BEING PERFECTAnna Quindlen
Personal Rating: 2/5
Ummm. I really have nothing to say. I read this book while eating lunch and didn't get anything out of it, except maybe disappointment. With every new thought expressed, I hoped for a word of wisdom or witty remark or something worth reading. It never came.
11 Readers' Thoughts:
I have "Blessings" by Anna Quindlen on my list. I hope it's better than this one.
I enjoyed "How Reading Changed My Life" a lot - I'd recommend that one. I got it from the library, but plan on buying a copy eventually to re-read.
Framed ~ I hope so too, but if nothing else...it qualifies for a "Q" read. :)
Suzi ~ I looked for that one and another one, but neither were available and I was determined to get a Quindlen book. I will seek them out again sometime.
Oh poor Anna Quindlen...I just ripped apart her latest fiction effort Rise and Shine on my blog. I hope that readers new to Quindlen will find One True Thing or Black and Blue.
I loved Black & Blue and Blessings. I have One True Thing in my stacks, as well as Living Out Loud. I think I've read Object Lessons, but the blurb at Amazon isn't very familiar. I read Being Perfect a year and a half ago. Then I gave a copy to our oldest daughter when she graduated from college. I'd forgotten all about it until I read your review, Joy.
I think I've only read Blessings and it was good. You said you read this during lunch? Must have been a very, very short book.
Di ~ I haven't given up on her. I'll try again. :)
Les ~ And your daughter thought...
Booklogged ~ Very, very short is right! It was about 50 small sized pages and half of those were pictures. Lunch reading for sure!
Ah, well. She died before I ever found out what she thought. Exactly 3 weeks after she graduated.
{{{Les}}} ~ My deepest, heartfelt apology goes out to you (and your family). I can't even imagine what you have been through. I vaguely remember you mentioning a loss on Bellezza's Blog, but do not recall that it was your daughter. I don't even know what to say, other than I will pray for comfort and peace to surround you.
Thanks, Joy. I try not to dwell on it in my blog posts too much, but sometimes it's unavoidable. I actually have a separate blog devoted to letters to Rachel which has been very helpful in sorting out my feelings on all of this grief stuff. Thank you for your kind words and prayers. And for the virtual hugs. :)
However, the title IS thought provoking. It's too bad when you finish a book and find nothing much gained. The good part is that you only 'wasted' a lunch. I just finished Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, all 860 pages of it, and feel much as you describe here.
Still, I'd like to know how to escape the dangers of trying to Be Perfect. :)
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