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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
”Oh, darlin, that’s what life is, at its best a confession club: people admitting to doubts and fears and failures. That’s what brings us closer to one another, our imperfections.”
Small town life and the support of female friends, bonding over the topics that most people don’t want to talk about, or worse, imagine them into nonexistence. The unrecognizable features of growing old, ageism and sexuality, homelessness, illness and assisted suicide. The simple fact is growing old is no picnic and Elizabeth Berg does not try to hide behind the useless platitudes, trying to create a facsimile of “forever young” because thats just plain silly. Old age will greet us all—The Confession Club brings this painful reality to the forefront with a welcoming dollop of whipped cream and humor.
”…to confess in an honest way and be lovingly heard—well, that’s the kind of redemption we need on a regular basis.”
Small town life and the support of female friends, bonding over the topics that most people don’t want to talk about, or worse, imagine them into nonexistence. The unrecognizable features of growing old, ageism and sexuality, homelessness, illness and assisted suicide. The simple fact is growing old is no picnic and Elizabeth Berg does not try to hide behind the useless platitudes, trying to create a facsimile of “forever young” because thats just plain silly. Old age will greet us all—The Confession Club brings this painful reality to the forefront with a welcoming dollop of whipped cream and humor.
”…to confess in an honest way and be lovingly heard—well, that’s the kind of redemption we need on a regular basis.”
The Confession Club is a fun and fast read, much like a beach read. It’s a heartwarming and comfortable story about friendship, love, honesty, and second chances. While this is the third book in the Mason Series, it is a completely a stand-alone story and Berg fills in any missing details that you need to know. Just be warned that whether you read the first two books or not, you may find the beginning rather confusing like I did even though I read Books 1 (The Story of Arthur Truluv) and 2 (Night of Miracles).
It was not easy for me to become engaged with this book and the characters. The first chapter introduced eight people, none of which were in the first two books, and I wasn’t able to get a feel for any of them. With chapter 2, the focus honed in on two main characters and I began to enjoy the story. What wasn’t clear to me while reading chapter 1 was that all of the eight new people were secondary or actually tertiary in importance.
The book tells of a group of people that began as a supper club and has evolved into a confession club where women share their insecurities and regrets in a nonjudgmental setting.
Naturally, it was endlessly fascinating, what people confessed to. There was a saying someone shared at an early meeting: The truth is always interesting. So, too, an honest confession. And it wasn’t necessarily the sin that was interesting; it was the willingness to say, There. Have a good look at my imperfections. It made you feel better about your own.
”That’s what life is, at its best. A confession club: people admitting to doubts and fears and failures. That’s what brings us closer to one another, our imperfections.
“But to say out loud our missteps or inadequacies—to confess in an honest way and to be lovingly heard—well, that’s the kind of redemption we need on a regular basis.”
The reader will find, throughout the book, insights from everyday people and truisms about everyday life, which makes The Confession Club very real, relatable and at times inspirational.
All around are broken people, doing the best they can. And getting better.
“The only way to get out of that darkness is to go into it,” Karen says. “That’s how you can come out the other side. You’re going to have to hurt more before you finally feel better.”
For me, the story was not about the confession club but rather about Iris, who we met in Night of Miracles and her relationship with a homeless man named John, a vet with PTSD. While Iris is well developed, I didn’t feel like I got to know John that well but maybe that’s in keeping with his character because he has PTSD and isn’t forthcoming with details about his life. For both of them, they get a second chance at love with each other.
When she abruptly revealed her feelings for John at Confession Club, and revealed as well a kind of shame at feeling this way about a homeless man, Joanie said, “Did you ever hear that Elaine May quote ‘The only safe thing is to take a chance’?”
While The Confession Club is entertaining, I found the first two books more enjoyable and satisfying. In fact, The Story of Arthur Truluv is a wonderful book that everyone needs to read. What? You haven’t read it? Well, get to it!
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
It was not easy for me to become engaged with this book and the characters. The first chapter introduced eight people, none of which were in the first two books, and I wasn’t able to get a feel for any of them. With chapter 2, the focus honed in on two main characters and I began to enjoy the story. What wasn’t clear to me while reading chapter 1 was that all of the eight new people were secondary or actually tertiary in importance.
The book tells of a group of people that began as a supper club and has evolved into a confession club where women share their insecurities and regrets in a nonjudgmental setting.
Naturally, it was endlessly fascinating, what people confessed to. There was a saying someone shared at an early meeting: The truth is always interesting. So, too, an honest confession. And it wasn’t necessarily the sin that was interesting; it was the willingness to say, There. Have a good look at my imperfections. It made you feel better about your own.
”That’s what life is, at its best. A confession club: people admitting to doubts and fears and failures. That’s what brings us closer to one another, our imperfections.
“But to say out loud our missteps or inadequacies—to confess in an honest way and to be lovingly heard—well, that’s the kind of redemption we need on a regular basis.”
The reader will find, throughout the book, insights from everyday people and truisms about everyday life, which makes The Confession Club very real, relatable and at times inspirational.
All around are broken people, doing the best they can. And getting better.
“The only way to get out of that darkness is to go into it,” Karen says. “That’s how you can come out the other side. You’re going to have to hurt more before you finally feel better.”
For me, the story was not about the confession club but rather about Iris, who we met in Night of Miracles and her relationship with a homeless man named John, a vet with PTSD. While Iris is well developed, I didn’t feel like I got to know John that well but maybe that’s in keeping with his character because he has PTSD and isn’t forthcoming with details about his life. For both of them, they get a second chance at love with each other.
When she abruptly revealed her feelings for John at Confession Club, and revealed as well a kind of shame at feeling this way about a homeless man, Joanie said, “Did you ever hear that Elaine May quote ‘The only safe thing is to take a chance’?”
While The Confession Club is entertaining, I found the first two books more enjoyable and satisfying. In fact, The Story of Arthur Truluv is a wonderful book that everyone needs to read. What? You haven’t read it? Well, get to it!
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
It feels as though she's trying to capture the vibe of Steel Magnolias, but I just couldn't get into it. The one part I really liked was John, the homeless vet, and actually, I wish the story had just been about him. His story mashed with the confession club seemed like it was trying to do a lot with too many uninterested characters. However, I had gotten some good reviews from patrons (I'm a librarian.), which is why I tried to read it, so maybe try it yourself.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was thrilled to return to Mason after falling in love with the community and its residents in the completely delightful The Story of Arthur Truluv and enjoyable Night of Miracles. This third installment in the series focuses on a group of women who became friends while attending Lucille's baking classes, but previous characters also make appearances in the story.
The Story of Arthur Truluv and Night of Miracles were five and four star reads for me respectively, but The Confession Club lacked the charm I found so endearing in the first two novels, and for that reason, I didn't find it as enjoyable a read. Berg, who writes wonderful characters (I have read many of her books), misses the mark just slightly in The Confession Club and I was unable to really connect with the cast.
I can still recommend this book, and I would definitely encourage anyone to check out the first two Mason books.
I was thrilled to return to Mason after falling in love with the community and its residents in the completely delightful The Story of Arthur Truluv and enjoyable Night of Miracles. This third installment in the series focuses on a group of women who became friends while attending Lucille's baking classes, but previous characters also make appearances in the story.
The Story of Arthur Truluv and Night of Miracles were five and four star reads for me respectively, but The Confession Club lacked the charm I found so endearing in the first two novels, and for that reason, I didn't find it as enjoyable a read. Berg, who writes wonderful characters (I have read many of her books), misses the mark just slightly in The Confession Club and I was unable to really connect with the cast.
I can still recommend this book, and I would definitely encourage anyone to check out the first two Mason books.
I would give this a 3.5. It's a sweet book that would be great for a beach read or just when you are looking for something a bit lighter.
This is a sweet book and the writing fits the stories of the women and a man John.
Its a book that reaffirms for me the power of the writer to convey something good of humanity
Judy
Its a book that reaffirms for me the power of the writer to convey something good of humanity
Judy
emotional
funny
lighthearted
This was just terrible. Confessions were ridiculous and the stories were to soap opera for my taste.
Another enjoyable visit to Mason . It all started with Arthur Trulove... and he's still impacting the characters years later. This was especially enjoyable with the scenes surrounding the members of the confession club which are kind of interludes, comic relief at times, but also validation for what real women worry about, and struggle with. I've only read Berg's Mason books, and I just enjoy how uplifting they tend to be.. gentle with humor but not afraid to talk about ugly truths.