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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this book. Very realistic and modern issues of todays world. There are 4-5 'main' characters and the transitions between them were easy to follow. A good read.
This was just okay - I like this author's earlier work better. I kept getting thrown off because this is supposed to be set in America, but Green had all the characters speaking as if they were in London. That brought it down for me a little - it was very predictable and had so many different story lines that I think the author got lost...
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I enjoyed the relatively slow build up to the premise on the blurb, of Nan renting out spare bedrooms for the summer, but I was surprised by it. I enjoyed the journey the various characters went on through the story.
As a fan of Jane Green books I am over half way through her collection now. For my holiday I wanted a beach read and that is exactly what I got with The Beach House. A chic-lit beach read actually on set on the beach.
** The Plot **
The book begins with the lovely eccentric 65 year old Nan Powell who lives in a beautiful crumbling house set on 9 acres in Nantucket. She has lived on her own for a long time due to her husband committing suicide after racking up a lot of gambling debt. This left Nan having to pay his bills and bring up their son Michael who is now living in New York.
The book takes a change when Nans financial advisor comes to inform her that she has no money left and suggests she sells the Beach House. Nan cannot bear the thought of losing her home and so comes up with a plan to rent out the rooms for the summer to earn some money little does she know these people become part of her family.
The way Jane Green writes this book is amazing she gives you this base of a story then goes elsewhere to bring in the other characters, but this is all entwined so well.
We are introduced to the characters Bee and Daniel who a married couple who are having marital issues. Daff and Richard, and their daughter Jess,who has difficulty coping with the divorce of her parents. And then there is Michael, Nan's son, and his complicated relationship with his married boss, Jordana.
Daniel, Daff, Jess and Michael all come for the summer to get away from their problems and stay with Nan in Nantucket. There are twists and turns as the characters try to make sense and changes of their lives.
** My Opinion**
The Beach House is the perfect beach read. The book is quite serious in some places, but this is very light so does not make you feel low like in some books. I have read a number of books like this where there is a main character in the book with one story line and then a few other characters are then added with a completely different story and I usually find it hard to keep up with who is who and what their story is and seem to come together as a book. This was not the case with The Beach House the way Jane Green writes about the characters and brings them all together is beautifully done. I feel this book is one of my top 3 Jane Green books so far. I couldn't put this book down.
** The Plot **
The book begins with the lovely eccentric 65 year old Nan Powell who lives in a beautiful crumbling house set on 9 acres in Nantucket. She has lived on her own for a long time due to her husband committing suicide after racking up a lot of gambling debt. This left Nan having to pay his bills and bring up their son Michael who is now living in New York.
The book takes a change when Nans financial advisor comes to inform her that she has no money left and suggests she sells the Beach House. Nan cannot bear the thought of losing her home and so comes up with a plan to rent out the rooms for the summer to earn some money little does she know these people become part of her family.
The way Jane Green writes this book is amazing she gives you this base of a story then goes elsewhere to bring in the other characters, but this is all entwined so well.
We are introduced to the characters Bee and Daniel who a married couple who are having marital issues. Daff and Richard, and their daughter Jess,who has difficulty coping with the divorce of her parents. And then there is Michael, Nan's son, and his complicated relationship with his married boss, Jordana.
Daniel, Daff, Jess and Michael all come for the summer to get away from their problems and stay with Nan in Nantucket. There are twists and turns as the characters try to make sense and changes of their lives.
** My Opinion**
The Beach House is the perfect beach read. The book is quite serious in some places, but this is very light so does not make you feel low like in some books. I have read a number of books like this where there is a main character in the book with one story line and then a few other characters are then added with a completely different story and I usually find it hard to keep up with who is who and what their story is and seem to come together as a book. This was not the case with The Beach House the way Jane Green writes about the characters and brings them all together is beautifully done. I feel this book is one of my top 3 Jane Green books so far. I couldn't put this book down.
I'm about halfway through this one and I doubt at this point that I'll finish it. It's too light and fluffy for my taste, and I'm annoyed at how easy/quick/fabulous she makes cheating and divorce out to be, especially as it seems to be her main/only plot device. The characters aren't sympathetic, and there are so many of them (and the POV is changed so often) that they're hard to keep track of or take any real interest in. Also, as a few reviewers have pointed out, the frequent Brit-speak is so irritating that it completely distracts from the story.
So as I said, I don't think I'll be finishing this one. Life's too short to read bad books.
So as I said, I don't think I'll be finishing this one. Life's too short to read bad books.
This was my first Jane Green novel in an attempt to expand my list of chick lit authors. I liked it and will check out more of her work (older work from what some of the more critical reviews said). I liked most the characters, I could empathize with several of them, and I didn't see that twist coming at the end so that was nice. All said it was a nice relaxing summer read in between a couple mystery novels.
lighthearted
Loveable characters:
Yes