Scan barcode
and_sarahelizabeth's review
2.0
I read this for book club - it was just ok - I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
cleah's review
4.0
Celia Durst was eleven years old when she lost her best friend Djuna to an abductor on the side of the road. Now she is thirty-two and heading home to tell the truth about what really happened that day. Unfortunately for her, this is not as simple as it sounds. Her other friends from that time don't believe her story, and not even her parents think her memory could have actually occurred. Add in a stale relationship with her long-time boyfriend and coming back to the place where she grew up is not going to be an easy trip.
I read Myla Goldberg's Bee Season, but didn't fall in love with her writing until her second work of fiction, Wickett's Remedy. THE FALSE FRIEND a little depressing by comparison. The story is short and not a whole lot happens. I found it hard to swallow the fact that Celia still used the terms "Mommy" and "Daddy" at age 32, instead of the more adult versions like "Mom" or "Mother". Also, I never felt it was clear why Celia needed to go back and finally reveal the true events from her childhood. I liked that as a reader I wasn't entirely sure if Celia's memory could be trusted. However, there was still the same engaging writing style from Goldberg to keep me turning pages furiously. The way she interspersed Celia's memories into her daily life felt very real, the way memories spring up in true life. Plus, having the few moments from another point of view (boyfriend Huck) were a welcomed respite and helped to round out the characters. Perhaps I was just looking for more action.
I read Myla Goldberg's Bee Season, but didn't fall in love with her writing until her second work of fiction, Wickett's Remedy. THE FALSE FRIEND a little depressing by comparison. The story is short and not a whole lot happens. I found it hard to swallow the fact that Celia still used the terms "Mommy" and "Daddy" at age 32, instead of the more adult versions like "Mom" or "Mother". Also, I never felt it was clear why Celia needed to go back and finally reveal the true events from her childhood. I liked that as a reader I wasn't entirely sure if Celia's memory could be trusted. However, there was still the same engaging writing style from Goldberg to keep me turning pages furiously. The way she interspersed Celia's memories into her daily life felt very real, the way memories spring up in true life. Plus, having the few moments from another point of view (boyfriend Huck) were a welcomed respite and helped to round out the characters. Perhaps I was just looking for more action.
ula_j's review
4.0
I loved this book. I love her writing style - it's just introspective enough to be powerful without being painfully over-analytical. It's a really interesting story about childhood friendship and the way we remember things from our past. Suspenseful and highly recommended.
brooke_review's review
3.0
This story was a bit odd, and upon completion, I still was not exactly sure as to what had transpired. I also found the author's writing style to be a bit difficult to comprehend - I found myself rereading several sentences/paragraphs, grasping for understanding.
Other than that, it was an interesting enough read.
Other than that, it was an interesting enough read.
bunnieslikediamonds's review
3.0
A woman suddenly recalls her childhood friend's disapperance, and realizes that she lied to everyone about what really happened. Feeling guilty, she goes back home to make amends and tell the truth, only to discover that nobody believes her, and that she used to be a horrible bully. Well, I love the setup, and the story is well written. I just wish Goldberg had delved deeper. The grown-up Celia seems to be a nice enough person who feels bad about having behaved cruelly as a child, but we don't get much closer than that. I wish her reaction to being confronted as a bully had been examined more, as well as the impact her past had on her relationship with her boyfriend. There were lots of unexplained details that didn't really add to the story - what was going on with the pothead boyfriend? what was the meaning of Becky converting to Judaism? the brother's suicide attempt? I want to know! I feel like I read the abridged version of a longer, fuller novel.
paultypething's review
2.0
Have I read every book Myla Goldberg has ever written? Yes. Is it because The Decemberists wrote a song about her? Probably.
bxermom's review
4.0
I was a little put off by this author's writing style at first but something kept me reading.
I think we've all been part of a little 'clique' whether it be the popular kids, the jocks, the nerds or whatever. We've all been bullied, witnessed bullying or have been the bully. Don't you ever wonder where you're school age friends ended up or if you impacted their life in a good or bad way? Goldberg takes us through the journey of self-discovery using the character of Celia. A terrible childhood event remembered one way but possibly happening another. We travel with Celia as she contacts her old 'clique' and discovers, according to them, what kind of friend she really was...something we'd all like to do at some point in our life.
I enjoyed the book very much even though it wasn't something I would have picked on my own.
I think we've all been part of a little 'clique' whether it be the popular kids, the jocks, the nerds or whatever. We've all been bullied, witnessed bullying or have been the bully. Don't you ever wonder where you're school age friends ended up or if you impacted their life in a good or bad way? Goldberg takes us through the journey of self-discovery using the character of Celia. A terrible childhood event remembered one way but possibly happening another. We travel with Celia as she contacts her old 'clique' and discovers, according to them, what kind of friend she really was...something we'd all like to do at some point in our life.
I enjoyed the book very much even though it wasn't something I would have picked on my own.
janicerm79's review
3.0
While I didn't care all that much about any of the characters, maybe I would have had I been able to get to know them all better, I was intrigued by the mystery posed at the beginning of the book. I was disappointed that we didn't get to learn more about each of the girls from the former click and where they are today. I skimmed many sections and overall the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading, but it's not the best book I've ever read.
sheila_p's review
4.0
I am fascinated with memories and how they manifest themselves into our everyday lives. This book wasn't spectacular but it did foster thoughts about how people remember the same event differently. I liked this book better thank Bee Season though so if you liked that one, read this one for sure.