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 enlarge | Author: Elizabeth Berg
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Category: Book
List Price: $14.00
Buy Used: $1.99
You Save: $12.01 (86%)
New (35) Used (48) from $1.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  112 reviews
Sales Rank: 22393
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.1 x 0.8
ISBN: 0345487540
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780345487544
ASIN: 0345487540
Publication Date: January 29, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Wear to covers and edges, a few pages have been crumpled, though still quite readable.Good reading copy.
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| Customer Reviews:
 pointless drudgery read. Really. June 21, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book was pointless. And it took a long time getting there.
I was really, really disappointed because the back cover made it seem like this was going to be a great, heartwarming tale of three women on the homefront and the men fighting in the war by using their letters to each other. The back cover lied.
First off, there's really only 1 main character-Kitty-a self-centered, shallow girl (supposedly she's a mid-twenties woman, but you'd never know it by how she thinks and acts). Kitty was a pretty unsympathetic character, who whined through most of the book. I was sick and tired of her attitude by the twentieth page, but thought maybe the author was going to have her grow up and mature through the book. Nope. She was exactly the same through the whole thing, though the author SAID she had changed in the last ten pages of the book. But,no, she hadn't. The only changes Kitty went through was that the home and family she'd been dreaming about through the entire book suddenly weren't what she wanted.
The real problem with this book was that it didn't have a story. The author tried really hard to give you the feeling of the forties (constantly giving the names of certain fashions, using slang (though some of the slang was more fifties than forties), giving the names of popular songs, etc) the problem was, she tried so hard it went over the top and felt really fake. I mean, how many times can you name the latest blouse's style name?
The book just plodded along with no real purpose for most of the book. The author tried to interject several modern thoughts and issues into the book which just didn't jell with the times. And a lot of things just didn't make any sense. For instance, Kitty goes to get a job at a defense factory. It's made out to be a horrible thing, with neighbors thinking she's 'fast', with no men giving up their seat to her because she's wearing pants, with the men at the factory harrassing her in various ways, etc. The thing is...women were enouraged to go to work in the factories because it freed up men to fight. They weren't thought less of! I'm sure there was some incidences of things like that happening, but most of the factories tried to accomodate women-starting up fabulous day cares and things of that nature. Women workers were thought of as patriots, doing their part on the homefront-talk to a grandparent, they'll tell you.
Kitty complained about the factory work for the entire book until suddenly, in the last few pages she loved the work and wanted to become a career woman. Huh? She also decided that she didn't really like children and didn't want any of her own-something she tells her new boyfriend, who, up to that point had been the radical voice in the book (he being a conscientious objector). The boyfriend does a complete about face and decides he wants a traditional home and family. It was very odd. And then, to top it off......spoiler here!.....the boyfriend suddenly marries Kitty's umarried sister who just had a baby. I actually had to go back and re-read several pages to figure out that one. It still eludes me.
The whole book was a mess. When I close a good book, I do it with a smile and feeling that I've taken in something worthwhile. When I closed this one, I couldn't help but think of the hours of my life I could never get back....Skip this one.
 In the Mood... June 18, 2008
Good read with lots of informative history of this era. The author seemed to rush towards the ending and then all of a sudden, there it was, leaving the reader wondering if a chapter got missed. The ending didn't seem to fit without a bit more story.
Not good June 16, 2008
There's a difference between a novel and a story. A story is a chronological overview of things that happened. A novel is an in-depth look at characters, lives, and events. This book was a story. I never once felt connected to any of the characters. And besides that, I read the last chapter over and over again, trying to figure out what just happened. And when I figured it out, I was in disbelief. What a horrible ending. I want to spare you: Don't read this book. It's not worth your time.
Interesting and inspiring! May 31, 2008
What a sad story but so tragically beautiful, enhanced by Elizabeth Berg's lyrical and vividly descriptive style of writing. The characters are well-developed and the depth of sisterly love in this story is palpable. How difficult it must be for military families in time of war...a poignant reminder to appreciate and to be grateful to those who sacrifice their lives for the freedom and liberty we must not take for granted.
I found the ending of this story confusing, and had to re-read the final two chapters several times before I fully understood what had transpired. I would have liked this story better had it ended differently.
I have to vent! May 28, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This was my first book by Berg and I do intend to read another if for no other reason then to see if she pulls another "Dallas" type ending and totally ruins it for the reader in the last two chapters with a "Bobby in the shower" type finale. I loved 95% of the book--the descriptions, the letters, the family dynamics--even though many wrote that they felt those parts were too wordy or too saccarine sweet. WWII has always held a certain fascination for me and that whole time period seemed romantic and glamourous while at the same time, a period of great sacrifice. I do think Berg did a good job capturing that and made me see that life as Rosie the Riveter wasn't as great as the posters made it out to appear.
But oh, that ending. I have to admit it...I felt like I had been kicked in the gut. I was listening to it on CD in my car and when I got to the last two chapters I just sat in the driveway stunned.
How Berg could make her readers believe that Kitty could give up the love of her life and how Hank could just step in to Michael's shoes is ridiculous. I agree with one reviewer...Berg must have had her publisher standing behind her tapping his/her foot on this one. It reeks! It's almost like incest in a way. YUCK! I am embarrassed that I had recommended this book to friends when I was half-way through it. I feel so cheated and unfullfilled.
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