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judithdcollins's review against another edition
3.0
The novel starts out with Ben who dies and leaves his wife Georgia (clueless), like a lot of men do when their wives do not participate in the family finances. (Totally do not get this). Even though a health nut, he dies while training in NY for a marathon. Georgia and her daughters discover they are penniless.
Immediately after this discovery, the lawyer sets out to look for hidden assets. After they put the NY apartment on the market, Georgia moves to the beach house where she discovers the whereabouts of those assets. Does she know her husband at all?
Georgia meets a guy and enjoys her time while she is awaiting her grandchild (her daughter is not married and goes back and forth about adoption). There are many challenges with her two daughters and they become friends. Georgia has no job skills so begins searching to find out where her husband spent their investments.
I never connected with the characters in the book and not sure I even liked any of them. Even though lots of words; however, for me it was all about – keep reading and maybe it will be better. Even though the author I am sure is very talented – this book was not for me (the audio was very boring). I may try another book by this author; however, not sure I would recommend this one.
Immediately after this discovery, the lawyer sets out to look for hidden assets. After they put the NY apartment on the market, Georgia moves to the beach house where she discovers the whereabouts of those assets. Does she know her husband at all?
Georgia meets a guy and enjoys her time while she is awaiting her grandchild (her daughter is not married and goes back and forth about adoption). There are many challenges with her two daughters and they become friends. Georgia has no job skills so begins searching to find out where her husband spent their investments.
I never connected with the characters in the book and not sure I even liked any of them. Even though lots of words; however, for me it was all about – keep reading and maybe it will be better. Even though the author I am sure is very talented – this book was not for me (the audio was very boring). I may try another book by this author; however, not sure I would recommend this one.
jbarr5's review against another edition
3.0
The Widow Waltz by Sally Koslow
Laughed when Lucy and Nicola were reciting 'good night moon' phrases as it's one of my favorites to read with my grandson. What a treasure to find it in this book.
Such heartache when Georgia learns that she has not much money left-her husband rather led a different life she knew nothing of. Her brother Stephen helps her to solve
some mysteries: the money, ring, etc.
Besides Ben's death there is a pregnancy, mortgages where she thought they owned all the houses outright...
As the story goes on we learn all the background that help you understand what's not only going on but things that happened in the past shed light on current things.
Loved learning about the jewelry designing and love all the travel, NY, Paris, etc.
Didn't expect the ending the book had but it was just perfect! Loved where it went!
I received this book from Edelweiss by Penguin Group (USA) Inc.in exchange for my honest review.
Laughed when Lucy and Nicola were reciting 'good night moon' phrases as it's one of my favorites to read with my grandson. What a treasure to find it in this book.
Such heartache when Georgia learns that she has not much money left-her husband rather led a different life she knew nothing of. Her brother Stephen helps her to solve
some mysteries: the money, ring, etc.
Besides Ben's death there is a pregnancy, mortgages where she thought they owned all the houses outright...
As the story goes on we learn all the background that help you understand what's not only going on but things that happened in the past shed light on current things.
Loved learning about the jewelry designing and love all the travel, NY, Paris, etc.
Didn't expect the ending the book had but it was just perfect! Loved where it went!
I received this book from Edelweiss by Penguin Group (USA) Inc.in exchange for my honest review.
itratali's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
nicolebonia's review against another edition
4.0
Koslow paints a vivid picture of a woman coming to grips with the life she is losing while challenging herself to explore a pared down but possibly more meaningful existence. Georgia manages to keep a keen sense of humor as she sorts through her situation and colorful supporting characters, her brother Stephan and her sometimes coherent and crotchety mother, keeps the novel from veering too sharply into gloom. Though Georgia has to move on, finding out what happened to the family money is an ongoing process and whether and how that mystery is resolved is fodder for plenty of consideration and discussion. Recommended.
robynmcd90274's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pnelson384's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the book and think that there are good discussion points. it is hard to read this right after something like Pride and Prejudice as I did. I think that Georgia is a believable character in how she processed everything that happened to her, and how she found strength she had to have to be the parent she needed to be.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
3.0
Recommended by Jane
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Swidow%20waltz%20koslow__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Swidow%20waltz%20koslow__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
shelleyrae's review against another edition
3.0
A light summer read, The Widow Waltz, Sally Koslow's fourth novel, is an enjoyable novel about family, loss, independence and moving on.
When successful litigator Ben Silver suffers a fatal heart attack while training for the New York City Marathon, his wife of twenty something years, Georgia and their two daughters, are devastated but their grief turns to bewildered hurt when it is revealed that their expensive Upper East Side apartment and beach house in the Hamptons are mortgaged to the hilt, the girl's trust funds have been drained and Georgia's inherited property portfolio has been offloaded. While Georgia's lawyer searches for the missing funds, Georgia, Nicola and Louise are forced to let go of their driver and housekeeper and are reduced to selling their possessions on E-bay while trying to figure out what else Ben was hiding and what to do next.
While there is nothing particularly original about the plot of The Widow Waltz, I thought it was a well crafted and evenly paced story. I appreciated Koslow's dry sense of humour and natural dialogue. I also thought the characterisation was deft and for the most part, realistic.
I thought Georgia responded to the crisis she was faced with poise and practicality. Usually the protagonist in this sort of story drifts into hysterics and waits for someone to rescue her but Georgia, though distressed and angry, is proactive and determined to move on. There is a start of a new romance for Georgia but it doesn't detract from Georgia's own journey towards creating a new life for herself.
The sibling rivalry between Georgia's daughters, Nicola and Louise is an interesting dynamic which adds to the story. While Louise is closer to the stereotype of a rebellious uptown princess, she describes Nicola, the elder of the two as "...the sort of woman Luey would never strike up a conversation with, even at a party; overly groomed, overly careful." Both girls, in their early twenties, are forced to grow up after their father's betrayal and take responsibility for creating their own futures.
The resolution reveals an unusual twist for Georgia which I quite liked, despite the scenario being somewhat implausible. It also neatly ties up loose ends and is a satisfying conclusion.
"I am...walking into the future, away from anger, from disappointment, and from regret. I refused to be sacred, or to believe that my future is a well of endless lament. I am galvanized by possibility. I am choosing happiness"
When successful litigator Ben Silver suffers a fatal heart attack while training for the New York City Marathon, his wife of twenty something years, Georgia and their two daughters, are devastated but their grief turns to bewildered hurt when it is revealed that their expensive Upper East Side apartment and beach house in the Hamptons are mortgaged to the hilt, the girl's trust funds have been drained and Georgia's inherited property portfolio has been offloaded. While Georgia's lawyer searches for the missing funds, Georgia, Nicola and Louise are forced to let go of their driver and housekeeper and are reduced to selling their possessions on E-bay while trying to figure out what else Ben was hiding and what to do next.
While there is nothing particularly original about the plot of The Widow Waltz, I thought it was a well crafted and evenly paced story. I appreciated Koslow's dry sense of humour and natural dialogue. I also thought the characterisation was deft and for the most part, realistic.
I thought Georgia responded to the crisis she was faced with poise and practicality. Usually the protagonist in this sort of story drifts into hysterics and waits for someone to rescue her but Georgia, though distressed and angry, is proactive and determined to move on. There is a start of a new romance for Georgia but it doesn't detract from Georgia's own journey towards creating a new life for herself.
The sibling rivalry between Georgia's daughters, Nicola and Louise is an interesting dynamic which adds to the story. While Louise is closer to the stereotype of a rebellious uptown princess, she describes Nicola, the elder of the two as "...the sort of woman Luey would never strike up a conversation with, even at a party; overly groomed, overly careful." Both girls, in their early twenties, are forced to grow up after their father's betrayal and take responsibility for creating their own futures.
The resolution reveals an unusual twist for Georgia which I quite liked, despite the scenario being somewhat implausible. It also neatly ties up loose ends and is a satisfying conclusion.
"I am...walking into the future, away from anger, from disappointment, and from regret. I refused to be sacred, or to believe that my future is a well of endless lament. I am galvanized by possibility. I am choosing happiness"