matter as much as the why. As Elizabeth learns more about April's mother Adele and her struggles with depression, she begins seeing some unsettling similarities to her own challenges in marriage and motherhood.
I think this would be a great book for book clubs in general, but particularly for book groups mostly composed of moms, because it's both thought- and emotion-provoking, and I suspect the reactions of mothers might be particularly strong - although, since I am a mother, it's hard to say how my response to the book might have been different if I weren't. I have believed for a long time that my mother suffered from untreated, undiagnosed depression (which may have been a factor in her early-onset Alzheimer's), and it wasn't hard to be reminded of that in the character of Adele Cassidy. It also wasn't hard to identify with the sense of being overwhelmed and inadequate in so many aspects - marriage, motherhood, and trying to maintain a professional life - that Elizabeth feels all too often. It's what causes her to become dangerously immersed in Adele's story.
Between Here and April is an engrossing page-turner with depth. I just wish I'd liked Elizabeth a little more - while I did connect with her, at times I also found myself getting irritated with her. I thought the novel wrapped up a bit too neatly, so it's not entirely clear to me how much she really grew from her experience with the Cassidys' story, but I think this book will stick with me a while just the same.
Elizabeth Burns' viewing of a production of Medea triggers a memory of her childhood friend April Cassidy, who was rumored to have been killed by her own mother in a murder/suicide. Once it comes back to her, Elizabeth can't shake her thoughts of April, and her journalist background spurs her to dig into the story and try to find out what really happened. But it's not the what of the story that turns out to matter as much as the why. As Elizabeth learns more about April's mother Adele and her struggles with depression, she begins seeing some unsettling similarities to her own challenges in marriage and motherhood.
I think this would be a great book for book clubs in general, but particularly for book groups mostly composed of moms, because it's both thought- and emotion-provoking, and I suspect the reactions of mothers might be particularly strong - although, since I am a mother, it's hard to say how my response to the book might have been different if I weren't. I have believed for a long time that my mother suffered from untreated, undiagnosed depression (which may have been a factor in her early-onset Alzheimer's), and it wasn't hard to be reminded of that in the character of Adele Cassidy. It also wasn't hard to identify with the sense of being overwhelmed and inadequate in so many aspects - marriage, motherhood, and trying to maintain a professional life - that Elizabeth feels all too often. It's what causes her to become dangerously immersed in Adele's story.
Between Here and April is an engrossing page-turner with depth. I just wish I'd liked Elizabeth a little more - while I did connect with her, at times I also found myself getting irritated with her. I thought the novel wrapped up a bit too neatly, so it's not entirely clear to me how much she really grew from her experience with the Cassidys' story, but I think this book will stick with me a while just the same.
March 25, 2011
Ugh! I really hate that I have to give this two stars. I really liked this book for the most part. I found the story of April and her murder very interesting, and I was curious to see how Lizzie's marriage and motherhood would blend with Adele's. These are the issues I had with the story:
1) Why don't we ever find out why Mark is so obsessed with bondage? We never learn why he needs it, and we never find out if he and Lizzie work through it. In fact, we don't even know why she freaks and leaves him. What did he do this time that was so different from the others that she couldn't take it anymore?
2) We never find out of Lizzie finally tells Mark about her rape. Why not? That was a big plot point that really got me. Here he is trying to get her into bondage and she clearly has issues with it because of the rape, yet she doesn't say anything to him about it? I find it hard to believe.
3) Now this is why I am really upset about the book. I was really interested to see how the author was going to get Adele's story into the plot. Obviously we weren't going to hear from Adele herself, but how was she going to portay her thoughts and reasonings so we may understand why she did what she did? It really pissed me off that the author decided to have Lizzie write a story about it. It seemed like a cop out to me. I didn't read 200+ pages to hear Adele's side of the story just so I could read some story Lizzie made up on her own. I also didn't like that she had April talking about her like she was the best thing ever. I don't believe that April would have been yapping about her when her mother was acting so strange. I wanted the author to find a way to tell us Adele's side, not make something up. I would have been happier if she just left it as it was, with nobody every truly being able to know what happened. Then she could have spent more time on Lizzie and Mark's relationship and cleared up that mess.
Overall, I was happy with the book until about page 220 or so. Then it all went downhill, almost like the author knew it was time to wrap things up and she needed to figure out what the best and fastest way to do it was.
1) Why don't we ever find out why Mark is so obsessed with bondage? We never learn why he needs it, and we never find out if he and Lizzie work through it. In fact, we don't even know why she freaks and leaves him. What did he do this time that was so different from the others that she couldn't take it anymore?
2) We never find out of Lizzie finally tells Mark about her rape. Why not? That was a big plot point that really got me. Here he is trying to get her into bondage and she clearly has issues with it because of the rape, yet she doesn't say anything to him about it? I find it hard to believe.
3) Now this is why I am really upset about the book. I was really interested to see how the author was going to get Adele's story into the plot. Obviously we weren't going to hear from Adele herself, but how was she going to portay her thoughts and reasonings so we may understand why she did what she did? It really pissed me off that the author decided to have Lizzie write a story about it. It seemed like a cop out to me. I didn't read 200+ pages to hear Adele's side of the story just so I could read some story Lizzie made up on her own. I also didn't like that she had April talking about her like she was the best thing ever. I don't believe that April would have been yapping about her when her mother was acting so strange. I wanted the author to find a way to tell us Adele's side, not make something up. I would have been happier if she just left it as it was, with nobody every truly being able to know what happened. Then she could have spent more time on Lizzie and Mark's relationship and cleared up that mess.
Overall, I was happy with the book until about page 220 or so. Then it all went downhill, almost like the author knew it was time to wrap things up and she needed to figure out what the best and fastest way to do it was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2008
I really give this 3 1/2 stars.
This was one of those books that was really tough to put down. It was a quick read that kept me interested and engaged throughout, and I can't really think of a place where it slowed down.
The author does a fantastic job of intertwining and juxtaposing two very different, yet also very similar stories. Adele Cassidy's story is echoed throughout the novel by Elizabeth's own relationship with her mother, and again by her relationship with her two daughters. Although Elizabeth and her mother did not react to the struggles of motherhood as severely as Adele, it is becomes easier for the reader to sympathize with Adele, and to see her as something other than a monster.
Although the ending was poignant, it left a few holes to be filled - most notably, how Elizabeth and Mark saved their marriage. Did they go to therapy? Does he know about her infidelity? Did she tell him about her rape, and if so, did it help him to understand her hatred of his bedroom behavior and/or was she able to get past that experience as a compromise? I know it's a somewhat trivial thing to wonder - they clearly worked out their problems for the time being at least, I just couldn't help but wonder how they worked through them successfully. And of course we do know what he did about his job, and that she was able to go back to some semblance of her career. But anyways, enough of my rambling about what I'd like to know about a fictional relationship :)
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a page-turner, and one with substance that really made me think. I found it easy to relate to the characters, even without having (yet) the experience of being a mother.
*Review of ARC
This was one of those books that was really tough to put down. It was a quick read that kept me interested and engaged throughout, and I can't really think of a place where it slowed down.
The author does a fantastic job of intertwining and juxtaposing two very different, yet also very similar stories. Adele Cassidy's story is echoed throughout the novel by Elizabeth's own relationship with her mother, and again by her relationship with her two daughters. Although Elizabeth and her mother did not react to the struggles of motherhood as severely as Adele, it is becomes easier for the reader to sympathize with Adele, and to see her as something other than a monster.
Although the ending was poignant, it left a few holes to be filled - most notably, how Elizabeth and Mark saved their marriage. Did they go to therapy? Does he know about her infidelity? Did she tell him about her rape, and if so, did it help him to understand her hatred of his bedroom behavior and/or was she able to get past that experience as a compromise? I know it's a somewhat trivial thing to wonder - they clearly worked out their problems for the time being at least, I just couldn't help but wonder how they worked through them successfully. And of course we do know what he did about his job, and that she was able to go back to some semblance of her career. But anyways, enough of my rambling about what I'd like to know about a fictional relationship :)
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a page-turner, and one with substance that really made me think. I found it easy to relate to the characters, even without having (yet) the experience of being a mother.
*Review of ARC
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2010
I expected Between Here and April to be more of a detective story instead of an intense fictional look at the darker side of motherhood, including post-partum depression and psychosis. Anyone who's ever read an article about a woman who has harmed her children, and thought "How could a mother ever do that?" may find some insight in this book.
The protagonist in the book is a mom of two, juggling a freelance career with her struggling marriage and the chaos of young children. When she begins having fainting episodes, she consults a psychiatrist, and discovers disturbing memories of a childhood friend who went missing. As Lizzie looks into the mystery of what happened to April, she soon discovers that April's mother killed April and her sister, then committed suicide. Here's where the line between April's story and Lizzie's story blurs. Lizzie's quest to uncover how April's mother could have done such an unspeakable thing acts as lightning rod for Lizzie's own inner turmoil. Some of Lizzie's turmoil has to do with problems in her marriage, her own mother's failings, and her repression of a brutal incident while on a photojournalist's shoot. But some of what Lizzie investigates is the unpleasant side of being a mom, the side you'll never see on a long-distance-telephone commercial or a greeting card. How exhausting giving one's all to a child can be; how childrearing can sap the energy & vitality out of even a good marriage; how even the most loving and doting mother sometimes wants to beat the crap out of her kids because no one else knows how to push her buttons as well as they do. The ending's a bit overwrought but given the themes of the book, not out of left field.
The protagonist in the book is a mom of two, juggling a freelance career with her struggling marriage and the chaos of young children. When she begins having fainting episodes, she consults a psychiatrist, and discovers disturbing memories of a childhood friend who went missing. As Lizzie looks into the mystery of what happened to April, she soon discovers that April's mother killed April and her sister, then committed suicide. Here's where the line between April's story and Lizzie's story blurs. Lizzie's quest to uncover how April's mother could have done such an unspeakable thing acts as lightning rod for Lizzie's own inner turmoil. Some of Lizzie's turmoil has to do with problems in her marriage, her own mother's failings, and her repression of a brutal incident while on a photojournalist's shoot. But some of what Lizzie investigates is the unpleasant side of being a mom, the side you'll never see on a long-distance-telephone commercial or a greeting card. How exhausting giving one's all to a child can be; how childrearing can sap the energy & vitality out of even a good marriage; how even the most loving and doting mother sometimes wants to beat the crap out of her kids because no one else knows how to push her buttons as well as they do. The ending's a bit overwrought but given the themes of the book, not out of left field.
May 15, 2010
Between Here and April is a thought-provoking novel that on its surface is about the trials and joys of motherhood. Delve deeper and there are further complicated issues like postpartum depression, and murder-suicide. And then there is the issue of how much to give and take in a marriage. A little bit literary fiction, a little bit crime novel it would seem there might be too much going on in this story but the author pulls it off if for no other reason than she gets you thinking. Take your time to mull it over after you race through it.
On motherhood, author Deborah Copaken Kogan writes:
and
The one drawback to this book is that it is the author's first novel, but hopefully not her last.
On motherhood, author Deborah Copaken Kogan writes:
With all of its invisible frustrations and sacrifices, motherhood was also a remarkable mosaic-in-progress, with such moments, like hand-made tiles, painstakingly inlaid: up close, just a jumble of colors, haphazardly placed in no particular order; from ten feet back, so beautiful you could cry.
and
...another truth I was just figuring out in my own home: that a mother could exist but not always mother. That the noun could hold true without the verb.
The one drawback to this book is that it is the author's first novel, but hopefully not her last.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2008
This book is built around Elizabeth's search to find the truth about what happened to April, her first grade friend who disappeared from school one day. At the time, Elizabeth couldn't get an explanation from her teacher, and her mother was too busy with a new baby and her own issues to really notice that Elizabeth's friend was gone. The truth of what happened isn't too hard for Elizabeth to find out as an adult. After all, when a mother kills herself and her two daughters, there are newspapers articles, which Elizabeth is easily able to find. But it turns out that her search is really to know the unknowable: why did April's mother do this seemingly unthinkable thing?
On a quest to try to answer this question, Elizabeth confronts issues of postpartum depression, especially in the early 1970s, before it was recognized as a treatable condition, and the common prescription of Valium to help women who were depressed, whether it actually benefited them or not. Although Kogan gets a bit heavy-handed on these subjects, her characters are well-drawn and believable.
On a quest to try to answer this question, Elizabeth confronts issues of postpartum depression, especially in the early 1970s, before it was recognized as a treatable condition, and the common prescription of Valium to help women who were depressed, whether it actually benefited them or not. Although Kogan gets a bit heavy-handed on these subjects, her characters are well-drawn and believable.
April 24, 2020
While attending a play (Medea) Elizabeth suddenly remembers her childhood friend April and begins to wonder what happened to her. She starts experiencing blackouts that she believes are triggers from her memories of April. This sets her on a path to find out what happened so long ago and why it haunts her now.
Not sure what I was supposed to be reading here. From the synopsis I gathered a mystery of some sort but that is a huge stretch. This was really more of an emotional drama about the aspects of motherhood and post-partum depression before it was a recognized mental health issue.
There are a lot of unresolved issues with Elizabeth and her husband and I feel like those should have been addressed since it seems to be a huge part of why Elizabeth has some of the problems she does. There is also a traumatic event from her past that one would assume would be discussed with her husband as it is another reason she is the way she is. Alas...that is not what happens.
Overall it was an ok read but with all the unresolved issues and the so-so ending it's not one I would recommend.
Not sure what I was supposed to be reading here. From the synopsis I gathered a mystery of some sort but that is a huge stretch. This was really more of an emotional drama about the aspects of motherhood and post-partum depression before it was a recognized mental health issue.
There are a lot of unresolved issues with Elizabeth and her husband and I feel like those should have been addressed since it seems to be a huge part of why Elizabeth has some of the problems she does. There is also a traumatic event from her past that one would assume would be discussed with her husband as it is another reason she is the way she is. Alas...that is not what happens.
Overall it was an ok read but with all the unresolved issues and the so-so ending it's not one I would recommend.
April 7, 2019
I can't remember when was the last time I read a book that could stir such heavy emotions. This book has to be read with all judgemental views flung out of the window. No assumptions, just read with an open mind. The writer dealt with a difficult theme, a tough one to write and she fleshed out everything with finesse, all the pieces came together like a sorrowful symphony crashing to an epic end.
And I quote from the book "You're treading into waters most people either can't or won't go." It touched on a topic with concurrent subtopics which many people can't accept or won't accept to read on. But in my opinion, these stories need to be heard, they need to be told.
This will be one of the books where you just can't withdraw from after reading, it will definitely haunt me for days.
And I quote from the book "You're treading into waters most people either can't or won't go." It touched on a topic with concurrent subtopics which many people can't accept or won't accept to read on. But in my opinion, these stories need to be heard, they need to be told.
This will be one of the books where you just can't withdraw from after reading, it will definitely haunt me for days.
October 23, 2008
It's my first Goodreads advanced-copy win!
I thought the ending was a little abrubt but it dealt admirably with the awful topic of filiacide. It's certainly easy to judge a parent, but there is usually as in this case, underlying mental illness that contributes to this abhorent action. The protagonist in this novel, not only deals with the mystery of a childhood friend's disappearance, but with her own issues as a mother and her own difficult marriage. It was also a peek inside of an abused adn mentally unstable mother's mind and (in her opinion) the only way out of an awful situation.
I thought the ending was a little abrubt but it dealt admirably with the awful topic of filiacide. It's certainly easy to judge a parent, but there is usually as in this case, underlying mental illness that contributes to this abhorent action. The protagonist in this novel, not only deals with the mystery of a childhood friend's disappearance, but with her own issues as a mother and her own difficult marriage. It was also a peek inside of an abused adn mentally unstable mother's mind and (in her opinion) the only way out of an awful situation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2020
I almost stopped reading halfway through, because it is a difficult
subject and I didn't want to see the main character replicate April's
mother's action. There was no resolution/solution to the main character's
marital problems; they were just passed over, ignored, in the end. And yet
there was a bit of discussion in the book about whether the kids in a bad
marriage would be happier if the parents did divorce. Why did the main
character stay with her husband?
Skip it.
subject and I didn't want to see the main character replicate April's
mother's action. There was no resolution/solution to the main character's
marital problems; they were just passed over, ignored, in the end. And yet
there was a bit of discussion in the book about whether the kids in a bad
marriage would be happier if the parents did divorce. Why did the main
character stay with her husband?
Skip it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2008
The author of the memoir SHUTTERBABE uses her experience as a journalist in this novel about the difficulty of being a mother whose husband is a workaholic. The novel is cleverly constructed and leads one to think about the agony of post partum depression. The story within a story is gripping and upsetting.
July 13, 2018
" Only so much power the past could wield over the present. Time moves on. Piazzas fill with new lovers. Children get born. Chapters come to a close."
3.5
A slow read, I felt bored many times. However, the last two chapters got me hooked. I also felt that the ending was just thrown together though.
3.5
A slow read, I felt bored many times. However, the last two chapters got me hooked. I also felt that the ending was just thrown together though.
July 5, 2015
About page 200 it felt like the author got tired of writing and wanted to make up a "resolution" she clearly had not developed. It was really unfortunate because up to that point this book was exceptional.
January 7, 2015
It's a wonderful book! I love the way it's written and I just couldn't put it down!
November 17, 2017
This book was not what I thought it was going to be. I was thinking it was going to be more about solving the mystery of what happened to Elizabeth's friend, April. It was. But that was more of the "background" story. To me, it was more about the struggles of motherhood vs wanting a career; and what can happen when the two don't mesh well together. It also touches on postpartum depression/psychosis. It actually turned out to be a pretty deep story.
I gave it only 3 stars, because the writing wasn't all that great, in my opinion. I had a hard time staying focused on it. I also skimmed quite a bit of it because I felt like just when you started to get into the story, the author would take you on a personal side road for a couple pages. I didn't like that.
My favorite part of the book was the very last paragraph. Basically, that Elizabeth thought about her friend April so much because of the fact that she had disappeared so suddenly. If April had stayed in her life longer, she "would have probably slipped out of my basket of friends the same way most childhood friends do: not with a loud crash, yolk and shell lying in a puddle on the ground, but so quietly and imperceptibly I wouldn't have even realized she was missing."
I gave it only 3 stars, because the writing wasn't all that great, in my opinion. I had a hard time staying focused on it. I also skimmed quite a bit of it because I felt like just when you started to get into the story, the author would take you on a personal side road for a couple pages. I didn't like that.
My favorite part of the book was the very last paragraph. Basically, that Elizabeth thought about her friend April so much because of the fact that she had disappeared so suddenly. If April had stayed in her life longer, she "would have probably slipped out of my basket of friends the same way most childhood friends do: not with a loud crash, yolk and shell lying in a puddle on the ground, but so quietly and imperceptibly I wouldn't have even realized she was missing."
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