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3.19 AVERAGE
3.19 AVERAGE
I really liked this one. I loved that they found their way back to each other after all. thought the end could have been better but the whole book kept me wanting to pick it up every night and couldn't wait to get back to it to find out what would happen!
I absolutely hated the main character. There were no real redeeming qualities about him at all. The only reason it gets 2 stars is I actually finished it because I guess I like to imagine living in France, but man, what a jerk.
Didn't finish. It had a fairly promising start, but after I read the scene where the main character is feeling sorry for himself after deciding not to touch his wife after carrying on an affair for 8 months... I just couldn't pick it up again. I love flawed main characters, but flawed main characters who act superior while not understanding anything about other people? I don't like that at all.
Note to all men: if you had an affair, and your wife took you back, and she lays next to you every night in bed with tension in the air... She obviously is waiting for you to f*** her. You're not defending her honor or respecting her by contributing to reject her when the other woman is out of the picture. If you try, and she says no, that's another story, but if you don't even try....go to your corner. Sit there and think about how stupid you are.
I hope the character in this book figures life out eventually, but I won't stick around to see it.
Note to all men: if you had an affair, and your wife took you back, and she lays next to you every night in bed with tension in the air... She obviously is waiting for you to f*** her. You're not defending her honor or respecting her by contributing to reject her when the other woman is out of the picture. If you try, and she says no, that's another story, but if you don't even try....go to your corner. Sit there and think about how stupid you are.
I hope the character in this book figures life out eventually, but I won't stick around to see it.
What I imagine to be an honest look at the aftermaths of an affair and the desire to reconcile with your spouse. It was interesting and sad, a portrait of marriage that I never want to live through.
I gave it a short try. The first couple pages just showed me it wasn't for me
An exploration of life, love, and marriage between an artist and a lawyer in Paris.
This story begins in late September 2002 a few weeks after 9/11 and continues through the first invasion of Iraq when Bush is insisting that Weapons of Mass Destruction are in Iraq and Americans are eating Freedom fries
My Take
I was reluctant to read this one. The whole cheating on one's significant other is anathema to me, however, the artist in me who loves Paris couldn't resist it for that side of the storyline. And it was well worth it.
Yes, I loved listening to Richard as he thinks his way through his motivations and thoughts about his art. How he's selling out with his keyhole paintings, his thinking behind the WarWash. I like the sound of his keyhole work, but then I'm a representationalist, and I may have an intellectual appreciation for his more avant garde work, but I'd never want it in my house. I found Richard's whining about Julien's stance naive, and I do wish art schools would include a required class on the business of selling art from the gallery's point of view as well as the artist's.
I would love to know if and when Richard creates art from those videos in which he explores the depth and truth of long-lasting love.
Richard's thoughts about art are secondary to his exploration of his own mind, why he found his affair so exciting, and why in the end, it was not. Part of the introspection is looking back over how he met Anne, their courtship, their marriages, meeting the parents, and more. It's a lovely way to provide the back history, especially when combined with Richard's emotional analysis, which goes deep, examining when his feelings toward his wife changed. Instead of blaming it all on Anne's "coldness", he came to understand where he was at fault. The small things he did which caused the changes. I loved that he didn't push the blame off. It's always harder to accept that you are the one in the wrong. And it's the only way to grow.
It was an interesting perspective to read the French reaction to Bush's statements. It's too bad our news organizations can't be bothered with reporting both sides of events. Of course, that would make it more difficult to stir people 'round to your way of thinking.
Some problems I had with this were Richard's inability to say no. Well, okay, obviously *grin*. It began with his ambivalence about selling The Blue Bear. Just say no, it's not for sale. So why not tell Julien to put a red dot on it so no one will offer for it?
I do love Lisa's reasons for having the affair, lol. It's a stab in the heart for the male ego, as Richard bemoans her reasoning, her attitude. Meanwhile, he's been manufacturing all these daydreams. Dreams Lisa burst, and that so very slowly, brought Richard back to earth. Only to be confronted with Anne's indiscretions. Ones he is astonished by. Seems what's good for the gander is not allowed for the goose, even if they are separated. To be fair, Richard is between a rock and a hard place, and I do feel bad for him. Just, not that bad.
Anne has her own issues at work when a group of pregnant women want to bring a class action suit against wine label makers. Sadly, it seems the French are going the way of the Americans. Must be that EU influence *grin*.
Well worth reading on a number of levels.
The Story
She’s left him! She wasn’t supposed to leave. And in one way she does not. It’s that which catches Richard out with his wife. Because he was not thinking. Because he was an idiot.
On the plus side, it will give Richard a lot of time to think about his marriage, his choices, and what he really wants in his life.
The Characters
Richard Haddon is an artist, not quite struggling monetarily but struggling more in terms of his style. He's also struggling with his marriage. Anne-Laure, neé de Bourigeaud is his lovely French wife of seven years, a lawyer now with Savda & Dern. Camille is their five-year-old daughter. George, a history teacher, and Edna Haddon, a librarian, are his parents while Alain and Inès are hers. Balfus is the de Bourigeauds' dog. Esther is a friend of Anne-Laure's and the reason Richard met Anne at all.
Julien is Richard's gallerist, the man who is representing Richard's keyhole paintings and showing them in his gallery in Paris. Azar Sabounjian is Julien's rival and more interested in performance art; Alice is his assistant.
Thomas is a new transfer to Savda & Dern. Selena and Jacques are more paralegals.
Lisa Bishop is the mistress who is the Paris-based New York Times reporter on culture. Dave is the fiancé, a cutlery designer. Harold Gadfrey is a chance-met passenger on the ferry; Rosalyn is his wife. Tabatha and Rufus Adsit are some Paris friends.
Tony Blair is prime minister in England. Bush is president. Saddam Hussein is still in power in Iraq.
Patrick Madsen is the performance artist who drives home the feeling of being a sell-out. Dave Lacey buys The Blue Bear for his fiancée, and they're a pair of New Age collectors, pagan Continuists. And it's disgusting, lol, in terms of the food *more laughter*.
The Cover
The cover has a white background with horizontal blue lines, as if it were a schoolchild’s notebook. The font used certainly looks primary with its watercolors of blue, orange, and green slopping out the uppercase letters. I do like the artistic touch of the paint, but I’m not sure what the schoolroom effect is supposed to do. The more subtle aspect is that those horizontal lines are meant to represent the lines on a first class envelope with its thin border of skewed orange, white, and blue rectangles, a "clue" I finally picked up on when I noticed the Eiffel Tower stamp with its Paris postmark.
The title is very tongue-in-cheek as Richard becomes more and more miserable as he realizes the mistake he made. I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You is not Richard’s battle cry.
This story begins in late September 2002 a few weeks after 9/11 and continues through the first invasion of Iraq when Bush is insisting that Weapons of Mass Destruction are in Iraq and Americans are eating Freedom fries
My Take
I was reluctant to read this one. The whole cheating on one's significant other is anathema to me, however, the artist in me who loves Paris couldn't resist it for that side of the storyline. And it was well worth it.
Yes, I loved listening to Richard as he thinks his way through his motivations and thoughts about his art. How he's selling out with his keyhole paintings, his thinking behind the WarWash. I like the sound of his keyhole work, but then I'm a representationalist, and I may have an intellectual appreciation for his more avant garde work, but I'd never want it in my house. I found Richard's whining about Julien's stance naive, and I do wish art schools would include a required class on the business of selling art from the gallery's point of view as well as the artist's.
I would love to know if and when Richard creates art from those videos in which he explores the depth and truth of long-lasting love.
Richard's thoughts about art are secondary to his exploration of his own mind, why he found his affair so exciting, and why in the end, it was not. Part of the introspection is looking back over how he met Anne, their courtship, their marriages, meeting the parents, and more. It's a lovely way to provide the back history, especially when combined with Richard's emotional analysis, which goes deep, examining when his feelings toward his wife changed. Instead of blaming it all on Anne's "coldness", he came to understand where he was at fault. The small things he did which caused the changes. I loved that he didn't push the blame off. It's always harder to accept that you are the one in the wrong. And it's the only way to grow.
It was an interesting perspective to read the French reaction to Bush's statements. It's too bad our news organizations can't be bothered with reporting both sides of events. Of course, that would make it more difficult to stir people 'round to your way of thinking.
Some problems I had with this were Richard's inability to say no. Well, okay, obviously *grin*. It began with his ambivalence about selling The Blue Bear. Just say no, it's not for sale. So why not tell Julien to put a red dot on it so no one will offer for it?
I do love Lisa's reasons for having the affair, lol. It's a stab in the heart for the male ego, as Richard bemoans her reasoning, her attitude. Meanwhile, he's been manufacturing all these daydreams. Dreams Lisa burst, and that so very slowly, brought Richard back to earth. Only to be confronted with Anne's indiscretions. Ones he is astonished by. Seems what's good for the gander is not allowed for the goose, even if they are separated. To be fair, Richard is between a rock and a hard place, and I do feel bad for him. Just, not that bad.
Anne has her own issues at work when a group of pregnant women want to bring a class action suit against wine label makers. Sadly, it seems the French are going the way of the Americans. Must be that EU influence *grin*.
Well worth reading on a number of levels.
The Story
She’s left him! She wasn’t supposed to leave. And in one way she does not. It’s that which catches Richard out with his wife. Because he was not thinking. Because he was an idiot.
On the plus side, it will give Richard a lot of time to think about his marriage, his choices, and what he really wants in his life.
The Characters
Richard Haddon is an artist, not quite struggling monetarily but struggling more in terms of his style. He's also struggling with his marriage. Anne-Laure, neé de Bourigeaud is his lovely French wife of seven years, a lawyer now with Savda & Dern. Camille is their five-year-old daughter. George, a history teacher, and Edna Haddon, a librarian, are his parents while Alain and Inès are hers. Balfus is the de Bourigeauds' dog. Esther is a friend of Anne-Laure's and the reason Richard met Anne at all.
Julien is Richard's gallerist, the man who is representing Richard's keyhole paintings and showing them in his gallery in Paris. Azar Sabounjian is Julien's rival and more interested in performance art; Alice is his assistant.
Thomas is a new transfer to Savda & Dern. Selena and Jacques are more paralegals.
Lisa Bishop is the mistress who is the Paris-based New York Times reporter on culture. Dave is the fiancé, a cutlery designer. Harold Gadfrey is a chance-met passenger on the ferry; Rosalyn is his wife. Tabatha and Rufus Adsit are some Paris friends.
Tony Blair is prime minister in England. Bush is president. Saddam Hussein is still in power in Iraq.
Patrick Madsen is the performance artist who drives home the feeling of being a sell-out. Dave Lacey buys The Blue Bear for his fiancée, and they're a pair of New Age collectors, pagan Continuists. And it's disgusting, lol, in terms of the food *more laughter*.
The Cover
The cover has a white background with horizontal blue lines, as if it were a schoolchild’s notebook. The font used certainly looks primary with its watercolors of blue, orange, and green slopping out the uppercase letters. I do like the artistic touch of the paint, but I’m not sure what the schoolroom effect is supposed to do. The more subtle aspect is that those horizontal lines are meant to represent the lines on a first class envelope with its thin border of skewed orange, white, and blue rectangles, a "clue" I finally picked up on when I noticed the Eiffel Tower stamp with its Paris postmark.
The title is very tongue-in-cheek as Richard becomes more and more miserable as he realizes the mistake he made. I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You is not Richard’s battle cry.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a book that I really could have put down and not finished but I persisted with it. I don't know if I didn't like it because I really disliked the main character or because it was written by a woman with a male main character that just didn't read true to me.
An "artist" who has it all - beautiful smart French wife, adorable daughter decides to have an affair. The wife finds out and he doesn't know how to win her back. Richard, the main character is not likeable at all and I don't know why he had an affair and then thinks that his wife should just get over it. I also didn't understand the title - but I do like the cover!
An "artist" who has it all - beautiful smart French wife, adorable daughter decides to have an affair. The wife finds out and he doesn't know how to win her back. Richard, the main character is not likeable at all and I don't know why he had an affair and then thinks that his wife should just get over it. I also didn't understand the title - but I do like the cover!
This had a couple good moments and lines (I like the part about how when you start over, you have to teach someone all the people and the stories, and it's frustrating when someone doesn't just know), but this was mostly a disappointment for me. Not as funny as Where'd You Go, Bernadette and not as deep as Beautiful Ruins for me. Also, this showed up on a beach read list and this is not my idea of a beach read (which has nothing to do with my rating, just, if you are also reading it hoping for a beach read, you may be disappointed).