Bookmarks Subscribers discussion

Away: A Novel by Amy Bloom

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Yay! I found this at Goodwill a couple of weeks ago.

I read this book when it first came out. I really enjoyed it and look forward to the discussion to jog my memory of the details.

I also loved this when it came out. Glad it was chosen.

just picked it up today

I read this book recently, and loved it. I found Bloom's characters so well developed and while Lillian's story could be seen as sad, tragic, awful...her character (for me) did not arouse pity. Now, having said that, I loaned the book to my mother who finished reading it this past weekend and she hated the novel. She said it was far too depressing and she couldn't get past that to appreciate the writing.

I think Bloom is an evocative writer and has the ability to create stories you can visualize while reading. I gave it four stars.

I have this lined up as my next book to read, after I finish the three I have going.

I enjoyed the basic story, which is based on a true story. But there were sections of details that went on and on, both sex and non-sex, which I thought were just space fillers and didn't add much to the story. Perhaps it was because I just finished a Holocaust story that was a 5-star, but this book just wasn't all that great for me. When it was good, it was very good -- but it wasn't consistent. I gave it 3 stars.

After reflection, I have to add that the author's insistence on giving us a short history of the rest of the life of a character leaving the story was distracting to me.

After Lynn's comments I had to chime in. Usually, I feel the need to write a review after completion of a chosen novel, but alas, I felt somewhat apathetic when it came to this novel. I wanted to admire a young mom placed into a new life in a new world that desperately wanted to go in search of her presumed deceased daughter from her former trauma-stricken life. Her plan was not fully developed and quite immature, yes she was a young girl, but naive all the same. This novel had it's moments, but it did not go where I saw or wanted the plot to go. It did not fully satisfy me as a reader. I agree with Lynn that it was a 3 star read....couldn't quite dislike it, either.

LynnB wrote: "I enjoyed the basic story, which is based on a true story. But there were sections of details that went on and on, both sex and non-sex, which I thought were just space fillers and didn't add much..."

What was the five-star read you mention?

Cathy wrote: "What was the five-star read you mention?

It was The Invisible Bridge: A Novel, set in Hungary, an excellent story from a first time novelist.

I read months (if not a year ago). It was one of those books that had acclaim and buzz still keeps me wondering, "Why?" I gave it 3 stars.

I loved The Invisible Bridge and could not put it down. I shared it with two friends who felt the same way, so I chose it for my book group to read for the January meeting.
Today I finished Deborah Mitford's Wait for Me, a Memoir from the Duchess of Devonshire. It, too was a wonderful book Two weeks ago I read the new The World of Gloria Vanderbilt by Wendy Goodman. Full of interesting facts and wonderful photos. Dee in Honolulu